Vibe Check #34 (July 2026)

Welcome to the 34th edition of our Vibe Check (7th edition for the year 2026) where we talk about anything and everything dealing with Japan, Japanese culture, anime, or anything that's on the top of our heads. Hope you have a happy reading.

Check #1: FIFA WORLD CUP and VTubers

Since the 2026 World Cup has come to a close, it was a nice experience to watch some games on TV. Although it sucks to see Japan lose at the very last minute, all the other knockout games were really great to see. The World Cup Final was an amazing thing to see (skipped the halftime show...), and I was glad that Spain won the entire thing 1-0 against Argentina. However, the shocking thing of all was that tons of VTubers were able to watch the game or react to the game for their fans.

That's the beauty of the World Cup. Tons of people from different niches and parts of the world come together to celebrate togetherness. I was honestly surprised there are tons of VTubers that are able to watch the game.

The tons of times I've listened to Kiara Takanashi's live stream of her reaction to the World Cup are always a favorite thing to hear. 

The most touching reactions of VTubers and the World Cup were when seeing their hearts just crack the moment Japan lost the Round of 32 to Brazil. From pure excitement and happiness when scoring the first goal of the game to losing it all in the 96th minute.

Surprisingly, Japan and Brazil have this borderline brotherhood when it comes to soccer (or football). Then again, tons of Brazilians are in Japan, and tons of Japanese are in Brazil so it's not fully surprising to me. 

Overall, the 2026 World Cup was a great thing for America and the world this year. Yeah the controversies weren't the prettiest, but from the anticipation leading up to the first match to the final whistle of the World Cup Final, it's been an amazing thing to see.

2030 World Cup, here we come!

Check #2: Final Stretch for Japan

As the time goes by, it's getting closer for my trip to Japan. Since it's my third time going to Japan (second time going solo), I believe to have everything under control: from the package deal (flight + hotel) to the luggage to the first aid kit (just in case if there's any injuries). 

The one thing I would be intrigued about is going to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Osaka, and Sendai for the very first time. Surprisingly, when I told people that I've gone to Japan before, they're surprised that I've never been to Shibuya and Shinjuku before. The only part of Tokyo I've been to is Ikebukuro, and that's mainly because it was a part of Tokyo that's not fully crowded, so it can help me ease my way to Shibuya and Shinjuku without being overwhelmed.

The second thing I would say I want to try out is Osaka, the Kansai Region. It'll be my first time going outside of the Kanto region, and I am excited for that. There are tons of videos I've watched and blogs I've read that deal with the comparison of Tokyo and Osaka. I've constantly heard that the food is delicious, the people are super nice, and the city is super cool to be in.

Since I'll mostly be settling in Yokohama, it's the best of both worlds (to an extent...). Knowing that, it can also be the first time going to a Shinkansen to go to Osaka and Sendai before heading back home. The Shinkansen, I would say, might be the hardest part of my trip to Japan since I've never taken a Shinkansen before. Going from Yokohama to Osaka in less than 2 and a half hours does seem great at first, but missing it at any given time would be a recipe of disaster (or a lukewarm experience depending on what comes next).

Hopefully, I'll be able to take tons of pictures of Japan and show it to you guys after I arrive back home.

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Surprisingly, that's all for this month's Vibe Check. Sorry if I have to cut it short because the World Cup was ongoing for most of the summer. Plus, during and after the event ended, it's mainly just final preparations for my trip to Japan. However, tune in next month for the full Vibe Check Japan Travels Edition for next month. Have a good one, everyone~