A Japanese YouTuber made a TikTok showcasing Wisconsin -- and it's the most epic advertisement for the state ever
A popular YouTuber from Japan made a TikTok video about his recent visit to Wisconsin — and it's basically the most epic advertisement for the state. Probably ever.
Three months ago, Takuya George Maeda, aka George Japan, kicked off a two-year world tour to meet his YouTube subscribers in person, he told the Journal Sentinel. He has more than 368,000 of 'em.
Maeda is documenting his journey through short travel vlogs. Hence, the viral Wisconsin video.
"I want my viewers to feel like they are actually traveling the world," said Maeda, who was born in the U.S. and raised in Japan.
Now, let's get into the video. It starts by showing off the dairy state delicacy that is the cheese curd and Maeda saying: "Wisconsin is sooo underrated."
"I'm from Japan, but I like Wisconsin," the 27-year-old said in the intro. "I'll tell you why."
In the video, he declared the state's most popular fast food chain as ... we'll let you guess.
(Yes, obviously Culver's.)
He recommended a ButterBurger. "It's better than McDonald's," he said.
And can't forget those fried cheese curds. "I'm loving it," Maeda said over a clip of him eating one.
No summertime visit is compete without a trip to a fair; Maeda checked out the Walworth County Fair and its monster truck entertainment.
"I've never seen anything like that in Japan, so it was cool," he said.
He also visited an apple orchard — in Poplar Grove ... Illinois. Close.
While at Edwards Apple Orchard, Maeda got apple cider — which was "so refreshing" and a "perfect drink for summer" — and a doughnut. "It's literally worth visiting here just to get this doughnut," he said in the video.
(With the orchard around an hour and 20 minutes south of Milwaukee, here are some others that are a bit closer to home.)
More than once Maeda brought up Wisconsin's beauty, from its lakes to its "peaceful and calm" neighborhoods.
"This is why I love Wisconsin in summer," he concluded.
Maeda's visit was for five days in early September, he said, and he stayed in the Lake Geneva area.
Another landmark he stopped by during his time here was the home of the Green Bay Packers. And yes, he wore a cheesehead.
Maeda's Wisconsin TikTok has been viewed more than 517,800 times and has over 85,200 likes.
Twitter user @EclecticHams shared the video and said: "This guy from Japan visiting Wisconsin and loving everything about it is everything I want in a Tik Tok". That tweet has more than 24,300 retweets, with an additional 4,000 quote tweets, and 325,400 likes.
One TikTok user commented: "Never have I wanted to go to Wisconsin until now". Another said they're American and this is the first time they've wanted to visit the state.
Even the Green Bay Packers thanked Maeda for visiting.
At each location on his 20-country journey, Maeda said, his subscribers take him to their favorite spots.
Maeda said he "definitely" plans to come back to Wisconsin after his tour concludes. He's already crossed the Philippines and Canada off his list, and is currently in Orlando.
"I just feel like, life is only one time," Maeda said. "You only live once."
To keep up with Maeda's adventures, you can follow him on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Contact Hannah Kirby at hannah.kirby@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HannahHopeKirby.
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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: YouTuber George Japan makes viral Wisconsin TikTok during world tour
