For the last day of our recent trip to the Philippines, we opted to stay at a hotel near the airport so we could conveniently take a Grab car to catch our flight back to Tokyo the following day. However, since there weren’t many hotels near NAIA Terminal 1, we ended up choosing a hotel…
Author: Enrico Pangan
Filipino in Tokyo
Flying Home From Home: Where Is Home, Really?
While packing for a recent trip to the Philippines, my wife exclaims excitedly, “We’re flying home!” After a few seconds of thinking about what she said, I reply, “Home?” I’m puzzled because Tokyo is our base now. If we’re flying home, are we flying home from home? Where is our “home”, really? We’ve lived most…
Resting Sad Face: A Tokyo Train Story
A friend visiting from Hong Kong and I were discussing his observations about Tokyo. He used to live here before moving to Hong Kong, and one thing he pointed out was that people on the trains here look sad. This was interesting, as it wasn’t the first time I’d heard this—I’ve seen similar comments on…
Cherry Blossoms: Been There, Snapped That
It’s that time of year again—cherry blossoms are popping up in every conversation, and Tokyo’s big sakura spots are packed with tourists. Domestic ones, sure, but lately, way more international folks too. After living in Japan for about a quarter of a century, we’re at the point where it’s just normal. Our cherry blossom pics…
Tennis Till I’m Eighty: My Resilience Game Plan
I want to play tennis until I’m eighty. This is one of my biggest motivations to stay healthy and fit. However, in recent years, injuries have started to creep in, and I’ve learned that if I really want to play tennis until I’m eighty, I need to plan well and ensure I stay healthy and…
Upgrading Our Living Room: The LG OLED Story
We finally caved in. After watching hours of TV reviews and visiting multiple electronics shops across different areas of Tokyo, we settled on one TV and bought the LG OLED C4 48-inch. Our previous TV, a Sony Bravia LCD 43-inch, was purchased in 2018 when we moved to our old place in Yotsuya. It was…
Gyukatsu Ichi Ni San: Seven Years Later in Tourist-Filled Akihabara
I had a day off work, so I decided to visit Akihabara. I was still on the lookout for a new TV, so I figured I might as well head to the epicenter of Japan’s otaku culture to check out some of Tokyo’s biggest electronics shops. I used to frequent the place, too, so it…
Thinking Ahead: Our Retirement Possibilities
A former teammate dropped by to say hi and mentioned that it was his last day as a regular employee because he had reached the official retirement age in Japan, which is sixty. However, he isn’t retiring yet—he will remain with the company under a different employment status through the reemployment programs designed for people…
Do I Really Need a Pro iPhone? The 16e Has Me Questioning My Choices
The iPhone 16e, the spiritual successor to the iPhone SE series, just came out, and it got me thinking—maybe this is the phone for me. I currently have the iPhone 15 Pro, but to be honest, I don’t really need all the “Pro” features. I don’t need three cameras on the back. I don’t need…
A Day to Myself: Yoshinoya, BicCamera, and Takanawa Gateway
The other day, my wife attended a full-day kyudo event, so I had the day to myself. I could either stay home and do nothing or go outside and be a little more productive. I had to admit, the former option was very tempting, but I had a dentist appointment at 2 PM, so I…
Four Years Later: Was Buying a Home in Japan the Right Choice?
Four years ago, we decided to stop renting and finally buy our own place. For the longest time, we thought we’d be renting for the rest of our time in Japan. We didn’t want to be tied to a multi-decade mortgage. We didn’t even apply for permanent residency because we believed only people applying for…
Enjoying a No-Plan Birthday Vacation at Home
For my birthday, I took the week off from work but didn’t make any plans to go anywhere. Aside from my actual birthday, my wife was working throughout the week, so I basically had the whole time to myself—except for when she was working from home and we could grab meals together. This isn’t the…
Enrico in Tokyo 