Yesterday, I hit a mini-milestone: I’ve accumulated 1,000 followers on one of my accounts on X (formerly Twitter). It took me three years to get here, and I’m genuinely happy about it. Back in early 2022, I wanted a forum to talk about my neighborhood and possibly connect with local people — but I didn’t…
Author: Enrico Pangan
Filipino in Tokyo
Twenty-Five Years in Japan: Then and Now
Twenty-five years ago today, I had just graduated from university and found myself boarding a plane for the first time in my life. I was with other trainees, and we were flying from Manila to Nagoya in central Japan, where we would begin our training as software engineers. I didn’t know it at the time,…
My Unexpected Return to High School
A close friend from high school messaged me one day to say our school was celebrating its 80th anniversary. As part of the celebration, they were collecting short video reels from alumni—one for each of those 80 years. The idea was to create 1–3 minute videos in English sharing our experiences at school, and post…
Navigating Tokyo’s Roads: Bicycles, Scooters & Cars
I was on my bicycle on the way home when, to my surprise, a guy riding one of those LUUP electric scooters tripped and fell in the middle of the road. Luckily, there were no cars around. I asked if he was alright, and thankfully, he said he was fine. I couldn’t help but think…
Date Night in Manila Before Returning to Tokyo
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…
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…
Enrico in Tokyo 