Walk with Me – Journey to Retirement

August 30, 2026

“Retirement is not the end of the road.  It is the beginning of the open highway!  -  Unknown

This topic, most likely, may be of interest only to folks who may be nearing that age or are already of that age and are just about to take that first step of retirement.

If you live and work in Japan, you probably know that the standard mandatory age of retirement is 60. But because of circumstances the most serious of which is the continuing decline of the labor force due to the aging population, companies are allowed to accommodate employees beyond the mandatory retirement age – up to 65 or even 70.

Employees get re-hired, stay on the job but on contract basis. While this usually involves much lower pay, sometimes 20-30% less than their salary prior to retirement, extended employment means one can remain active and continue to enjoy a life with purpose.

That is the stage I’m in, although in my case, it was not a re-hire in the same company. I simply moved on to another employer, as I just refuse to leave the active working class, for reasons of necessity and purpose.  Well, I have to admit that “purpose” translates to sanity and vanity.

Right now, I still want to get up each morning with work in mind, dressing up for the office, getting on the subway, passing by my favorite coffee shop to grab a Hot Cappuccino to go, settling on my cozy work station and logging on the office system to check what assignment to prioritize for the day.

But surely the day will come when one needs to “hang up your boots” so to speak, as you pass the baton to the next generation of working class. Besides the law says so – you are given just as much time to be in the work force, and you need to give way to the next batch.

In my mind and in my heart, this is how I would like to spend most of my days in retirement.  Yes, as the tropical scene suggests, that “most days” would be back home in the Philippines.

My contemporaries of retirement age would be grouped into two: friends I grew up with and were in the same school through high school back home, and friends I have shared the journey as foreign students and later as permanent residents in Tokyo.

Some have taken up residence in another foreign country, some are very much settled with their own families here in Japan, but most are retired back home. Knowing that gives me assurance that when I return back home to spend most of my days in retirement, there are friends to meet up with for long lunches and chit-chats!

I think this is true for most people who have lived longer in Japan than in the Philippines; that it is not that easy to let go of life here, primarily because of the conveniences and the quality of life that Japan offers.  The public health system is so much better here, and for as long as you have been part of that program, you are assured that hospitals have no reason to turn you away at any time, emergencies or not.

For that reason alone, I couldn’t imagine leaving Japan for good. I have been a consistent taxpayer, I have contributed enough to the pension system and should I no longer be eligible for corporate work but as long as I am contributing to the national health program, I can avail of the same health care privileges as anybody else.

The question for me now is: how do I go about fulfilling that plan to go on retirement, spend most of the days back home in the Philippines, but not give up Japan for good?

As well, how should I work it out, financially and logistically? That would be my next topic. There’s so much to research on, anyway, as I start to take that plan to fruition, step by step.  And the journey continues ...

Walk with Me – Tokyo from an 11-year-old’s Perspective

Our very first Apo, my grandniece Brielle, was born in Los Angeles in 2015. It took years before I was able to actually meet her. I had the opportunity to visit Los Angeles in August 2024, on a side trip from Toronto, Canada, where I attended my nephew Gabriel’s wedding. I was so thrilled to finally meet her, talk with her, and trade stories about travel! She told me how much she would love to see Tokyo someday soon!

And that someday soon happened just about two weeks ago! As I promised Brielle, her mom and dad, and Lola Lourdes, I joined them on their first weekend upon arrival in Tokyo to take them around.

I thought I’d show them the usual, or shall we call them the generally conceived introductory top sightseeing spots in Tokyo. But soon I realized this little group is the seasoned-traveler kind, and that their interests were very specific. And it seems that it’s Brielle who calls the shots on where and what to explore on this trip.

Brielle came for the sakura, the beautiful parks that nurture them, and to imbibe the vibrant rhythm that the city is known for, as well as the unrivaled Japanese cuisine. And to her delight, she also came for the crazily fun shopping of all things kawaii!

How did she come to know all these anime characters’ merchandise? The skin care and makeup products that are currently trending—how did she know so much about them? Well, her mom obviously also knew where and what to look for in Tokyo.

Should I be surprised, though? TikTok provides all of that information—on everything that’s topping the charts in the global social media community. And that’s anywhere in the world, of course!

The kid had the time of her life, getting her wishes granted on this particular trip. It’s just so heartwarming to see her enjoying her time in Tokyo. There’s no denying that this was also a “food trip” for her.

There’s no doubt that all the traveling that the family has done so far has exposed Brielle to various cuisines, exotic ones included. I’m so glad that she’s now old enough to appreciate the same Japanese cuisine that we adults know and crave.

Anywhere the family goes, she can definitely match their sense of adventure!

March - April 2026

Walk with Me: Café or Kissaten?

Most of my friends know me as a coffee lover. “Connoisseur” might sound a bit too fancy—I’m definitely not an expert. Maybe I’m trying to be, but I’m still a work in progress.

Living in Japan is what really started my appreciation for coffee—different styles, different spaces, different moods. After all, where do people meet to socialize? Restaurants are usually for specific occasions. More often, we meet at a café or a kissaten.

I first came to Japan in the late Showa era, when kissaten were thriving all over the country—long before Starbucks became everywhere.

Depending on our mood, we would choose between a café or a kissaten. But what’s the difference?

A café, as the name suggests, is similar to what you might find in Paris. Coffee was introduced to Japan during the Meiji era, and cafés grew in popularity during the Taisho era. Today, cafés are usually bright, stylish, and lively. They serve coffee, cakes, and light meals. Some are run by French-trained pâtissiers, so their pastries alone are worth lining up for.

Another key difference: cafés have restaurant licenses, so they can serve alcohol.

A kissaten, on the other hand, feels like stepping back into the Showa era. They are often dimly lit, with a nostalgic, retro atmosphere—red velvet chairs, dark wooden furniture, antique lamps, and classic tableware. Because of their specific license, they typically do not serve alcohol. People come here for quiet time—coffee or tea, paired with a carefully made cake or pastry.

So if you’re meeting friends for a lively catch-up—or let’s be honest, a bit of chismis—a café is the perfect place.

One of my favorites is Café Paulista, which opened in 1910.

But if what you’re craving is a quiet corner—just you, a good book, and a cup of coffee—or maybe a peaceful moment with one or two close friends, then a kissaten is the place to go.

The other day, I was in exactly that kind of mood. I searched online and found a place in Azabu-Juban that caught my curiosity. It had been years since I last visited that area.

From the outside, it didn’t look like a kissaten at all. But it was listed as one. When I slid the door open, I was surprised—it looked more like a traditional Japanese restaurant.

“This is not the kissaten I know,” I thought.

But I had come all the way from Asakusa—and I was already hungry—so I decided to give it a try.

Amanoya was established in 1927, originally in Osaka as a “fruit parlour.” Today, it is known for its traditional sweets made with red beans and its famous tamago sandwich, along with other specialties. 

It may not fit the typical image of a retro, dimly lit kissaten, but for me, it was a wonderful exception.

I would easily give it a 10 out of 10—a perfect place for quiet time, good food, and excellent coffee.

And yes, I’ll definitely be back.

Walk with Me – Japan Vacation of Many Firsts

December 27, 2025 – January 9, 2026

Two weeks, yes, fourteen full days for my visitors to savor Tokyo in as many ways as possible. But to be honest, the real challenge was how to make a stay that long fulfilling and enjoyable in the most economical way. I came up with a “perfect” itinerary for my visitors, my nephews Junjun and Jom, whom we nicknamed Tom & Jerry. Truth be told, that itinerary was mainly to make a good impression for their tourist visa application.

The minute they landed at Narita, the boys were already in “anything goes” mode—nothing fancy, no fuss about where to go or what to eat. They were simply overjoyed to finally be in Japan.

This visit is special to me and to my nephews. It fulfilled promises I had made to each of them for very different reasons. For Junjun, it was a reward for his commitment to being part of the palliative care for his Lola, my mother. He had no formal training and simply followed the guidance of the professional caregiver we hired, but within a week or two, he had already taken on some of the nurse’s tasks. As for Jom, we made a pact: if he did well in his first year at university and earned a spot on the Dean’s List, a ticket to Japan would be his. These promises were made on separate occasions. Fast forward to December 2025, and there they were—on their very first overseas flight.

I soon realized that Japan and its many attractions are seen quite differently through the eyes of boys than through those of girls.

Food—Japanese cuisine—was definitely a big hit, especially with their impressive appetites! They were also curious to know whether fast food in Japan was any different from what we have back home, so they tried McDonald’s, KFC, and more. Their verdict: definitely different, and they seemed to prefer the Tokyo versions.

But their loudest cheers were reserved for convenience store food. Not a single day passed during those two weeks without a visit to my neighborhood 7-Eleven. Before long, I started teasing them and calling them The Onigiri Boys.

What I personally consider the highlight of their visit was our trip to Hakone, where—on one of the few truly rare occasions in my entire life in Japan—Mt. Fuji revealed itself in all its glory.

It felt like a gift from the heavens, a reward for our patience as we queued for the gondola ride on the Hakone Ropeway, greeted by that magnificent, unforgettable view.

Oh, I almost forgot—there was one more special “first” for the boys!

On January 2, on our way home from meeting one of Jom’s friends in Yokohama, the winter chill had grown noticeably sharper and a light drizzle began to fall. Moments later, that drizzle turned heavier and thicker—then suddenly, solid white. It was snowing!

It was the boys’ very first time to experience snowfall. How magical is that? Truly an unforgettable Japan trip—one for the books!

January 16, 2026