Before I ever set foot in Japan, it was already part of my life.

Growing up, Japanese culture was always present in my household. My dad was the biggest influence. He lived and worked in Japan during the 60s and 70s and often told stories about how amazing the country was. He was fluent in Japanese and worked in government for international relations between Japan and the Philippines. Because of him, Japan was never something distant or unfamiliar. It was simply there.

At home, everyday life reflected that influence. I grew up using chopsticks, eating natto, egg sandos, nori, wasabi, sushi, ramen, and more. Our household was a mix of Filipino and Japanese culture. My dad loved Japan so much that the house I grew up in had a koi pond, a Japanese garden in the front, a ceremonial tea room, and even a ginkgo tree. Looking back now, it was pretty wild. At the time, it just felt normal.

Another major influence was my brother. He is half Japanese and lived in Japan, and every few years he would visit and bring things with him. Sometimes it was car-related items, sometimes video games, sometimes anime accessories. Other times it was magazines I couldn’t read at all. I had no idea what most of the text meant, but the photos alone were enough. They felt different. They felt cool. Those magazines stuck with me.

With all that exposure, you would think I would have gone to Japan early in life. But I didn’t. Not until 2010.

The truth is simple. I didn’t have the money, the stability, or the mindset. Even after starting my career in 2003, traveling to Japan felt impossible. Between 2003 and 2010, most of my money went to cars, parties, and bad decisions. I wasn’t saving. I wasn’t thinking long term. I was broke and irresponsible, and I didn’t realize it at the time.

That mindset slowly began to change. I shifted away from cars and video production and moved toward photography and blogging. Anime became more central again. Around that time, I started following Danny Choo and his blog, Culture Japan. Seeing his work, his photography, and the way he documented Japan made the idea of finally going feel real. For the first time, Japan wasn’t just a dream. It felt reachable.

In 2009, I made a decision. I was going to save seriously and finally go to Japan.

I booked my first trip for 2010. I flew Korean Air directly into Narita Airport and planned to stay with my brother in Chiba for two weeks. Traveling solo to Japan felt exciting and surreal. Everything I had grown up hearing about, everything I had seen in magazines and online, was finally in front of me.

When I landed, my brother picked me up from the airport. I still remember the smell when I walked outside. It was fresh, cold, clean, and organized. That same night, he took me straight to Tokyo Tower. The thing I had only ever seen on TV and in magazines was suddenly right there in front of me.

That was the moment it really hit me. I was finally in Japan.

I didn’t know it then, but that first night would mark the beginning of something lasting. From that trip on, I made it a point to return to Japan every year.