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Field Location
Catholic Nunoike Church Kyoshikibu, Nagoya
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Field Notes

I came to Nagoya to find out how Filipinos build a community here.

A Filipina I met at Ikeda Park left me a clue:

“Go to Nunoike church at six.”

So I did.

Nunoike Church in Nagoya at dusk with a man standing outside before entering

Then I spotted a sign:

“No filming inside.”

No filming sign inside Nunoike Church in Nagoya

So I put my camera away.

For the next 20 minutes, I just watched everyone and followed along.

I was pretty sure I looked awkward...😂

People were singing.

People were praying.

I didn’t really know what was going on.

I just watched the people around me and followed along.

Suddenly, everyone around me started kneeling.

I followed them, wondering why it was so uncomfortable.

Then I realized everyone had these tiny chairs hidden under their feet. 😂

Small kneeling chairs under the seats in the worship space at Nunoike Church in Nagoya

I quietly pulled mine down and followed their lead.

After the Mass, I met Antonio and his son, Michihiro.

They had come from Ichinomiya.

A man and two Filipino men talking outside Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night

I asked Antonio:

“How long have you been living in Japan?”

“Maybe 20 years.”

“20…!?”

His son has been here almost 3 years.

That caught me.

Two Filipino men and a Filipino woman outside Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night

I’ve spent almost 3 years learning Filipino culture in the Philippines.

And now, in Nagoya, I was standing in front of someone who had spent almost 20 years building a life here.

They told me they come to this church once a month for the Tagalog Mass.

Then Antonio told me something I didn’t expect:

“There are so many Filipinos in Ikeda Park.”

I stopped.

I had already been to Ikeda Park.

That was actually where I got the clue that brought me to this church.

So now I have another question:

How are all these places—and people—connected?

I came looking for a Filipino community.

Instead, I keep finding people who lead me to the next clue.

Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night with a quiet atmosphere outside

Still Learning.

Still Exploring.

One conversation at a time.

On the Ground
Voices from the Field
Q — "Taga saan ka?" (Where are you from)
"Cavite." — Antonio
Q — "I came looking for the Filipino community in Nagoya. They said Nunoike Church — a lot of Filipinos on Sunday."
"Every first week of the month, there's a Filipino Mass." — Antonio
Q — "How did you find this church? Is it famous here?"
"Yeah, famous here." — Antonio
Q — "What Filipino food do you miss most?"
"Kwek kwek." — Antonio
Q — "Okay, your favorite food?"
"Sinigang." — Antonio
Q — "How long have you been living here in Japan?"
"So long. Maybe 20 years." — Antonio
Q — "20...!? What made you come here like... for a job?"
"No. My mother... we have family here." — Antonio
Q — (Antonio turned to his son: "Two years here?")
"Yeah, almost three years. Grew up here." — Michihiro (Antonio's sun)
Q — "How often do you come to the church?"
"Every first week of the month." — Michihiro
Q — "So, once a month?"
"Yeah, once a month, 'cause first week of the month there's Tagalog Mass. We don't understand English. But there's so many Filipinos in Ikeda Park." — Michihiro
Takumi's Reflection
Why This Matters

I came to this church thinking I was following a clue to a place. A room where Filipinos in Nagoya gather. A place I could point to and call the community.

Then Antonio told me he had lived here for almost 20 years.

Almost 20 years building a life in Japan. Almost 3 years learning Filipino culture in the Philippines. Different countries. Different directions. For a moment, I wasn't sure which of us was the beginner.

And then he sent me back to Ikeda Park.

I had thought every clue was bringing me closer. Maybe they were only bringing me around.

I came looking for a Filipino community in Nagoya and instead found people who keep leading me to the next clue.

Nunoike Church in Nagoya at dusk with a man standing outside before entering
I Came to Nagoya to Find Filipinos
A clue brought me to Nunoike Church at 6 PM. I came to see how Filipinos build community in Nagoya.
Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night
6 PM at Nunoike Church
I came because I was told Filipino people gather here. I had no idea what I was going to find inside.
No filming sign inside Nunoike Church in Nagoya
“No Filming Inside.”
So I put the camera away and went inside. For once, I had to experience the place without documenting everything.
Small kneeling chairs under the seats in the worship space at Nunoike Church in Nagoya
The Tiny Chairs I Almost Missed
Suddenly, everyone around me started kneeling. I wondered why it was so uncomfortable until I realized they were using these tiny chairs hidden under their feet. I quietly pulled mine down and followed along.
A man and two Filipino men talking outside Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night
Then I Met a Father and His Son
After the Mass, I started talking with a father and his son who had come from Ichinomiya. One conversation turned into another clue.
Two Filipino men and a Filipino woman outside Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night
Almost Three Years
His son has been in Japan for almost three years. I have spent almost the same amount of time learning Filipino culture in the Philippines.
Nunoike Church in Nagoya at night with a quiet atmosphere outside
One Clue Led to Another
I came looking for a Filipino community. I left with another clue — and somehow, it led back to Ikeda Park.
Quest Data
Field Report Summary
DateOctober 4, 2026
LocationCatholic Nunoike Church Kyoshikibu, Nagoya
Event TypeTagalog Mass / Community Search
Access MethodFollowed a clue from a Filipina I met at Ikeda Park
Food FeaturedNone (Antonio said he misses kwek kwek and named sinigang as his favorite)
Cost to AttendFree. I’m Buddhist, but they welcomed me to join the Mass.
Rarity 🟨🟨🟨⬜⬜ — A Tagalog Mass where I was welcomed to join
Bayanihan Index 🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜ — Strong communal presence: people singing, praying, and helping those who arrived later find a seat.

I still don't know how Ikeda Park, this church, and the people I keep meeting all connect to each other.

Finding Belonging Quiet Persistence
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