Neighbors Saginuma Alumni Interview | Yacchan Edition: “What I’d Like to Tell My Past Self”

The “Neighbors Stories” series features interviews with residents who share their experiences of meeting new people, changing, and growing while living in a social apartment. For this installment, we interviewed Yacchan and Shigeto, who lived at Neighbors Saginuma for about two years.

As founding members who shared an intense and meaningful time together, the two are such close friends that they even ended up wearing similar patterns on the day of the interview—completely by coincidence. We asked these two “seniors” to reflect on their time living there.

What would they say to their past selves? When were they most emotionally moved? And what impact did the social apartment have on their lives?

We’re bringing you a two-part series featuring their stories—stories they can only share now. This time, it’s Yacchan’s turn. Apparently, what led her to move in was a fun friend she met at an open house…?

—Yacchan, Shigeto, thank you so much for your time today! First, could you please briefly introduce yourselves?

Yacchan:
I lived at Neighbors Saginuma for two years. Everyone calls me Yacchan, and I currently work as a home health nurse.
I’m originally from Kagoshima, and my hobbies include volleyball and visiting hot springs and saunas! Actually, just before this interview, I went to Yukemuri no Sho in Miyamaedaira!

Shigeto:
I’m Shigeto, originally from Kobe City in Hyogo Prefecture. Like Yacchan, I also lived at Neighbors Saginuma for about two years. I work at an IT company.
My hobbies include outdoor activities like snowboarding and camping, as well as riding motorcycles and playing the drums. I also occasionally organize parties and big trips.

—If you had to describe each other’s personalities in one word?

Shigeto:
If I had to describe Yacchan in one word, I’d say he’s “cheerful.” He’s upbeat and has a great sense of humor—he’s always making everyone laugh.

Yacchan:
Shigeto is a “passionate organizer,” I’d say. Back when we lived at Neighbors Saginuma, he took the lead in planning events and trips for both small and large groups. He really led the way as the leader of our gatherings.

Shigeto:
Yacchan would come up with ideas for things we wanted to do, and my role was to work out the details of the plans.

Yacchan:
That’s right. It reminds me of how I handled the “0 to 1” part, and Shigeto took care of the “1 to 10” part.

—What made you decide to move into a social apartment, Yacchan?

Yacchan:
I was looking for a place to live after changing jobs, and when I heard about a newly opened building near my new workplace, I signed up for an open house.

At that open house, I met this really fun gal (laughs). I hadn’t planned on moving in that day, but when I heard she’d decided to move in, I thought, “If I can live with someone this fun, maybe I’ll move in too,” and that’s how I made up my mind.

The friend Yacchan met at the open house

Shigeto:
So you met her right then (lol). I had no idea.

—What kind of person is the friend you met at the open house?

Yacchan:
She’s a naturally positive person who isn’t shy about talking to anyone and really brightens up the room. She’s decisive, adapts quickly, and her straightforwardness is part of her charm. We’re still such good friends that we meet up regularly!

The Kitchen Counter Regulars

—As one of the opening members, was there anything you made a point of doing to fit into the community?

Yacchan:
I just made a point of talking to everyone. Since I was striking up conversations with anyone and everyone, I occasionally ended up talking to a contractor who was there to inspect the property by mistake (laughs).

I hear a lot of people get nervous before moving in, but I’d already made one friend at the open house, so I wasn’t nervous at all.

When I went to the lounge on my first day, that friend was there, and a group of people—centered around her—was already chatting. Thanks to her, I made a bunch of new friends all at once. Making friends at the open house might be a good tip for easing the nerves on your first day.

—What kind of personality did people usually say you had within the community?

Yacchan:
I don’t know how everyone else saw me, but I guess I was kind of like a “mom” figure?

Shigeto:
Yacchan is really caring, so she’d often look after people who weren’t feeling well.
Also, Yacchan is confident, down-to-earth, and has a great sense of humor, so I feel like all kinds of people naturally gathered around her. You could even say she was the one who kept things lively (laughs).

Yacchan:
That’s true—I might have been in charge of the drinks and livening things up (laughs).

—Is there a place where you used to spend a lot of time when you lived there?

Yacchan:
I used to have a nightcap at the kitchen counter after work. Since I went to the office every day, I’d get home around 8 or 9 p.m., eat dinner and drink beer at the counter, and then head back to my room. Shigeto was usually there when I got home.

Shigeto:
Come to think of it, I used to cook gyoza for people who came home late at night (lol). I treated Yacchan to them a lot, too. Thanks to that, my gyoza-cooking skills really improved.

Yacchan:
I used to drink beer with those gyoza as a snack. I remember how a few of us would gather, and even though we didn’t really have anything specific to talk about, we’d end up chatting all the way into the wee hours of the morning. All things considered, those casual, everyday moments might be what I remember most.

Shigeto:
Yacchan always seemed to enjoy those gyoza so much.

Yacchan:
It’s coming back to me now—I think someone used to give me a lecture on romance right here at this kitchen counter, using a little whiteboard (laughs).

Shigeto:
Come to think of it, that might have actually happened! (lol)

Yacchan:
There are nights when I end up drinking way too much while hanging out with everyone and my memories get a bit fuzzy, but there are also those legendary nights where we laughed so hard they’ll stay with me forever (lol).

I want to tell my past self, right after I moved in: What’s important is ◯◯!

—How would you describe life at Neighbors Saginuma in one word?

Yacchan:
I’d call it “adulthood’s youth.”
We’d have some kind of dinner get-together every weekend, and we’d go on a trip at least once a month. When it was a big group, Shigeto was usually the one who organized it.

Maybe after going through the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone’s desire to connect with others just burst out all at once. On weekdays, we were buried in work, and on our days off, we’d tap into our inner child and play to our hearts’ content.

Sometimes we had so much fun that it actually made work physically tough (laughs).

—Is there anything you feel you left undone?

Yacchan:
Absolutely not! I can say that with complete confidence. Personally, I gave it my all and had so much fun that there’s nothing I’d want to do over if I could go back to those days.

Shigeto:
I’m pretty sure I don’t have any regrets either.

Yacchan:
But if I had to pick something, I’d tell my past self from when I first moved in, “Branding is important!”

Shigeto:
Huh? What do you mean?

Looks like she’s looking back at old photos

Yacchan:
I think what you get out of life there depends on how you define your own persona.

I think I spent too much time just being my authentic self, so I guess people saw me as a tough-as-nails mom.

For example, when I’d go to the lounge, there were times I’d wear my middle school track suit, while the other girls were wearing cute pajamas. I’d think to myself, “Wait, nobody told me I needed to bring cute pajamas! Did anyone say that?!” but since I wasn’t actually going to wear them there anyway…

Shigeto:
You still have your middle school track suit? (laughs).

Yacchan:
I’m good at holding onto things, right?
So, I started thinking that maybe your future really does depend on how you brand yourself.

Shigeto:
I’d never thought of it that way. But Yacchan, even without trying, was just being his authentic self—and that’s probably why everyone liked him so much and why he made so many friends.

Scenes from Yacchan’s Farewell Party

Yacchi:
That’s right. It was a form of “branding” to make lots of friends. When I think about it that way, I’ve met so many friends who I feel I’ll stay in touch with for the rest of my life.

So, if anyone is thinking about moving in here, I hope they’ll remember that “branding is important”!

—That’s true—the idea that “branding is important” probably applies to any new environment, not just social apartments. Thanks for the advice, Yacchan!

[Now Recruiting Founding Members] Neighbors Yokohama Tsurumi: Pre-Completion Open House

As Yacchan mentioned in the interview, the pre-opening tour is a special opportunity to meet “potential future neighbors” a little early.

With “Neighbors Yokohama Tsurumi ” set to open in March 2027, we’ve begun recruiting new residents through our pre-opening tour. Why not be one of the first to experience the excitement of building a new community from the ground up as an opening member?

[Participation Benefits]
《Pre-Opening Tour Exclusive》We’re holding a special campaign with discounted initial fees!!
★ Sign up for the 1-Year Plan and get the key money waived!
★Sign up for the 2-year plan and get no key money + 2 months of free rent!

▶ Click here for reservations and inquiries

Reservations will close once capacity is reached, so if you’re interested, please contact us as soon as possible!

[Editor’s Note]
On the day of the interview, as soon as Yacchan and Shigeto gathered, they launched into a lively conversation, catching up on recent events and sharing fond memories. I remember how their witty banter had the interview team laughing repeatedly. It’s easy to picture what life was like back then—I’m sure their days living there were filled with constant laughter.

The memorable moments from daily life and the secrets to making the most of limited time, as shared by these veterans of the social apartment experience, surely resonate with all of you.

Throughout the interview, Yacchan repeatedly emphasized the importance of “branding.”From the unpretentious and cheerful personality that shines through in every word, I can easily imagine that even when she was living there, she was a popular figure whom everyone affectionately called “Yacchan, Yacchan.” Perhaps her greatest charm lies in that “natural branding”—something not everyone can pull off.

▶ Click here for the Shigeto edition

(Interview & Text: Hayashi / Photos: Uchida)