Occupation:
Journalist
Time in Japan:
Twenty-nine years
What do you do here? I work as a news desk editor for the Mainichi Daily News. It is a very tough,
responsible and challenging job. I go through more than 700 news stories daily, both
international and domestic. I pick the most newsworthy articles out of the lot, and have
to keep track of all major news around the world.
Where are you from?
Sri Lanka.
What brought you to Japan?
I was offered employment in the editorial department of the Shipping and Trade News.
Are you planning to stay? Well, I have three children. The eldest, a daughter, is working. The other two are in
high school. That means I' have to stay in Japan another six to seven years! Thereafter
I'll be traveling between here and Sri Lanka.
Tell us about your commute to work. It takes about 45 minutes by train. Commuting doesn't bother me because I use this
precious time to read or think of various matters concerning my family.
What do you like most about Japan? Well, for one thing this country is still a safer place to live than most big cities
around the world.
What do you dislike most about Japan? The bureaucratic system. I have had quite a few problems with such people, and in some
cases, I raised these issues in courts. I can't get in too deeply or else I'll have to
write a book!
Do you organize your CDs alphabetically? Well, I leave those issues to my children.
If you could take one thing back from Japan to your native country, what would it be? A kabuto (a type of Japanese armor that was worn by samurai). It will look
great at the entrance to my house.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever seen or experienced in Japan? In the trains, the unbelievable behavior of men. In public, the polite forms of
discrimination. When I built my house in Urawa, some neighbors hardly looked at me. They
asked the construction people, "Who is that Indian?" Well, if I had blue eyes
and blond hair, I'm pretty sure that they would have accepted me on the spot.
Do you have a favorite place to eat or drink in Tokyo? The Dubliners in Ikebukuro.
Where would you like to be when the big one hits? Definitely away from Japan!
What would be your advice for new foreigners trying to make it in Japan? Be more friendly and mingle with the community. Since I've been here for 29 years, I
have taken part in many community activities through my children. The best is sports. In
fact, I was the first gaijin to ever coach a Japanese little league team in Urawa City. By
doing so, I came across many people from all walks of life. Their kindness motivated me to
donate a Buddha statue that was exhibited at the Sri Lankan Pavilion during the 1985
Tsukuba Expo. The statue now stands as a monument in Urawa, right in front of the Urawa
Reds soccer field. Participating is important.
How do you think Japan has changed in the last 29 years? Well, take the "rulers" of this country. Most politicians are corrupted well
beyond any tolerable standard in the world of politics. Then why do they get elected so
often? Because they cannot find any other job. People talk of family values which they
hardly practice. Today's youngsters prove that by their behavior. The crime rate is rising
at an alarming rate in what they call a "peace-loving country." Again, these are
some of the dark sides behind the bamboo curtain.
You have to spend the rest of your life trapped on the Yamanote line. You're allowed to
take one book, one CD and one luxury item. What would they be?
I would just take my lady. That's all I need.
Occupation:
LIFE IN JAPAN: