1.  What do you do in Tokyo?

Meet good friends and new people, create networks, challenge new things…

2.  What got you interested in languages?

When I was a student, to be honest, I didn’t like English class. However, I realized once I was able to speak a new language, it has the drastic power to expand the horizons of my world. I’m Japanese and I’ve never lived abroad, but why should I limit my life, friends, possibilities, and dreams to such a small island?  I live on this great earth!  If I could speak only Japanese, my world would be boring and plain.

3.  What languages have you studied?  Which languages are you studying now?

I studied a little French and Spanish in order to travel and talk to friends. Now I’m studying Arabic through Skype. Arabic class is my biggest headache recently, but I still want to try my best!

4.  What does traveling mean to you?

Travel is one of the most effective ways to learn many more things than are in a textbook.  I owe what I am now to traveling.

5.  What countries have you traveled to?  Which were your favorite, and why?

I’ve been to around 25 countries, but it’s still not as many as I want to go to!  I usually go to Africa, the Middle East, and South America.  I can go to North America and Europe even when I turn 60 years old, so now is the time for challenging and adventurous trips.

Yemen is my adopted country!  I have many friends there and I don’t know why, but I feel Yemen is like my home.

6.  Tell us about an amazing experience you’ve had while traveling.

There are too many….  In July 2008, when I was traveling in Jordan, I made some Bedouin friends and I was invited to stay at their place.  Every night we went into the rocky mountains of the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site – Petra – and we slept on mattresses under numerous, numerous stars.

7.  What do you do when you’re not working, studying, or traveling?

Talking and laughing with friends until I lose my voice.  I also like going to ikebana class and camping.

8.  Tell us your personal motto.

If you don’t try, you can’t achieve anything.  It’s much better to make mistakes or fail after trying, rather than to regret not trying.
9.  Tell us a few of your future goals.

・      Speak Arabic well

・      Work for WHO or NGO for health-related issues in developing countries

・      Make more friends in various countries

・      After peace is made and the dust clears, visit my friends, their families and neighbors in Afghanistan. More than 100 Afghan people are waiting to meet me!

10. Finally, how did you get involved with 10. Magazine?

I received an e-mail from Jin about 10. Magazine, and I thought that if I missed the chance to get involved, I would totally regret it!