What inspires you to get out of bed each morning?
The burning desire to know what has been going on in the world while I was away in the Land of Nod. The very first thing I do is switch on the computer in my study to check my email and scan the local and international news. It is also the best time to review with clarity whatever I have written late the night before and pondered over in my sleep. Believe me, I have some very strange dreams!
The wide variety of topics I address in the "Tokyo, From One to Infinity" series is in fact a direct reflection of my curiosity about all manner of things, both serious and trivial. Every essay is multifaceted and goes beyond the topic mentioned in the blurb.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
The thought that I am speaking directly to the hearts and minds of readers and moving them in some positive way. If what I have written provides readers with food for thought, makes them laugh or cry, or inspires them in some small way, then I will have accomplished everything I set out to achieve.
My hope in writing "Tokyo, From One to Infinity" is that the universal nature of many of the stories I tell will lead readers to reflect on various aspects of their own lives, in their part of world, as well. Although I am the vessel or constant for many of the earlier stories, the series is not just about me, Tokyo, or Japan. You could say I am writing about the human condition in general.
Read more of this interview.