adminthe fields just like the rest of the villagers.
Such has been the life of many Japanese volunteers who choose to live the Zimbabwean lifestyle.
“I decided to stay in Mudhindo Village for six months between 2008 and 2009. At first it was tough to adapt to the hot temperatures and eat sadza and vegetables on a daily basis.
“I wanted to adapt to the Zimbabwean environment and lingo. Sabhuku Mudariki, the headman of Mudhindo Village, was very receptive and I had to live in the same room with his children.
“I enjoy sleeping in thatched houses and sometimes join the family in the field,” Masashi said.
Masashi said he decided to do so after experiencing inner-city and high-density suburb life in Harare.
“Before, I stayed in Majubeki in Mbare and then in Daniel Street in Mbare National with a friend who would show me around all the places.
“I saw it exciting to move around so many people with ease and sometimes people would ask if I wasn’t afraid of staying in the crime- infested neighbourhood,” Masashi said.
Another Japanese, Takayuki Minagawa, a lecturer at Mutare Polytechnic College, said he saw it fit to introduce Japanese food to Zimbabweans.
“I specialised on professional cookery and realised the need to rope Japanese food into the Zimbabwean hospitality fraternity. Japanese food is famed for increasing longevity and we believe many will be interested in learning one or two things.
“I am teaching students on how to prepare sushi, donburi, nimono, shirumono, bonito fish on different Japanese cuisines, among others.
“At the moment we face difficulties in locating some special ingredients on the dishes we prepare.
“But there is an advantage in Mutare since we resort to importing some species of fish from neighbouring Mozambique and sometimes direct from Japan.
“With the interest on Japanese foods we will solidify our relationship. Authorities and those in the surrounding community have been co-operative,” Minagawa said.
Yutaka Hirose, who is in arts and design at the same institution, said he developed interest in Zimbabwean art before volunteering to come into the country.
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Online Reporter