Letter to Becky from the Future（TBS Japanese program ‘Hanamaru Market’ live broadcast on 9 August 2004）
StudioMrs. Okae

Both of you may have been overseas, but today’s guest is a truesuper woman who has travelled all over the world.

VTRNarration

In this generation, people can travel anywhere around theworld. But it would be very rare to meet a person who has
travelled overseas as much as this person. Today’s guest is
Masayo Goto, an international political analyst.

VideoofMG’s arrival

This is the South Pole. I’ve finally arrived. I’m so happy!

at the South
Pole
Narration

She is working at an embassy in Japan, and meanwhile she istravelling around the world alone as an analyst. And the total
number of countries and regions she has travelled to mounts to…

Masayo G

Almost one hundred. My experiences from these travels are
an irreplaceable treasure in my life.

Narration

She is, as it were, an international woman. Starting from herstudy in the US at the age of 18, she began travelling aroundmany countries. Then, at the age of 30, a landmark event
occurred at the South Pole, which became a turning point inher life.

Masayo G

A crew of the Russian ship gave me a present, saying “A longtime ago, I was once saved by Japanese people, and so I’d liketo give you this gift as you are Japanese”.

Narration

Of course, her response was…

Masayo G“It wasn’t me who helped you”, I replied, but he firmly replied,“You are still the same Japanese, so please allow me to express
my appreciation with this in return”.

Narration

Hesitating, she started to realise one thing.

Masayo G

When I am overseas, I am a representative of Japan. I started
to seriously believe that I do not wish to be a person who isembarrassed about being Japanese.

StudioNarration

Ever since, as a person who was born in Japan, she always
aims to talk with people from various countries, and to absorb
their stories/thoughts.

Becky

Today’s guest is Masayo Goto. Thank you for joining us.

Masayo G

Thank you.

Becky

Firstly, what do you do as an International Political analyst?

Masayo G

I conduct surveys related to international relations, as part ofresearch. My main job is to conduct surveys on Japanesepolitics and foreign relations at an embassy. On the side, Itravel overseas to research different conditions in various
countries and also go adventuring too.
Becky

So, this is a map of the world. The red area indicates thecountries you have been to. (Looking at a world map made by
the programme). This is amazing! The red area indicates thecountries you have visited, haven’t you?

Masayo G

Yes, that’s right.

Becky

It seems like you’ve already travelled to most parts of theworld. Wow! When did you start to think you’d like to travel
around the world?

Masayo G

I first started becoming drawn to foreign countries when I was
about 18 years old. Since I was in primary school I always
thought I’d like to be an international person. I went to the US
when I was 18 for study, then after that I travelled to Australia
and went to university again there, and earned my PhD inInternational Relations.

Becky

Wow! That’s great!

Masayo G

During that time, I also worked as an assistant professor andalso as an interpreter, and I saved money and carried out
research by travelling to various places around the world.

Becky

You have been doing many things!

Masayo GYes.

Becky

Regarding talking with many different people, is thisimportant for international people?

Masayo G

Yes, I think to talk with people from different countries andabsorb different cultures and ideologies are truly necessary to
become an international person.

Becky

By the way, out of all the different people you have met, who
has been the most memorable person?

Masayo GWell, that would be Mother Theresa whom I met in 1993.

Becky

Mother Theresa. There is a photo on the screen. She’s theperson on the right, isn't she? What kind of person was she?

Masayo G

She was a kind of person who would give you a peace of mind,
serenity, peace and the power of love. Upon meeting her, I was
sincerely taught that peace is not something earned fromcompeting in power, but rather from mutual discussions andhelping out each other.

Becky

She seems like a very heart-warming person.

Masayo G

Peace is something ideological, but if it were a material object,
I even felt it would be Mother Theresa herself.

Becky

Yes, it must have been a very valuable experience.

Masayo G

Yes, I was.

Becky

How did you meet her?

Masayo G

Actually, when I was in Sydney, I met an American scientist
and he said “There is a tour to India to go and meet saints.
Would you like to join?” On the pamphlet, the words “MotherTheresa” was written, but reading down towards the bottom it
said “no guarantee that you will meet her”.

Becky

Even though this was a tour?

Masayo G

Yes. Although her name was on the broacher, it said there wasno guarantee that you’ll meet her. I thought this was very
intriguing so I joined, then I was actually able to meet Mother
Theresa herself.

Becky

Are there any other memorable people you met on that tour?

Masayo G

Actually, I was also able to meet Sai Baba.

Becky

Sai Baba! I do have a Sai Baba ring!

Masayo GReally?

Becky

I have a Sai Baba ring. (Looking at the photo), it is the man in
the orange clothes, isn’t he?

Masayo GYes, that’s right.

Becky

Wow! What kind of matters did you talk about?

Masayo G

Sai Baba taught me to thank people, and to take care ofmaterials preciously. He also performed his famous act of“materialization” from nothingness.

CMBecky

He has great powers, doesn’t he?

Masayo G

Yes, there is a place called Sai Baba’s palace, and we were
specially invited inside, and he materialised a watch for us on
the spot.

Becky

By ‘materialise’ do you mean he materialized somethingsuddenly out of nothing?

Masayo G

Yes, materials start to appear gradually.

Becky

Wow!

Masayo G

I was sitting at this similar distance from him, and when Sai
Baba started to chant, from nowhere parts of the bracelet of awatch began to appear, and that gradually became the shape ofa watch. He took that abruptly and said, “This is a watch”, andhe showed it to us.

Becky

Did you really see it?

Masayo G

Yes. It said ‘Seiko’.

Becky

A clock by Seiko. That is very Japanese.

Masayo G

Everyone agreed to not think of it as a trick and believe thatwhat we saw is true, since we have come all the way and wasable to meet Sai Baba.

Becky

Yes, let’s say so for now.

VTRStudioNarration

After having some experiences of studying in the US, shereturned to Japan at the age of 24, and started to experience apeculiar problem.

Masayo G

I had a reverse culture shock. I was no longer able to fit backinto Japanese culture and customs.

Narration

I realised myself being very much Americanised.

Masayo G

I thought, if I remain like this, I could no longer be a true
international person, and firmly decided to re-study Japaneseculture.

Narration

And so she…

Masayo G

Learned tea ceremony, sado, and flower arrangement, kado.

NarrationI realised that only after I truly understand my own country, I
can become a true international person.

BeckySo, following the VTR, I’d like to talk about “understandingJapan”. I often hear that when people return back to Japanafter staying in the US for a long time, they experience areverse culture shock.

Masayo G

Yes, I think in Japan it is called “gyaku-karu”. You can nolonger fit back into the original environment and customs you
lived with.

Becky

So, did you have many troubles in Japan?

Masayo G

Yes. Firstly, the US was a very friendly and equal society, andI had been in contact with people in that way. However, Japanis a very hierarchical society, divided into superiors andjuniors, the boss and subordinate. It was hard to adjust myself
to this environment.

Becky

For example, I hear that some people, after going to America
once, and returning to Japanform.

they forget to use the honorific

Masayo G

Yes, after returning to Japan, I was mixing English in myJapanese language, and the honorific form did not come to me
naturally. In worst cases, there was a time when I had been
sitting on the table while chatting.

Becky

But these things aren’t accepted in Japanese society, are they?

Masayo GNo. After returning to Japan, I realised for the first time, how
old and traditional Japan and its customs are, and started to
become particularly interested in tea ceremony and flower
arrangement.

Becky

I see. Is that why you started learning those traditional arts?

Masayo G

Yes. That’s right. Especially, when I was in the US, I was often
asked about tea ceremony and flower arrangement. Because I
was a Japanese woman, people thought naturally that I knew
about these things, but I actually did not know anything.

Becky

That is why you started to learn those things. Is thereanything you gained from learning flower arrangement and teaceremony?
Masayo G

To respect your teacher, to understand other people’s feelings,
and I also learned about Japanese culture, traditions, practiceand mannerisms that are important for Japanese people. I also
realised that these things are important to become aninternational person

Becky

Mrs. Okae, Mr. Yakumaru, do you have any questions?

Mrs. Okae

I see you have been to many countries, but are there any placesin particular you want to travel to next?

Masayo GWell, I myself have been looking at my past, present andfuture, and I went to many countries in the past so I am
thinking of writing a travelogue or completing my own
homepage. There are still some countries I haven’t been to, so I
would like to go to those places next, and as an adventure, I’dlike to go in a submersible to see the Titanic wreck. There isalso a suborbital flight tour that takes you 100km up from theEarth on a small shuttle and lets you view the Earth, so I am
thinking of joining that tour as well.

Becky

Is there such a tour?

Mrs. Okae

It sounds expensive.

Masayo G

Yes, you cannot go now though.

Mr.
Yakumaru

How much time of your life did you spend overseas?

Masayo GWell, I have lived in the US and Australia for a long time, andI’ve been to various countries in-between, so after 18, I havespent about 80 percent of my life overseas.

Mrs. Okae

Around how many languages can you speak?

Masayo G

English is my main language, but I am also studying Frenchand Spanish.

Becky

That’s impressive. From your experience, how do foreign people
think of Japanese people?

Masayo GWell, Japanese are thought of as very intelligent and smart
people. Our science and technology, especially, is impressive
and many people overseas are hoping that Japanese people will
make them happy with Japanese science and technology in away that Japanese people are experiencing.

CM

Becky

I see. That is how Japanese are though by people overseas?
Well, I’m afraid we are running out of time. This was a letter toBecky from the Future. Today’s guest was international
political analyst, Masayo Goto. Thank you very much.

Masayo G

Thank you for having me.

Mrs. Okae

Now, Masayo, please read your letter to Becky.

StudioBecky

So, I have received a letter from Masayo Goto. This is what it
says. “An international person is the one who converses withpeople around the world without boundaries and who canrespect their own country”. International political analyst,
Masayo Goto.
Thank you very much. The number of countries she has been tois unbelievable!

Mrs. Okae

Yes! A woman travelling by herself!

Becky

The world map was virtually filled in red completely.

Mr.
Yakumaru(Reading the letter) If this can really be achieved by everyone,
there will be no more wars and disputes.

Mrs.OkaeIf people can become an international person.

Becky

This was the letter from the future!

Deleted scenes due to time restriction
VTRMasayo

Japanese people have the virtue of “fitting in with otherGpeople”, but if you change yourself to fit with the other person
overseas too much, you may cause misunderstandings.

NarrationNaturally, people follow different cultures and customs
overseas. Because of this, it is no good just making yourself fit
with the other person. Rather, it is necessary to take an equal
footing and communicate with each other.
I think it is important to not only understand the other person,
but also to convey your opinion clearly.

NarrationThe very first condition of becoming an international person
is…

MasayoGTo become a person who can express oneself well.

Unless you open your heart and express what oneself isthinking clearly, the other person cannot understand you, andyou also will not be able to understand the other person. Whenyou face danger, someone will not necessarily come and help
you. I believe understanding the other person or country is also
linked to preventing danger.
In order to communicate with one another, of course it would
be better if you could speak English, but I believe it is mostimportant to have the will to express your feelings, even if it isin broken English.