(Japanese) When I think about it now, in Argentina, in Buenos Aires, there aren’t many places that are that beautiful, although it’s a large city and all… I’m not sure if I can say that it’s a very attractive place (laughs). But the fact that this was a foreign country, and since I had been studying Spanish at the time, and I was somewhat able to communicate with people from the get go, it made me pretty happy to be here right away. I do feel that, compared to European countries, there is somewhat of a lack of order here. But it is a young country, and in terms of potential, I think South America has more to offer. I’m sure how you see it differs from person to person… I think Europe has its own kind of attractiveness, while South America is also attractive in a different way. For me, I feel that my personality is a better fit here [in Argentina].
Masaki Tamashio was born in Okinawa. In the summer of his 3rd year in college, he took his first vacation abroad in Argentina, where a relative lived. He returned for a visit upon graduation, and stumbled upon a job as a Japanese teacher by chance. Currently he works as the Vice-principal of the Japanese class at Centro Nikkei Argentino. (2006)