Keep going in the same fashion and be easily recognizable.
. In addition to the orange strap I mentioned earlier, you also brought other tools related to the interview.
Maruyama:I take this cigarette case with me when I go abroad for interviews. They don't get wet when it rains, and they don't get crumpled up when I keep them in my pocket. I've moved to electronic cigarettes myself, but they are illegal in some countries, so I use paper cigarettes. Slums often have a lot of mosquitoes , so I also smoke to repel mosquitoes. Cigarettes are often given as a substitute for currency or as a gratuity, so it is better if they are not crumpled up. . if they get wet and ruined, it's as if the money is unusable.
. When I hear that, I think it's important.
Maruyama:When I'm negotiating with a person I'm interviewing who is involved in illegal transactions, this cigarette case opens up a whole new level of discussion. What is it? It's a cigarette case." "Do Japanese people take care of their cigarettes?" No, no, it's to protect them from the rain," "Give it to me," "No! Cigarette cases are inexpensive and can be found next to the cash register at work clothes stores.
What is this card-like thing you pulled out of your wallet?
Maruyama:. I got this bottle opener in Istanbul. I use a small wallet from Porter, and if I insert this bottle opener into it, I can keep my other cards from breaking even if I keep it in my hip pocket. . I've broken a credit card before, and it's hell not to be able to use it overseas. If you are sitting on a chair, it is fine, but if you are sitting on a rickety surface, it is very easy to break your credit card.
Do you often procure items locally when you travel abroad for interviews, etc.?
Maruyama:. I do that for consumables such as T-shirts, socks, underwear, and toothbrushes. In the past, I used to do the same for jackets and the like, but that is not the case anymore because I have to impress the people I am interviewing. Even if I am in the interview for a few days, if I am an oriental, they may not recognize me properly. I try to wear the same kind of fashion so that I can be easily recognized. I also wear a cap to make an impression, but to avoid that, I sometimes take it off and wrap a tenugui around my neck on purpose.
Maruyama-san, you have been traveling as a backpacker for a long time, haven't you? Has your traveling style changed since then?
Maruyama:. In the past, I used to travel as much as I could, as if I were covering a story. Now, however, I go to places I want to visit and things I want to see, based on my own interests. So now, I rarely go on a trip where I am forced to go. For example, I don't just want to travel around the U.S.; I want to see what I want to see in the U.S., and I go there to confirm what I want to see. . It is not that my style has changed, but rather my way of doing things has become more efficient.
Did you start when you were a student studying archaeology?
Maruyama:When I was in college, I was also doing research and listening to someone else's story like an interview, but looking back now, it was poorly done. My feelings are the same now as they were then, but the technical aspects and the environment surrounding me has changed, such as the availability of places to publish interviews, are also significant.
