Lost Friend, Akira Sawasato

Today I looked through a box of old stuff! Aside from all of the fading photos and sketches and short stories and birthday cards I found a lot of letters (all from before email was pervasive). A lot of these letters are from people I'd forgotten, or in most cases, remembered but had no idea where they are or what they're doing.

So I thought ... I should at least try to find them! Here's a shot at finding the first of them ... a wild Japanese cat (my first of many Japanese friends) Akira Sawasato ...

I am looking for a lost friend, Akira Sawasato.

Akira travelled to Australia in 1992. I met him in Brisbane, he was walking the streets looking for a supermarket (going completely the wrong way). I gave him a lift and, afterwards, dropped him off at his backpackers. I took the next day off work, picked him up and took him to Lone Pine Koala sanctuary, where we met up with his friend Masa (they had met on the plane from Japan to Australia).

Over the next few months Akira, Masa and I were good friends. I helped Akira find rental accommodation.

In April 1993 I received a letter from Akira. He was living in South Yarra, Melbourne and was working at "the opal shop". By the time I replied he had moved onto another city with no forwarding address. I never heard from him again.

In his letter he said he intended to visit New Zealand for 3 months. Then he would try to be a ski instructor in Canada for 6 months.

Akira said he was a motorcycle racer in Japan. He often described himself as "the Japanese Wayne Gardner" (an Australian who was the world motorcycle champion of the time). I think he told me he was from Yokohama, but I can't be certain.

If this sounds like anyone you know please contact me via this board or at my blog http://seine.vox.com/

Thank you!