If the Indian ambassador to Japan, Aftab Seth, ever loses his pen, the world may come to an end. His world, that is.
Bought in 1959, his beloved Parker 51 has traveled as many kilometers around the globe as it has scribed lines of notes, documents, letters and poetry. "Isn't it splendid?" he marvels as he draws the pen from his top pocket. "Now just wait a second," reaching to sign a copy of his latest book, "and I'll go fish out a (name) card."
It is an especially busy day, with a delegation arrived from New Delhi to inspect Indian government-owned properties in and around Tokyo. "Our first embassy, in 1952, was in a daimyo's house in Shinjuku. It's still there -- in fact, we live in it." The idea is that all the properties be renovated and put to use, instead of crumbling away. Expensive yes, but with Tokyo land still the most expensive in the world after Osaka, "worth it in the long run."