David Howenstein does not believe in being jinxed, or in giving up, which is why after two abortive attempts to meet we finally link up. He arrives, suitably attired, by a typical three-speed bike for morning tea in Seibu, which is also rather derring-do.
With all the mainstream political PR focus suddenly on Africa, it is good to meet someone who has been actively concerned in trying to help for over a decade. David organizes Jambo International Center, based in Takadanobaba, in western Tokyo, which raises money by various means to help sponsor projects in Africa.
"JIC started 10 years ago and is called Jambo because it means 'hello' in Swahili. The funding we raise in total is not a large amount by Japanese standards, but it goes a long way in the most impoverished parts of south Africa."