In 1992 my wife, Susan, and I took ourfour children — then aged between 3 and 9 — from Kyoto to Sydney. The children, who until then had been going to Japanese kindergarten and primary schools, spoke Japanese among themselves. We felt they needed some time in an English-speaking environment if they were ever going to be able to speak, read and write the language fluently, because just being a native doesn't make for a native-speaker.

We ended up spending three years in Sydney, living in the lovely and historical suburb of Mosman. Susan set up her own company to market Australian medical supplies and know-how to Japan. I stayed at home to write.

In the mornings, after I drove Susan to the bus stop, from where she traveled to her office, I would return home. The children were usually at school by then, so I had a lot of time to write . . . and to do the housework.