SAMAN’S “GANBAROH NIPPON” IN JAPANESE
Saman Athaudahetti has reached a milestone in his travel writing career with his book based on his travels of Japan and the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 earthquake which is to be launched in Japanese. The initiative for this book to be written struck Saman right after the earthquake where he urged his Sri Lankan friends in Japan to stay back and help the relief efforts. “It was their duty and time to give back to the country which was their home now,” he said. The book titled “Ganbaroh Nippon” is compiled of various articles Saman Athaudahetti wrote for the Lankadeepa newspaper.
The disaster that struck Japan in March left many without shelter, food and other basic necessities. Saman was the first Sri Lankan journalist to visit the
disaster- stricken area. “I wanted to leave as soon as I could but flight restrictions hindered my attempts” he said. Saman left for Japan on the April 10, 2011.
Ayami Nushlyama, the translator of the book was amazed at the effort countries like Sri Lanka was putting in to help Japan. “I did not know that Sri Lankans or any other nation was this keen to help us,” she said. “This is an attempt to let the Japanese people know and to thank those who helped us in our time of need,” she noted. She further said that the translation process will be I WANTED TO LEAVE AS SOON
AS I COULD BUT FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS HINDERED MY ATTEMPTS” HE SAID. SAMAN LEFT FOR JAPAN ON THE
APRIL 10, 2011. completed soon and the book will be published soon after.
The book contains eye-witness accounts of how the Japanese people coped with the struggle to return to life as they knew it. It also holds a vivid description of the Sri Lankan community who stayed back to help in the relief efforts. “We were not trying to impress anyone or make a nationwide impact but to help the Japanese people in what little way we can,” he said.
Saman has written a book prior to “Ganbaroh Nippon” about Japan, its people and culture titled “Wandering with pleasure along Hanimachchi” which received much acknowledgement and appreciation from Sri Lankan and Japanese readers alike.