Yogendra PURANIK elected to be a City Councillor in Edogawa, Tokyo

It's not uncommon for political posters
of Japanese candidates to use nicknames
or kana to help voters remember them.

プラニク・ヨゲンドラ {PURANIKU · Yogendora} (पुराणिक योगेंद्र / Nickname in Japanese: よぎ {Yogi}) was born in western India in 1977. He is the eldest son of three brothers. His father works at a factory and his mother is a seamstress. After graduating in India, he continued his education and earned a master's degree in international economy and international management. At the same time, he holds degrees in IT (computer development) and the Japanese language.

He first visited Japan as a student in 1997 and 1999, funded by the government. After college, he was given a job offer from a US company, but he chose to work in IT in Japan in 2001. He got married that year, and had his first child the year after that. His wife teaches at an overseas university, so he raises his son alone in Japan. Because of this, he became acutely aware of the challenges and difficulties of raising a child while maintaining a career.

His family moved to an apartment complex in 西葛西 {Nishikasai} in 2005, quickly becoming actively involved with the local resident's association, such as planning and holding festivals and events, planning the annual お盆祭りO-bon matsuri (O-bon dance festival), and conducting seminars on waste management, disaster preparation, and adapting to the Japanese lifestyle for Indian residents who are new to the apartment complex. Additionally, he volunteers to teach computer literacy and skills to seniors in his neighborhood, as well as participating in the PTA for his child's school as an officer.

He has been engaged in volunteer activities and since 2008 has been holding PC classes for elderly people in Nishi Kasai. He actively participated in PTA activities as a senior or an officer. Additionally, he won the PTA Table Tennis Club's team competition. His child attended both international school as well as public elementary and middle school in Japan, and is now studying in the U.K. under scholarship.

Yogi soon established himself as a leader within the Indian community in Japan. He established the Japan-Indian Association with the support of the Indian Embassy in Tokyo, and became its first president. He built a huge network of Indians in Japan, focusing on welfare and educational activities. 

While many foreign residents fled Japan after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Yogi stayed and actively volunteered and conducted fundraising activities in Japan. This included visiting the disaster areas several times and helping out with food distribution, cleaning, and health care.

The events of 3.11 inspired Yogi to apply for naturalization in 2011. His application was accepted in 2012, thus becoming a Japanese national.

Yogi is currently working as a manager at a Japanese bank while simultaneously serving as a visiting lecturer for 外務省 {gaimushō} (MoFA), other government agencies, and various companies. If that wasn't enough, he also operates a culture center and an Indian restaurant. He even won a prestigious industry award in 2016 from Edogawa for his Indian cuisine. Television watchers in Japan have probably seen his face at least once as he is often featured in local programming.

With Yogi's successful election, he becomes the first Japanese of Indian origin to be elected to a public office in Japan.