Quite a few sparks flew when an infamous Yogi used the phrase “green virus” for a section of our community. Instead of seeking to draw strength from the diversity our country shares, we are now caught up in a strange kind of murky politics in India.

However, Japan does have some good news to share because another 'Yogi' in the country is showing us how to win people's heart and become their representative in the truest sense. A 41-year-old Indian-origin Japanese man has just become the first Indian to win an election in the country.

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Named Puranik Yogendra, he goes by the nickname 'Yogi' and has been elected to Tokyo's Edogawa Ward assembly after securing the fifth highest vote count in the 21st April polls.

Edogawa Ward houses the highest number of Indians in Tokyo, which is almost 10 percent of Japan's total Indian occupancy, which is over 34,000! Apart from Indians, Edogawa Ward is also home to a large number of Chinese and Koreans.

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What makes Yogi, a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan member, so special is his mission, “I want to be a bridge between Japanese and foreigners," Yogi told the media.

Yogendra first visited Japan in 1997 as a university student in India. Two years later he was back in the country to study, and finally in 2001 Yogi arrived in Japan to work as an engineer. Reportedly, he has been living in Edogawa Ward since 2005.

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After receiving Japanese citizenship, Yogi began pursuing a career in politics. "I want to be an assemblyman who can connect everyone regardless of nationality, age, or even disabilities, through my 20 years of living in Japan," Yogi said.

We hope Yogis at home take some inspiration from this man.