Meet the Staff – Eric Blair Eric Blair first arrived in Japan in 1984. Although he had no interest whatsoever in sumo at first, having the sport always there in the background over the twenty plus years he has now spent in downtown Tokyo, a passing interest has since developed into a full blown passion over the past dozen basho or so. A writer since his childhood and winner of several literary prizes, Eric feels compelled to share his naturally ingrained streak of cynicism with all and any readers that come his way.