Graying Japan, with its declining birth rates, has signalled its intention to let in over 5 lakh skilled foreign workers by 2025, and Indians are lining up “Moshi Moshi, konichiwa doushitan desu ka,” Mhaalini inquires, looking at Kanya. Pat comes the reply: “Hai, konichiwa watashi 101 no Kanya desu. Heya no air-con ga sukanain desu ga.” The two girls are speaking animatedly in Japanese before a large screen depicting the subject of their conversation: that the air-conditioner in...