Jose Alvares has tried to "reconnect" the Portuguese and Japanese cultures over the last 43 years he has spent in Japan.

The veteran researcher of Portuguese culture and history says it's difficult to explain why he chose to live in Japan, but he was intrigued by the "mystery" of this country.

Although he has been away from his home country for decades, he says his heart is in Portugal. "And my soul is in Japan. I'm living in two worlds. Every day I make a phone call to Portugal, where my daughter is," he said.