Almost 20 years ago Sayaka Kuriyama was a popular Shibuya shop manager and ganguro gal with a dark tan typical of the late 1990s fashion trend.

Fast forward to March this year and the former fashionista left for Africa in her current role helping people with serious diseases.

"I want to save as many people as possible," the 35-year-old, who obtained a medical technician license in Mozambique last year, said during an interview in Tokyo before returning to the Southeast African nation.