Hello Laura,<br /><br />My name is Takayuki Murai, and it's Mr. Murai. My friends called me Taka when I was a student in the US, so I still use it as a shortened version.<br /><br />I wonder what made you think that I spent my time in New York. I have a good friend from high school (in Japan) who lives in NYC, and I have spent some time with him there, but it's St. Louis, Missouri where I spent most of my time in the US.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />Taka Murai