The onset of Autumn and research in Fukuoka

The Lord does work in strange ways. Who would have thought that we would be blessed with a trip to Japan this time of the year? But we are here, in the beautiful land of the “hills of fortune or happiness”- the literal meaning of Fukuoka, one prefecture (what is to us a province) in the southern portion of Japan.

And we are here just when the temperature suddenly shifted from the summer heat to the early cold winds heralding the coming of autumn. The cold weather, however, has been tempered with the beauty of the changing colors of nature. The bright flowers and green leaves of summer are still around but the changing hues of certain plants and the cold temperature herald that autumn is ready to take over as the prime season this time.

 What brings us to Japan now is a continuing research about our Filipino migrants in Japan. Through the kind support of Kyushu University and our lead research coordinator, Prof. Shun Ohno, this trip will allow us to meet and reunite with our Filipino migrants in various parts of Japan as well as those who support and assist them here.

Fukuoka is our first stop. Then we proceed to search for our Filipino migrants, including caregivers and those who work related to nursing and caregiving in various areas of Japan: Kyoto, Nagoya, Tokyo, Yokohama, Saitama, Tsukuba, and possibly, even to faraway Nagano up in the northern area - the famous snow country of Japan!

Already, only on our first morning here, we are learning so much about the recent developments about our Filipino migrants here in Fukuoka, particularly those who have been trained to be caregivers by Mr. Masahiro Nakamura of InterAsia Company.

We will certainly learn more when we meet about 30 out of the 80 trained by Nakamura-san come November 3. Of the 80, about 11 have started to work as caregivers in several agencies within Fukuoka. We also wish to interview them about their work so that those who wish to come to Japan later as caregivers may have an idea about what to expect about this type of service.

Mr. Nakamura trains the so-called zainichi Filipinos, the long-term residents who have settled permanently in Japan as spouses and mothers of Japanese nationals. Being a former banker, Mr. Nakamura did not imagine himself setting up a company aimed at assisting foreigners adjust and settle comfortably in Japan. After his retirement, Mr. Nakamura looked forward to fishing, farming, and enjoying his life quietly together with his very supportive and artistic wife, Mrs. Nakamura.

Now, he and his wife, however, have shifted gears. Instead of pursuing their after retirement plans, they have instead decided to take on the unfinished dream of their eldest and only son, Kenichiro who died of brain tumor in 2004.

Kenichiro’s travels to Asia made him realize that many of the poor women that he met dreamt of working in Japan as unemployment eluded them in their own countries. He heard many stories of their wanting to travel to Japan to help their families survive. In 1999, Kenichiro, in his early 30s, quit his former job and decided to put up his own company to take care of foreigners find good, secured and protected employment in Japan.

Death, however prevented Kenichiro from fulfilling his dream of assisting and protecting the foreigners in Japan. His parents, after mourning and upon deep reflection, decided to honor and celebrate his dream by taking up the challenge themselves. His father decided to put up a company to help train and dispatch foreign caregivers, mostly Filipino residents in Fukuoka.

Not content with having trained a large number, Mr. Nakamura has recently decided to put up his own nursing facility for Japanese elderly so that he can directly provide jobs to those he has trained. This is part of the good news that he wants to share during the November 3 reunion to be held in their beautiful home in a quiet area of Fukuoka. He will also share the good news of a scholarship fund available for those who are unable to follow their dream to train as caregivers.

And the plans to help foreigners, especially those from Asia, continue to grow in the hearts of the very kind and generous Nakamura family who did not allow their son’s dream to end with his death.

The touching story of a father carrying on his dead son’s dream has captured the attention of Japanese media. Mr. Nakamura has been interviewed, their beautiful story written up about in local and international newspapers and featured as well in several Japanese tv programs.

Who would have imagined to discover such gems among the Japanese, such rare yet touching story about the deep love of Mr. and Mrs. Nakamura for their son, Kenichiro, and their continuing concern and affection for Asians, including Filipinos in Japan?

Our research about Filipino migrants in Japan has taken and continues to take us not only into the inner world of our own Filipino women and their families. It has allowed us to enter the homes and the beautiful world of friendship and partnership with the Japanese, like the Nakamuras, who love to see and be part of those eager and sincere to construct a better world of understanding and affection among all peoples of the world.Like beautiful autumn that is at its onset, our challenging research has also just commenced…

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