Student Interview

Student Interview vol. 1

July, 2009
Mr. David Fisher (USA)


Mr. Fisher with the teacher Ms. Oyama.

Mr. David Fisher Profile
From Kansas, USA. Born in 1919. Came to Japan in 1968 and has lived in Tokyo since for 41 years. Taught English for 30 years and is now enjoying the retired life, learning Japanese and playing ukulele.

KAI’s eldest student Mr. David Fisher has turned 90 this July. To celebrate this memorable occasion, a special student award was given to Mr. Fisher. We also had a chance to interview Mr. Fisher and hear his stories about his life and experiences in Japan.

Interviewer: KAI staff (KAI) and Mr. Fisher’s teacher, Ms. Oyama

KAI: When did you first come to Japan? Fisher: I came to Japan in Oct 1968. I came here to live about 2 years and it turned out I stayed for 41 years. KAI: When did you study Japanese for the first time? Fisher: Before coming to Japan, I studied Japanese for one semester in California. Once I came here, I studied by myself on and off. When I quit teaching (English) and retired, I had a Japanese instructor. So we would speak a little in Japanese and he said to me, “You know a lot of Japanese, but it’s like scrambled eggs.” Then I realized the best way to study a language is to really study the language. For a young person coming to Japan with very little Japanese, he should do nothing else but study the language. This would be my recommendation for a young person. Study the language and learn it so that you can mix with Japanese people. Then you can really learn the culture of Japan. I have been here for more than 40 years, but I think I have barely scratched the surface of Japanese culture. KAI: You feel that way, being here for more than 40 years? Fisher: I feel that way. A lot of it here is kimochi (affections), isn’t it? We, Americans use words, specific words, whereas for Japanese, sometimes the most important communication is not in words. It’s better if you know the language well enough so that you can absorb the culture and communicate in the Japanese way. Special student award was given to Mr. Fisher. KAI: You have been taking private lessons at KAI for the past three and half years. Fisher: Yes, it’s been a wonderful experience, and I think in the long run, we’ve learnt a lot. Before starting at KAI, I studied quite a bit of kanji with one of those cards. I got quite good at it and learned over 300 kanji. But then again, it was like scrambled eggs. I didn’t know how to use all the kanji I learned. Around this time, I met an interesting person who used to teach at KAI. She introduced the school to me and I followed the trail. KAI: The right trail, I hope? Fisher: Oh, you bet! Of course I was late the first day of my lesson because I got lost and I circled around the school. (Laughs.) But anyway, it’s been a wonderful experience here. There’s a human base here that’s unique and you don’t find that in all of the Japanese language schools. It’s different. I also meet other students here so that I get a sense of what’s going on in school. Students I meet here would say hello to me, offer me candies, and we would start conversation… For an older person, this is wonderful. Human relationship, I’m sure, is what helped me to stay alive. And I’m having fun! KAI: Having fun is important, isn’t it? Fisher: It’s very important! Have fun and enjoy as long as possible. When I go, I want to go all at once, but I want to go right up till the end, having fun. When I say fun, I mean helping other people and meeting other people. After all, that’s the only motivation I’ve got left. I study Japanese because I can meet a lot of people like my sensei. (Points at Oyama.) And through me, you (Oyama) met a lot of people. So it’s like the Japanese expression, mochitsu-motaretsu. In English, we say, “You scratch my back, I scratch yours.” Celebrating his 90th birthday with a homemade birthday cake. Mr. Fisher enjoying conversation with KAI staffs. KAI: I heard you had two careers, one in the states and one here in Japan? Fisher: I was studying to be a teacher at a university when the World War II was about to start. Then the war started and I went into the military so I couldn’t finish university. After the war, I was still professionally involved (in the military), and along the way, I graduated from university in Florida. When I retired from that, the first thing I did was, within one year, I went back to school for two years. My advice for an older person, or anyone really, is, if you wanted to do something or if you have a dream of becoming a professional person or whatever, but your life is interrupted and beyond your control, then don’t forget the dream. Keep it. Keep it and do your best to eventually realize the dream that you had from the very beginning. You may have to wait for years, the way I did, but it’s possible. I spent 25 years doing one thing. I retired and went back to university and then spent another 30 years doing something else I wanted to do when I was young. I think that probably helps the person to live longer. I’m beginning to feel it’s not about how long you live. It’s about what you do between the time you were born and the time you die. So I feel pretty good about what I’ve done. KAI: What is your dream now? Fisher: What is my dream now? Well, my dream now is to learn survival Japanese so that I can survive a little bit better. (Says to Oyama) We are working on that right? I want to study Japanese language as long as I have something between my ears. Getting older is not the matter of fighting. It’s an adapting process. Getting older is a matter of living with it and adapting to whatever comes up. Dying is a part of living. It’s a part of the cycle. You adapt as you go along, you do your best and it happens. KAI: I heard your birthday is coming up. How old are you going to be? Fisher: I’ll be 90. KAI: Congratulations! Fisher: Everything concerned, I’m in a pretty good shape. I see a lot of people walking around with cane. I have mine here, but I don’t use it for that long. Oyama: What I’m always amazed about Mr. Fisher is that he never gives up. In the past 3 and half years, his eyesight and legs have become weaker, and some days, he has problem with his eyes or legs. But he says it’s nothing. Even with problems, he says there is still something he can do and learn. His attitude towards life and will to continue learning is amazing. Fisher: I’ve been studying Japanese, and in someway, I ask myself, “Why am I studying Japanese?” But I say, what else to do? You know. To keep myself interested in things. You’ve got to zero in on something. So I zeroed in on Japanese and I’m also learning how to play the ukulele. KAI: You play the ukulele!? Fisher: I’m absolutely amazed! Not with myself of course! (Laughs.) The concentration, you know. I just didn’t study soon enough. KAI: When did you start playing ukulele? Fisher: About 2 years ago. She (Oyama) knows the group. Oyama: I was influenced by Mr. Fisher and started learning the jazz guitar. KAI: Maybe you two can have a mini concert at KAI sometime!? Fisher: No, no concert!! Or…maybe sometime! But I’m not quite ready yet. But it’s amazing. When you play an instrument, the physical part is there, the chord has to be there, and your mind and everything.  You have to coordinate and focus in on the music. Listening, seeing, reading, and playing this little ukulele. It’s a wonderful instrument. You get a lot out of it... Oh, I’m getting off the track again. Should I stop speaking now? (Laughs.) KAI: I would love to hear more of your stories, but I’m afraid the time is running up... Thank you for your time today. Listening to your life stories, it felt like listening to a special lecture at university. Thank you very much! Fisher: It was my pleasure! Thank you!