Please introduce yourself.

I'm Gakuto Nakao. I worked at a hospital for 6 years after graduated from university, and then obtained a master's degree from graduate school. After that, I was dispatched to Fiji as a JICA volunteer and I have been working as a teacher since January 2021. My hobby is taking pictures and videos. In addition to shooting, I can also edit video.

Why did you decaide to become Physical Therapist?

It was when I was in high school. Originally I was aiming to be a soccer player, but I found it difficult and decided to rethink my goal. When I consulted with my father, he said, "How about a physical therapist?"
I didn't even know the name until then, but when I looked it up, I found out that it was a very interesting job, so I decided to become a physical therapist.

Please tell about volunteer in Fiji.

I stayed in Fiji for a year and a half and did various activities. First, Fiji has the highest rate of death from diabetes in the world. As diabetes progresses, the lower limbs must be amputated, so I was working hard to provide post-surgery care for patients with amputated lower limbs. There are five main activities which I did in Fiji.

The first is medical activities at the clinic.
The second is a visit to the village.
The third is the donation of welfare equipment such as wheelchairs or canes.
Fourth, I taught people in village to knowledge about the medical situation.
Fifth, I provided exercise guidance to patients through materials such as videos.

Could you tell me why did you decide to become a teacher?

I simply like teaching students. If we can properly convey to students the potential and knowledge of the work about a physical therapist, We believe that the possibilities for students to work as physical therapist in the future will surely increase.

What do you think about difficulty and fun of teaching?

Our school has only 3 years until the national examination. It is one year less than a four-year school, so I will instruct students to study persistently. I think this is very tough for both students and me...
Also, when a student asks me a question, I often say "I can't take my hands off ..." I'm sorry. I always find it difficult to teach about the short time.

On the other hand, teaching in a short time is also rewarding for me. In order to graduate in 3 years, I have a lot of time to share with students. So I can see the growth of the students right in front of me. Also, since there are various departments in the school, they can study with students from other departments. It's nice to be able to interact at events.

Do you have any dream or vision?

My goal is to be a person who is always challenging. Even if it's something no one has done, I want to keep trying.

There are many people in the world who want to study in Japan. Please give any advice and message to those people.

It was same for me, I think it's hard for everyone to live in a foreign country. Many things are different. But even if the environment changes and you can't share the same time, you're not alone. People close to you will definitely support you. What I always say is that it is important to believe in yourself. Believe in yourself and take on the challenge in Japan.