MENU
MENU
September 17th 2018 (Monday)
Takashi Castillo
With “heartfelt words in living language”, which I have put my heart and soul into, I want to create an opportunity to change the world. With this thought in mind, I have put together a homepage on which I upload articles that have been translated into four languages: Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
The reason I started to go global instead of just focusing on Japan is because I want to give back to the people I met abroad. They brought about a good change in me and I want to reciprocate that.
When I was in university, I aimed to become a P.E. Teacher, so I went to a sports university. As I studied there for several years, things went smoothly and I was on my way to becoming one. But gradually I started to worry more and more that perhaps if things stay as they are then I would not only become a teacher with almost no sense of creativity but also only be able to provide students with answers that would be straight out of the textbook. I didn't want to become that kind of boring teacher.
I felt that I had to get out of that situation no matter what. It just so happened that I had many biracial Filipinos around me at that time. This prompted me to decide to study English abroad in the Philippines in 2014. This experience did not only improve my language abilities but also was what drastically changed my worldview.
And so, once I actually set foot in the Philippines, everything I took as commonplace up until then, living a peaceful and quiet life in Japan, went out the window.
Streets were congested with abnormal amounts of traffic and car exhaust, phone and internet connections were interrupted often, and, sanitation standards, including things like tap water, were nowhere near to that of Japan.
Also, poverty is a serious issue in the Philippines. There are many people living off just about $180 a month and some have trouble finding food. On the other hand, my home country of Japan, is known for having a huge food waste issue.
These kinds of poverty issues also produce many “street children”. I was extremely shocked when I saw street children for the first time with my own two eyes. At that time, I had a tight feeling in my chest. It really made me consider many things. All I could think was “Why are things being left like this and what can I do to change it?”.
You never know when the things you thought only happens to others will happen to you. What seemed unrealistic can become ever so real. That's why I've started to be thankful for the things around me.
People change if their environment changes. Conversely, if people change, then their environment can also greatly change. When it comes to young children, the kind of people they meet and the kind of environment they grow up in has a major impact on that child’s life. If the situation that the Filipinos are currently in is changed, then, as a result, I believe that the people themselves will also change. In order to make that happen, I must first change myself; I believe that by first changing myself, it may just bring change to others and the environment too; it all starts with just one person. I can feel this hope rising in my chest.
Visiting the Philippines gave me the opportunity to change my view on life. I want to return this favor to the Filipinos, however I can, and have been thinking of what I can do for them.
And what came naturally to mind was how important words are. I studied English abroad in the Philippines despite hardly being able to speak it. It is possible to sometimes deal with language barriers by using gestures or facial expressions, but in order to better communicate with others in English, it's vital to be able to properly express your thoughts or ideas.
Since people are living beings that evolve along with their environment, words, our essential tool for communication, evolves as well. No matter how much our society changes, I'm sure that the best tool for touching people's hearts will be no other than “words”. That's why I don't want to make light of the words that I or others use. As I've been studying English, I’ve looked at myself objectively and I am without a doubt.
I put out information through articles that capture various viewpoints from different angles on the homepage that I manage. This project contains a lot of material about Japan and other countries, for instance the Philippines — which I hope to give back to — or about other countries that I have actually visited and had to rethink my perspective and mentality after interacting with the locals.
I want to become a person who can bring out the best in people such as their charm. With that in mind, I started the project and worked on it every day. I use the experience I get from that in order to change myself little by little. And I continue to do so by putting my heart and soul into sending out “heartfelt words in living language”. My subscribers and listeners help to change me as well, little by little. This change is sure to expand and reach others, eventually changing our environment as well. In this fashion, I would like to help not only those I see in front of me, but extend a hand to you as well, who I cannot see, and hopefully someday, you and I can change the world.
This is the reason why I set my eyes on the world.
That's all for now.
Copyright © MIRAXMA All Rights Reserved.