Wednesday, October 11, 2006 Nobuichi Nakao: The newest Dabawenyo By Antonio M. Ajero
THE latest addition to the growing number of foreigners who have decided to take up residence in Davao City is a retired Japanese industrialist.
He is 93-year-old Nobuichi Nakao, who belongs to the second generation of businessmen who made a name in food processing, especially of fish and other marine products in Kagoshima, sister city of Davao City.
Mr. Nakao's son -r Sumihiro -- owns and operates the P350-million Nakashin International, Inc. food processing plant at Malagamot, this city. The firm processes fruits, fish and other marine products, vegetables and exports the same to Japan.
At 93, Nobuichi is so far the oldest holder of a special resident retiree visa issued by the Philippine Retirement Authority, allowing him to stay in the Philippines particularly in Davao City. To administer the oath and hand the visa and identification card of Mr. Nakao, retired general Reynaldo Lingat, Manila-based department manager of the PRA resident retired Servicing Center, had to make a special trip to Davao a month ago.
Nobuichi-san consented to an interview with this writer at his new home in the city with the assistance of businessman and long-time Davao resident Yoichi Amano as interpreter.
Amano is director for international services of the Rotary Club of East Davao.
Born in 1913, Nubuichi is one of the children of Nakao Shinnosuke, fish trader who founded the original Kagoshima-based Nakashin Food, Inc. Aside from being a progressive company for generations, Nakashin is famous in Japan for hiring physically-challenged (handicapped) workers. It has been officially recognized by the Japanese government's Department of Social Welfare because 20 percent of its employees are differently-abled.
After finishing secondary education, Nobuichi decided not to proceed to college, unlike his brothers who opted to pursue college courses in the Tokyo Imperial University.
"I decided to become the area's No. 1 fish trader. So, I thought I had to start early in learning the business my father was engaged in," Nobuichi told this writer through interpreter Amano.
He worked very hard and retired only when he was already 88 years old.
Mr. Nakao is enamored with everything about Davao -- food, climate, warm hospitality of Dabawenyos, facilities and excellent services. You name it, he loves it.
Mr. Nakao is being taken care of by at least two Filipino caregivers? Aside from that, a doctor from Davao Medical Center visits him once a week.
"Pero if he has some trouble with the "mata" or the teeth, upon the advise of the doctor he will go to the different hospital, " Amano told this writer.
One thing Nobuichi appreciates about Davao compared with Japan, is the special and warm service that he gets from hospital staff. He said that whenever he visits a hospital, the guard and the other staff would rush to him and then help him with his difficulty in walking.
He has observed that Filipinos are generally very caring of their elderlies. This and other special qualities of Filipinos have encouraged Mr. Nakao to aspire to live longer, at least for another 10 years and join the increasing number of Japanese centenarians. Japan has so far the biggest number of centenarians in the world.
What is your secret of your health and long life, Mr. Nakao?
I asked him.
Answer: Physical exercise every morning and every evening since he was a boy up to now, working, samurai practice with the use of wooden sword. He is also a very skilled slicer of fish.
How about food?
"No smoking, no drinking and when you eat do not fill up your stomach 100 percent, only about 80 percent of its capacity, always leave some room of about 20 percent unfilled," he said.
Yes, unlike here in the Philippines, where we eat 120 percent of our stomach's capacity. However, Nobuichi said has no food preference, he can eat anything.
How about his father? How long did he live? He lived up to 64.
How about your wife? 64 also, said Nobuichi, who is so far the oldest living member of his clan.
What is his advice to the young in order to achieve long life? Please follow what I have been doing -- exercise always, no smoking, no drinking, do not over-eat, work hard.
Mr. Nakao's motto in life is "Be honest to everybody, do not tell a lie, do not cheat people. Heaven will know knows that you are sincere."
Is he also a religious person? He is a Buddhist.
He can eat any local food. He specially likes mongo soup and din kinilaw na tamban. While he likes fish, he also likes pork. To him, Philippine pork is much tastier than the Japanese pork. He likes to eat durian, in candy form. As to rest of the Davao fruits that he has tasted fresh, he likes all of them very much.
When he celebrated his birthday in Davao City last August, Mr. Nakao's home was teeming with Japanese and Filipino guests, a number of them coming from the factory in Malagamot. He loved the modern dancing presentation, actually he likes Philippine-style ceremonies.
