APOLLO 11’s moon landing in 1969 aroused the curiosity of thousands around the globe to look beyond Earth and ponder the mysteries of the universe.
Those with their feet on Earth dared to dream about the vastness of distant stars.
As a primary school student, Kanazawa Masafumi felt he had found his life’s calling when he saw Neil Armstrong take the proverbial “a small step for man and a giant leap for mankind”.
He dreamt about becoming an astronaut as his interest in pilots and airplanes grew, and chose to study mechanical engineering (fluid dynamics) in university and graduate school.
It wasn’t until he joined a mountaineering club at university that his love for the stars got overshadowed by the lush, incomparable beauty he saw on Earth.
“I joined a mountaineering club (Wander-vogel Club) from university and became attracted to the richness of nature,” he said.
The effect was immediate in his life. He was firmly on course towards graduation in mechanical engineering but swerved towards environment consultancy, specialising in environmental assessments.
To date, he has not regretted his decision. It has taken him from Japan to Fiji, where he currently works as a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) volunteer with the Suva City Council’s health department.
The 67-year-old, who was born in Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture of Japan, says he has learnt a lot in this journey.
“The Seto Inland Sea was nearby (where I lived), so I used to swim a lot when I was little,” he says.
“However, I was shocked I could no longer swim due to environmental pollution around in junior high school. Currently, my family of five, including my wife, eldest son, eldest daughter, and second daughter, lives in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture. Lake Biwa is nearby, so we can swim there.”
During his working years, a fellow mountaineer introduced him to a senior overseas volunteer, whom he knew as Todoroki-sensei.
Mr Masafumi says Todoroki-sensei was one of the pioneers of senior overseas volunteering in Japan.
“Todoroki-san told me about the world of senior overseas volunteering, and I began to think that I wanted to become one someday.
“At Suva City Council, I am working to improve the composting program of organic waste generated at the Suva Municipal Market in order to reduce increasing waste management costs.
“This program is highly feasible and has a large cost-saving effect. I am also providing similar support to the Nausori Town Council.
“I did my first senior overseas volunteer work with the Majuro Atoll Waste Company in the Marshall Islands. I supported starting up a beverage container deposit program.
“When the program began, I saw the town being cleared of all the dumped cans and plastic bottles, and I felt like I was witnessing a historic moment.”
His life in Fiji is not all work.
An avid mountaineer, he has not let his age and work deter him from seeing the beauty that Fiji’s mountainous terrain has to offer.
“I continue to climb mountains with my family and friends, for example, I have three times climbed Mount Fuji in Japan and Mount Tomaniivi, the highest peak in Fiji, last year. I hope to see the highest peaks on all seven continents someday.
“I don’t feel lonely because I talk to my family once a week on social media. In fact, I think I talk to them more now than I was in Japan.
“I want to continue volunteering with JICA until I’m 69. I also want to continue supporting the environmental NPO “Kankyo Bunka Forum” that I belong to in my hometown.”
His work in Fiji has taught him valuable lessons in partnerships and camaraderie with the local people, saying overseas volunteers were not leaders, but companions with local people.
“Senior overseas volunteers are baton runners for the next generation.”
Kanazawa Masafumi (right) and Solomoni Navonu at the Suva City Council’s compost yard. Picture: JICA FIJI FACEBOOK PAGE
