IT’S best to go with the flow of your time and live your life as it comes.”
This line, drawn from the soulful Japanese ballad Kawa no Nagare no You ni (“Like the Flow of the River”), resonates deeply with many who have faced the quiet sacrifices of life.
For Shintaro Akada, a 50-year-old Hospital Management Specialist from Tsuyama City in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, the song is more than just a melody, it is a reminder of home.
Born and raised in Tsuyama alongside his older brother, Mr Akada describes his upbringing as grounded and warm, with a healthy relationship with his parents.
Despite having never traveled abroad themselves, his parents encouraged the idea that working or studying overseas could be a significant and valuable step in life.
“I studied nursing subjects at Tsuyama Nursing Professional School in Tsuyama, Japan, from 1996 to 1999, and have been certified as a registered nurse (RN) since 1999,” Mr Akada said.
“However, when I was a child, I was not interested in the medical field and had no desire to become an RN.
“I never imagined that I would become a nurse myself, as it was uncommon for men to work as nurses in Japan around the late 1990s.
“I had an interest in working in the field of intensive care or emergency care in a hospital since being admitted to nursing school.”
Alongside this growing professional focus was a long-standing personal dream: to live or work abroad. However, the path to that dream would not be a direct one.
As a young nurse, Mr Akada came across the work of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Volunteers, an organization dedicated to supporting developing countries.
“At that time, my English skills were very poor, and I had never been outside of Japan; therefore, I felt that applying for a volunteer position was too challenging for me.”
It wasn’t until nearly three decades later, just before turning 50, that Mr Akada finally became a JICA volunteer.
His first assignment was at Sigatoka Hospital, where he worked as a Hospital Management Specialist. His role involved implementing the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM methodology, a Japanese management philosophy focused on workplace efficiency and continuous improvement.
Through seminars, awareness materials, and one-on-one support, he guided hospital staff in creating cleaner, more organized, and more effective healthcare environments.
The journey, however, has not been without hardship.
“Reflecting on my greatest challenge, five years ago, my mother passed away suddenly while I was working at a hospital in India.
“In 2020, as you are well aware, the world was hit by a major crisis, COVID-19.
“In the midst, she passed away.”
While working in India, he received the devastating news that his mother had passed away suddenly in Japan. Travel restrictions and lockdowns made it impossible for him to return home in time to see her or attend her funeral.
The loss weighed heavily on him for months. Feelings of regret and helplessness consumed him, until a quiet realisation brought solace: the belief that his mother lived on in him, her presence carried in his blood and spirit.
Mr Akada said that sense of connection helped him begin to heal.
Today, with a year and a half of volunteer work behind him, Mr Akada looks to the future with hope and clarity.
“I ultimately want to stay in my hometown, Tsuyama.
“However, after completing this volunteer work, I aspire to work abroad again, leveraging this experience.”
His guiding principle; “not to overthink what lies ahead.”
As he puts it, his goal is “to be someone who earns the genuine trust of at least one person and supports them with all my heart.”
(middle) 50-year-old hospital management specialist, Shintaro Akada. Picture: : SUPPLIED