Monday, July 6, 2020
On Tuesday, June 30th, Isao Hoshiba (81 years old), who had been active as a local revitalization cooperation volunteer in Hokuryu Town, completed his three-year assignment. We spoke to him about his activities to date, including the Early-Onset Dementia Family Association.
- 1 Regional revitalization activities/national activities
- 2 The life of Isao Hoshiba
- 3 Isao Hoshiba: Supporting people with early-onset dementia
- 4 Relocation of a family with early-onset dementia from Tokyo to Hokuryu Town
- 5 Isao Hoshiba's approach to supporting people with early-onset dementia
- 6 Mr. Hoshiba's daily health care
- 7 Related articles
Regional revitalization activities/national activities
Various activities to revitalize the local community
From 2017 to 2020, Isao Hoshiba worked hard as a dementia community promoter in Hokuryu Town, a director of the NPO Bright Farming, support activities for the Community Support Center, and employment support activities for people with disabilities.
Since his term as a Regional Revitalization Support Team member ended in July 2020, he has continued to volunteer as a life support coordinator in Hokuryu Town, a director of the NPO Bright Farming, support activities at the Community Support Center, and employment support activities for people with disabilities.
Nationwide activities related to early-onset dementia
Furthermore, he currently holds a number of concurrent positions in Tokyo, including advisor to the Hoshinokai Association for Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia (headquarters: Tokyo), director of the NPO Young-Onset Dementia Support Center (headquarters: Tokyo), and director of the NPO Ikiiki Welfare Network Center (headquarters: Tokyo).He has also traveled around the country to give lectures.
*"Ikiki*Gakudai" is the first support facility in Japan specializing in early-onset dementia and higher brain dysfunction, and is run by the NPO Ikiki Welfare Network Center. It offers specialized programs tailored to young people, provided by cognitive rehabilitation specialist staff.
The life of Isao Hoshiba
Isao Hoshiba came across the Early Onset Dementia Family Association when his wife, Yoshiko, was diagnosed with Pigg's disease at the age of 60. Since becoming the representative of the Early Onset Dementia Family Association, Saisei no Kai, in 2006, he has continued to provide dementia support while connecting with people with dementia and their families. Furthermore, while serving as a director of various organizations in Tokyo, he is also involved in accepting people with early onset dementia and their families into relocating to Hokuryu Town, as well as providing employment support.
boy/adolescent
Isao Hoshiba, 81 years old, was born in 1939 (Showa 14). He is originally from Hokuryu Town and attended Shinryu Elementary School, Hokuryu Junior High School, and Fukagawa Higashi High School. During his high school years, he lived in a dormitory in Fukagawa City.
My family runs a tofu shop
He grew up as the fourth son of nine siblings (six boys and three girls) to his father, Hoshiba Rinzo, and mother, Matsue. His family ran a tofu shop in Hokuryu Town, which also had a Hokkai Times sales outlet. His father was a Japanese National Railways employee (track maintenance officer) and later worked in the charcoal bus business. "Life was tough, but from a young age, I don't remember any of my siblings ever being scolded by our parents," says Hoshiba, speaking of his father's greatness.
Elementary, middle and high school years
He delivered newspapers for six years in elementary school, played basketball in junior high school, and enjoyed skating at a nearby roller rink in high school.
After graduating from high school, he planned to enter the National Railway Technical College in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, but before his high school graduation ceremony, he suffered from appendicitis and underwent surgery. He was unable to attend the graduation ceremony, and due to a combination of other circumstances, he gave up on enrolling.
Kimono wholesaler era (Tokyo)
Apprentice at a kimono wholesaler
In 1957 (Showa 32), at the age of 18, he moved to Tokyo. A war comrade of the father of his older brother's friend ran a kimono wholesaler in Tokyo, and through his introduction, he got a live-in apprenticeship at Ishikawa Shoten Co., Ltd., a kimono wholesaler located in Kofunacho, Nihonbashi, Tokyo, near Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. Unfortunately, the company went bankrupt within a year. He returned to his hometown for a few days, but soon returned to Tokyo.
His father had always told him, "You have to be patient and work at a job for three days, three months, or three years," so he faithfully followed his advice and decided to return to Tokyo and continue working at the kimono wholesaler.
10 years at a kimono wholesaler
The company changed from a public company to a limited company, and the number of employees decreased to 10, but it continued to exist. I loaded the rolls of fabric onto my scooter and went around to visit my regular customers in Yokohama and Kita-Senju, selling the rolls of fabric by myself. Thanks to that, I was able to learn the job quickly, and I was loved by my customers for 10 years.
Married to Yoshiko
In 1960 (Showa 35), at the age of 21, he married Yoshiko, a senior colleague at the same workplace. They started their married life in a six-tatami room in an apartment in Tsurumi City owned by a client who treated them like family. Yoshiko took care of the family without a single complaint. Their first daughter was born in 1962 (Showa 37), and their second daughter was born in 1967 (Showa 42).
Became independent and established Asahi San-ei Co., Ltd.
In 1967 (Showa 42), at the age of 28, he went independent and in 1968 (Showa 43), he established Asahi San-ei Co., Ltd. (Asahigaoka, Nerima Ward) and became its president. He was able to obtain an exceptional loan from a client, and was even allowed to use the first floor of the client's apartment as his office.
When I first started working, I lived in the Toyoshikidai public housing complex in Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, and commuted to Nerima Ward from there.
Kimono Gallery Yawara opens
In 1990 (Showa 65), Kimono Gallery Yawara was opened in Nerima Ward. A three-story building was rented, with the second floor used as the Asahi Sanei Co., Ltd. office, the third floor as a wholesale space, and the first floor as a social space and Kimono Gallery Yawara. The company was sold to another person and is still in business today.
Exhibition of Master Dyeing and Weaving Crafts
In December 1996, the Nerima Art Museum held an exhibition of works by master dyeing and weaving craftsmen. The exhibition featured 60 works by master dyeing and weaving craftsmen, including "Dawn" by Living National Treasure Shimura Fukumi. All of the works on display were from Isao Hoshiba's collection.
Encounter with Morita Therapy "As It Is"
Since his 50s, Isao Hoshiba has suffered from stress-related neurological heart disease caused by overwork, and has been visiting a medical university hospital in Tokyo for a year.
During this time, a friend recommended a book on natural therapy called Morita Therapy "Living as It Is," and when I tried this therapy, my symptoms improved. Even after that, whenever I suddenly experienced pain in my heart, I would take slow, deep breaths (abdominal breathing) repeatedly, and the pain would naturally fade and my symptoms would ease and calm down.
The "as is" approach in Morita therapy means to stop trying to eliminate anxiety and symptoms and cultivate an attitude of leaving things as they are. The main focus is to overcome neurosis (anxiety disorders) by cultivating a mindset of "as is." (Mental Health Okamoto Memorial Foundation, Public Interest Incorporated Foundation)Quoted from the website）
Tsuneo Okamoto, Vice President of Nichii Corporation, suffered from neurosis but overcame it through Morita therapy. Based on this experience, he founded the Mental Okamoto Memorial Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation, in 1988 (Showa 63) and became its chairman.
Tsuneo Okamoto invested his own money to establish the nationwide organization "Life Discovery Association." Mutual support activities for mental health based on Morita psychotherapy theory are being carried out nationwide. (Reference page here >>）
His wife, Yoshiko, continued working at the kimono wholesaler until she fell ill in 1996 (Heisei 8).
Isao Hoshiba: Supporting people with early-onset dementia
His wife, Yoshiko, develops Pick's disease
Born in Ryugasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture in 1937 (Showa 12)
December 1996 (Heisei 8), age 59, speech impediment developed
In January 1997, a client pointed out his rough language at work, and he went to the hospital. From then until December 1999, he visited the hospital once a week for speech rehabilitation. He also visited other medical school hospitals once a month.
"For three years until I was diagnosed with Pick's disease, I was constantly scolding my wife, saying, 'Why can't you do this?' and I felt very sorry for that. This painful and difficult experience has helped me to be more empathetic to the feelings of those I come into contact with and to treat them kindly in my subsequent activities," says Hoshiba.
At the time, they were interviewed by NHK about early-onset dementia, and the Asahi Shimbun ran a one-week serial article about how the couple was caring for their father at the time.
In December 1999, he was diagnosed with Pick's disease. The frontal and temporal lobes of his brain had atrophied, and he suffered from aphasia. A social worker recommended that he be transferred to a hospital primarily specializing in psychiatry.
In February 2000, he collapsed on the street due to stiffness and was hospitalized the next day. After being released from hospital, he tried many facilities to find a place to live, but was turned down when he told them he had Pick's disease. In May of the same year, he was finally able to enter Musashinoen, a geriatric health facility in Saitama Prefecture.
"Everyone at this facility was really kind to us. The days that Yoshiko spent at Musashinoen were probably the best years of her life," said Mr. Hoshiba, expressing his gratitude for the sincere response of the staff at Musashinoen.
After spending three months at Musashinoen, he moved into the Nerima Ward Oizumi Special Nursing Home for the Elderly in 2001. Since then, he has been repeatedly admitted to and discharged from the nursing home and medical center.
On December 28th, 2006, Yoshiko passed away peacefully and went to heaven.
At the time, doctors believed that dementia was a disease that could only be diagnosed through an autopsy. So, Mr. Hoshiba donated Yoshiko's body (brain) to the medical center as a research subject. Since only the brain was to be removed, Yoshiko returned home that evening with a calm, beautiful face.
Activities of the Hoshinokai Association, a family association for people with early-onset dementia
Isao Hoshiba came across Saisei-no-Kai, a family support group for young people with dementia, after his wife Yoshiko was diagnosed with Pick's disease.
"When I attended the meeting, I realized I wasn't alone and tears wouldn't stop. Meeting families who had gone through the same experience made me realize how my horizons had been opened up. Thanks to this meeting, I had the opportunity to interact with other families and share my various thoughts with them, which was a great encouragement to me," said Hoshiba.
The Association for Families with Young-Onset Dementia (then known as the Association for Families with Young-Onset Dementia), Saisei no Kai, was founded in September 2001 (Heisei 13) by Kazuo Miyanaga, director of the Gunma Prefecture Mental Health Center. The name Saisei no Kai was created by changing the character for "rebirth" (saisei), which means rebirth, to "saisei," which means "colorful stars," and is meant to convey the meaning of a star full of brilliant colors.
In 2004, with the cooperation of Director Fumiko Makino and her staff, an office was opened within the NPO Caregiver Support Network Center Aladdin (headquarters: Roppongi). Various events were held on odd-numbered Sundays, including regular meetings, mini lectures, family get-togethers, and drinking parties.
Appointed representative of Saisei-no-Kai, a family association for people with early-onset dementia
In January 2006, Isao Hoshiba became the representative of the Saisei Association, a family association for people with early-onset dementia. In addition to participating in various committees, he was also in charge of dealing with all media-related matters and responded to interviews.
A conversation with Ken Watanabe at the preview screening of the film "Memories of Tomorrow"
In May 2006, members of Saisei no Kai were invited to a preview screening of the film "Memories of Tomorrow," and their discussion with actor Ken Watanabe was broadcast on television. Afterwards, they were covered extensively by the media, with coverage on television, in newspapers, and in magazines.
Tomorrow's Memory (Preview) – YouTube
In March 2006, he became a member of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's research committee on the current state of early-onset dementia and the establishment of a response infrastructure.
・In 2008, he became a member of the Tokyo Metropolitan Dementia Countermeasures Promotion Council's Early-Onset Dementia Support Subcommittee.
Establishment of NPO Young Dementia Support Center
In March 2007, he established the NPO Young Dementia Support Center and became its director. With a subsidy from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, he added the function of a social participation support center, which began operations in September of the same year.
Nationwide Association of Families of People with Early-Onset Dementia
Family associations for people with early-onset dementia have been established nationwide, including the Suzaku Association (Nara City, Nara Prefecture), the Aito (Art) Association (Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture), the Hokkaido Himawari Association (Sapporo City, Hokkaido), the Gunma Family Association for Early-Onset Dementia (Maebashi City, Gunma Prefecture), and the Saisei Association (Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo).
Relocation of a family with early-onset dementia from Tokyo to Hokuryu Town
Meeting Dr. Kumiko Utsumi at Sunagawa City Hospital
In 2004, a specialized outpatient clinic for memory loss was opened at Sunagawa City Hospital, where the three departments of psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery work together, under the leadership of Dr. Kumiko Utsumi.
![[Hokuryu Town Portal Feature Article] Dr. Kumiko Utsumi](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3dku7GRSu0r1omGKBfzlnEINGqeSelLynJz_4HHarl_lKU7vtbKgZTJ13bIMTd-kTAx2RCOiXttYthvSQ8MLNaCpbJtHndWEbxX-xt5lfPt4Em0gS-23143UUjhwfPGgpfdEQ6YvG8Wt2s3dTw6lQdU=w2000-h1332-no?authuser=0)
Mr. Hoshiba first met Dr. Utsumi at a lecture in Sapporo, where he was speaking alongside Miyanaga Kazuo, chairman of the National Association of Young-Onset Dementia Families and Supporters. At the lecture, Dr. Asada Takashi (Professor Emeritus at the University of Tsukuba, a leading expert in dementia prevention and treatment) gave a presentation on various survey results regarding early-onset dementia. (See the reference article here >>）
![[Hokuryu Town Portal Feature Article] Mr. Hoshiba, the lecturer](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3fYz5VJOnmlYrxkCd52Ga2XVYBJavam0nvILf0wHGbFFhUAVLKYvVG1gRDLzQBET9mRetXDb5y77UhGxGzggvgd9dwVfTgItRx9ralPAOI7iGA4zfoUZk-NZPbrqXcncWDj4ucoDk9iC6ww9Q2EXhkS=w2000-h1332-no?authuser=0)
Meeting and parting with Shinji Nakamura
encounter
Mr. and Mrs. Nakamura, who were members of the Tokyo Family Association, Saisei no Kai, were asked by the representative of the family association at the time to "please take care of the Nakamura family as they are in a difficult situation." After several conversations with the Nakamuras, Mr. and Mrs. Nakamura recommended that they move to Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido as a way to change their environment, and the Nakamuras decided to move.
Moved to Hokuryu Town with his family
In August 2007 (Heisei 19), Shinji Nakamura (then 58 years old), born in Osaka, his wife Hiroko (then 45 years old), and their family moved to Hokuryu Town, Hokkaido.
![[Sorachi Sunflower Blog] Sorachi Sunflower Newsletter No. 4, July 2009](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3dl6zgSD6da97V1HFn_2otrc_grhWpBwvqwhdqcoIZCtsCT1_nLNClS1GZBBo3RAuI0AHMa0rwtHKClAbsjdybqobjhFoV_REF4C2jxxTl-JaCic7Hwj0d7fNF9OQNBgE80eeQ3R4P3THfoj5HC0n8J=w964-h883-no?authuser=0)
Preparations for accepting people in Hokuryu took about a year. In November of the same year, the founding general meeting of the Sorachi Himawari Early-Onset Dementia Family Association was held, and the Early-Onset Dementia Family Association was established in Hokuryu.
After coming to Hokkaido, he received treatment from Dr. Utsumi at Sunagawa City Hospital, and gradually reduced the amount of medication he was taking, eventually eliminating it altogether. His symptoms also gradually improved. Furthermore, thanks to the dedicated and warm watchful care of the members of the Sorachi Himawari Association, a family association for young-onset dementia, Dr. Utsumi said that his condition "miraculously progressed slowly."
Sorachi Himawari's main activities are support programs held once or twice a week, including walking, table tennis, park golf, pottery making, and hot spring bathing. Members take turns participating as supporters and spending time with Shinji. These Sorachi Himawari activities have been posted daily on a blog for nine years.
Farewell
On November 13th, 2016, Nobuharu Nakamura passed away and went to heaven. He was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease 23 years ago and moved to Hokuryu Town. He was looked after by the members of Sorachi Himawari, and spent nine years there like a miracle. I can still picture Nobuharu's gentle smile.
![[Sorachi Sunflower Blog] Mr. Shinji Nakamura of Sorachi passes away](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ACtC-3dr8JFCmPBjPQhj6FBQuM2Xb2eI2BBa-gwzZMhA7oz9P0-d5BG0KnZn-iK6JBIDrSALhMyGGtDlotmxJBEAE12xvhKu1msyTnfN8npfUER0DUU3L-JwVdSpQ9A0f17v9GPu0gHKSid9pSck4fFiIKqC=w664-h897-no?authuser=0)
Isao Hoshiba's approach to supporting people with early-onset dementia
The role of family associations, sense of security, and trust
"When I receive consultations, the most important thing I do is first fully accept the difficulties the family is going through. Even if what they say is slightly different from what I'm saying, I don't reject it outright, but rather accept it by saying, 'That's true,' and then talk about various real-life examples. This gives the family a sense of security and trust. It's difficult for the person receiving the consultation unless they are able to listen carefully to what the other person is saying and be able to accept it," says Hoshiba.
Care for the patient and care for the family are 50% and 50%
"When it came to how we approached early-onset dementia, we initially focused on caring for the individual. However, through conversations and words with various family members, we realized that caring for the family was also important. Since then, the balance of caring for the individual and their family has changed to 50/50," says Hoshiba.
Problems faced by families of people with early-onset dementia
Families of people with early-onset dementia face a myriad of problems, including how to notify their loved ones, financial issues after the onset of the disease, employment issues for the individual, abuse issues arising from the increased burden on the family, medical issues, and caregiver fatigue.
The difficulty of obtaining certification for severe disability
"The biggest problem is paying the mortgage. We have been working towards exemption in various ways, such as using a severe disability rider on life insurance, in order to be approved for exemption from mortgage payments, but there are a mountain of difficult challenges to overcome before we can make this a reality," says Hoshiba, speaking about the difficulty of having early-onset dementia approved as a severe disability.
The difficulty of diagnosing early-onset dementia
Patients whose symptoms progress rapidly die about 10 years after diagnosis. Diagnosis is difficult because symptoms vary from patient to patient, with some patients experiencing gradual progression and others experiencing mixed psychiatric disorders.
Furthermore, depending on the workplace, some people may be forced to take leave or quit, and the loss of income could lead to the breakdown of their families. Seeking a stable life through environmental change and development, they proposed moving to Hokkaido. This has sparked a regional collaboration initiative that will involve local residents and help them grow.
Employment support for people with early-onset dementia (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)
Since the symptoms and progression of early-onset dementia vary from person to person, employment support programs are being implemented through initiatives such as job content, job reassignment, and auxiliary work that are tailored to the symptoms.
Young patients with families need loans and living expenses, so even if they are diagnosed, if they have to quit work immediately and lose their income, it will be difficult for them to support their families. Light work that is tailored to the symptoms of dementia patients is required.
In addition, dementia symptoms are accompanied by mental symptoms, so even if a person seems capable of working, they may find it difficult to continue or may quit soon after. Even if they understand the content of their work, they may suddenly become unable to understand it, or become emotional, get angry, or stop working.
"When it comes to adapting to work, it's important that those around the person don't judge them as 'unable to do it,' but rather that those who are supporting them patiently 'wait' until the person has gained a variety of experiences and understands that 'to a certain extent they are unable to do it," said Hoshiba with a deep sense of satisfaction.
Mr. Hoshiba's daily health care
We spoke to Isao Hoshiba about his health care through the exercise and hobbies he has been keeping in mind for many years. He enjoys park golf as an exercise, and poetry recitation and sword dancing as his hobbies.
health law
・Walking: 30 minutes every morning, followed by radio calisthenics organized by Hokuryu Town
・Heat therapy: Every time I go to Hokuryu Onsen, I take a hot shower and apply it to my knees, shoulders, lower back, arms, and Achilles tendons, then finish by pouring cold water over my skin to tighten it.
・Double breathing: 10 minutes before going to bed, 10 minutes after waking up
Pillars of mental care and outlook on life
Practices Morita therapy's "as it is" approach.
"Don't deny the other person, but accept reality as it is. Then, you will begin to see the merits of the other person's opinion. And even when arguing, never jump to a conclusion on the spot. If you do reach a conclusion, do so the next day. It is important to think it over carefully overnight.
"No matter who someone is talking about, we listen carefully and first acknowledge their concerns. We never dismiss them by saying 'that's not right,' but instead suggest that there are various ways of thinking about and dealing with the problem. The attitude of a listening volunteer is very important. By listening carefully to what the other person has to say, they can feel reassured that they have been accepted," said Hoshiba, whose words conveyed a sincere feeling.
Drawing on his wife Yoshiko's painful experience with early-onset dementia, Isao Hoshiba has been providing compassionate and sincere support to those affected and their families for nearly 20 years.
We are where we are today in Hokuryu Town thanks to the fortunate connection we had with Isao Hoshiba at the Early-Onset Dementia Family Association.Our lifesaverI am so grateful that words cannot express it. Thank you so much!!!
With boundless love, gratitude, and prayers for Isao Hoshiba's great achievements and efforts...
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◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi
