Personality Profile
Japan Times - June 19, 2004
By VIVIENNE KENRICK

For 27 years Kohei Yamada has worked professionally in different capacities for the Young Men's Christian Association. As a gerontologist deeply committed to community care, he says he looks for quality in the life of the elderly. "In Japan, very often people with good will take care of the elderly, but the elderly themselves lead aimless lives, without meaning. I believe in educating people to be ready for later life, to make their own decisions on how to live, how to die. You have to think about yourselves, not have your family deciding for you." In this connection he sees the YMCA having a leadership role to play that is different from that of others.

Kohei Yamada

The YMCA has a history going back 160 years. Founded in London and expanded worldwide, from the beginning it arranged group activities and citizenship training aimed at character development. It is a lay movement, although as its name indicates it is based on Christian principles.

Yamada, born in Tokyo in 1949, studied political science at Keio University. "I was thinking of working in a trading company, and that is why I went to the U.S. to get my M.A. at the University of Kansas," he said. "In the States I realized that there were many problems in society. I became aware of the handicapped and the elderly. I felt responsible for them. I decided to change my major."

He spent two years at the University of Maryland earning his master's degree in social work and community organization. "I specialized in gerontology," he said. "Then I really wanted to practice what I learned before returning to Tokyo." He applied to many different organizations for openings. "The only place that offered me work was the YMCA," he said. "Without being a Christian, and without knowing anything about the YMCA, I accepted their offer." He was named director of the senior citizen's project at the Baltimore YMCA.

"After I came back to Japan I began working as student counselor at the Tokyo YMCA College of English," he said. Yamada worked diligently with students in the college, but it was not what he wanted. "It took me nearly seven years to realize my dream to do community work for elderly and handicapped persons," he said. He had his chance when he went to be director of the Tochigi YMCA, a smaller unit offering him bigger opportunities.

During his time in Tochigi, Yamada founded the YMCA Social Welfare Agency Nursing Home for the Elderly. He said: "We accepted many volunteers in the nursing home. I could see the YMCA had a part to play in educating young people through its projects."

After a dozen years, Yamada was recalled to the College of English in Tokyo. As vice principal, and executive senior director of five vocational colleges, he was given a "tough job." At this stage, he said, "an international school was one of the projects I initiated."

"There are many international schools in western Tokyo, where most of the Western children live. In the eastern part, there are more Asian people and cheaper housing. I thought it would be great to begin an international school that would emphasize Asian culture but having some Western children as well as many Asian students. The school is growing gradually. We have many programs, which include camping, swimming, and sports."

In the last five years, Yamada has occupied three important positions. He was principal of Tokyo YMCA College of Human Care. He moved on to become executive director of domestic and international relations of the National Council of YMCAs of Japan. Now he is general secretary of the National Council. In this highest position, he said, "The YMCA is growing tremendously. I think seriously about our mission and programs. It is a changing world with changing circumstances. We must pay close attention to social needs."

Yamada is very appreciative of the YMCA Foreign Community Supporting Committee. This group, joined by many ambassadors, international businessmen, local community and social leaders and celebrities, volunteers time and effort to raise money to help YMCA's nationwide programs. Yamada said, "I decided in Baltimore to do social work. As a professional I do it naturally. But the people in FCSC are professionals busy in other fields. Still, they sincerely work to help mentally and physically handicapped children, the learning disabled, and all the other needy persons in our YMCA programs. They surprise me."

The Japan Times: June 19, 2004