Photo/Illutration Hisao Nakai in October 2013 (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

There once was a schoolboy who couldn’t ride a bicycle, was afraid of climbing trees, and had difficulty executing a back hip circle on the bars.

But when it came to books, he would devour anything he laid his hands on, and the subject could be science, history, or just about anything under the sun.

He was deeply hurt, however, when his teacher called him a “wimpy bookworm.”

This lad grew up to become the psychiatrist Hisao Nakai, a professor emeritus at Kobe University.

When the Great Hanshin Earthquake struck in 1995, Nakai treated survivors who were traumatized by the disaster.

When the Hyogo Institute for Traumatic Stress was opened in 2004, Nakai became its first director and promoted public awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by sharing his own experiences.

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, he was outraged by the mindset of Tokyoites that was totally different from that of Kobe people.

In the disaster zone, the foremost priority of rescue workers was to identify residents who were missing and figure out where to search.

But for Tokyo’s central government bureaucrats, their main concern was the number of fatalities.

From his clinical observation of schizophrenic patients, Nakai learned about restlessness and tranquility.

He was shocked when a patient, whom he had been treating for eight years and who never appeared to suffer from restlessness, finally told him one day, “I was a bundle of nerves.”

Nakai also came to understand that there was an unfathomable depth to the “joy of living” being experienced by a patient basking in tranquility.

“Japanese politicians are dull and unattractive,” Nakai once wrote. “Japan’s modernization was supported by the hard work and inventiveness of anonymous people.”

He also argued: “As an island nation that has to import oil and food, maintaining peace is basic to Japan’s existence. Japan must try to shine in diplomacy and forget about acting tough.”

Outside of medicine, Nakai freely discussed political and social issues, and also penned many heart-warming essays.

A psychiatrist who could diagnose the times and his patients alike, Nakai died on Aug. 8. He was 88.

The schoolboy who was tormented by his own clumsiness grew up to be a guide for traumatized people, freeing up his heart and mind in the process.

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 11

* * *

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

Related News