Mr. Nishihata Tamotsu, a Japanese man born in 1936 in Wakayama Prefecture, grew up in a poor family and faced many hardships during his childhood. Due to difficult circumstances, he had to drop out of school in elementary years and grew up illiterate. However, his inspiring journey of overcoming adversity to become a confident and happy individual is truly motivating.
88-year-old man persists in learning to write love letters for his wife over 6 years
Mr. Nishihata (center) interacts with the audience at the film premiere (Photo: Yahoo Japan).
Overcoming Challenges
The lack of basic knowledge made Mr. Nishihata feel inferior: “If I don’t know how to read or write, I won’t be recognized as a human.” This significantly impacted his life and work. Unable to read or write, he frequently changed jobs to make ends meet. Fortunately, a sushi shop in Nara City took him in.
At age 35, he met Mrs. Kyoko, who would become his life partner. They got married and had two children. Initially, he hid his illiteracy from her, but when she found out, she didn’t blame him but encouraged him gently: “I’m sure you’ve been through a lot. Let’s work on it together.”
With his wife’s support, Mr. Nishihata decided to change his life by enrolling in night classes at Kasuga High School in Nara City at the age of 64. This school was designed for those who missed out on education due to various reasons.
Challenges and Successes
Learning to read and write like a child was not easy for a senior citizen like Mr. Nishihata. However, with unwavering determination, he worked hard every day to improve himself. He emotionally shared: “Before, my wife always signed documents for me. So, when I first wrote my name, I felt incredibly happy.”
On Christmas Day at age 71, he wrote his first love letter to Mrs. Kyoko after 35 years of marriage. In the letter, he expressed deep gratitude: “Thanks to you, I am who I am today. You helped me stand tall as a person, and that makes me very happy.”
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when he was about to send his fourth letter. Mrs. Kyoko passed away suddenly from a heart attack on Christmas Eve in 2014. Her departure left a huge void in his heart, but it also became a driving force for him to continue his educational journey and share his story.
An Inspirational Story
Director Tsukamoto Renpei was moved by Mr. Nishihata Tamotsu’s extraordinary perseverance and turned his story into a film. The film, which tells the story of a 64-year-old man starting to learn to read and write to write love letters for his wife, is set to premiere in March. It’s not just a love story but also a testament to the power of willpower and persistence.
Conclusion
Mr. Nishihata Tamotsu’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to learn and change our lives. Despite numerous challenges, he persisted in pursuing his goals and achieved what seemed impossible. Let his story inspire you on your own journey toward knowledge and happiness.
Source: Dan Tri
