Occupation:
Occupation: Owner of Fathoms Diving, Okinawa
Time in Japan:
11 years
Where are you from?
Allentown, Pennsylvania.
What brought you to Japan?
I was in the US Military until 1994, stationed on Okinawa, and just decided to stay after
I got out.
How did you start Fathoms?
I looked around Okinawa and realized that the Japanese tourists had lots of services
geared to them, but foreigners had very little. Since I loved to dive, and was teaching
diving to the military, I decided to try to promote Okinawa and scuba diving here to
English speakers. I knew that Tokyo was full of English speakers and I wanted to give them
someplace to go as a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle. I found a building, filled
it with dive gear and started putting out the word that there was someone in Okinawa that
could teach English speakers to dive. Almost everyone wants to try diving, so reasonable
prices, good service and tropical fun sell themselves.
What was the most difficult task in starting the business?
Making the government believe that international tourism was a viable business and that
there were more than just Japanese tourists around to make this type of business succeed.
It was only then that I was actually approved to work in Japan and give this a try.
What do you think is the secret of your success?
Okinawa is the greatest place in the world to do this-and I' the only one doing it! Once
the word was out that Fathoms existed, the diving adventure really sold itself. Just
believing it was possible didn't hurt either.
What do you like about Japan most?
That it's safe and fun to live here. Okinawa is so stress free and as a foreigner that can
speak little Japanese it's fun being the center of things most of the time.
What's your favorite area of Japan?
Any one of the quiet beaches in Okinawa or the Kerama Islands to the East. They are just
so beautiful. It's like being in a postcard all the time.
If you could change one thing about Japan, what would it be?
The general attitude towards the environment. The ocean is a fragile thing and
construction and dumping just ruins the true beauty of it. I witness so many people
leaving trash behind after a party on the beach. If the common person doesn't respect the
environment they don't care if big businesses or the government doesn't either. My biggest
change would be to make every person that sees a piece of trash want to pick it up. This
would change everyone's attitude from the bottom up.
What's the weirdest thing you've ever seen or experienced in Japan?
Mochi. Why mush up all that rice and then add all the other stuff to give it flavor? Why
not just eat the additions and not the rice? And every year people end up in the emergency
room with mochi blocking their airways! Isn't there a better way?
If you could take one thing back from Japan to your native country, what would it be?
A good soba stall on every corner.
What's your recipe for a happy and successful life in Japan?
Scuba dive everyday. The fish don't care about what's going on in your life. They are
happy to see you no matter what. Also try to live your life like it's your last day in
Japan-go everywhere, experience everything and learn all you can.
You can confine one person to eternity on the Chuo line and give one bottomless credit
account at Seibu department store. Who would they be?
Confine any international attorney that comes to Japan. They mouth off about how the
Japanese legal system is so appalling and then go back home and leave the rest of us to
deal with the fallout. I'd give the bottomless account to me. I'd never wear the same
clothes twice, that's for sure.
Occupation:
LIFE IN JAPAN: