“How do you like FUKUSHIMA?” 【Edwin English School Director：Gary Spry】
Style Koriyama special interview in English.
“How do you like FUKUSHIMA?”
What Do Foreign Residents Think About Fukushima?
In this relay-style interview series, we speak with people from overseas who are living and working in Fukushima Prefecture.
Through their experiences, we explore what they have discovered, felt, and come to appreciate about Fukushima. Each interview offers a unique perspective on life in the region and the charm that continues to draw people here from around the world.
Interviewee
Gary Spry
Director, Edwin English School
Gary Spry founded Edwin English School in 1986. Since then, he has spent nearly 40 years teaching English in Japan.
In this interview, we spoke with Gary about what first brought him to Japan, his experiences living in Fukushima, and his daily life in the region.
Where are you from?
I come from Plymouth, located in the south-west of Britain.
Could you tell me the local specialties and interesting places in Plymouth?
The pasty is a traditional local dish from my hometown.
In the past, miners would take pasties down into the mines and eat them during their shifts. Because their hands were dirty, they held the thick, crimped edge of the pastry and ate only the soft filling and inner crust, discarding the outer edge afterward.
Today, of course, pasties are enjoyed in their entirety — and every part of them is delicious.
Cider is another local specialty from my hometown. It’s quite different from what is called “cider” in Japan.
In my country, cider is an alcoholic beverage made from apples, with an alcohol content similar to beer. It has a crisp, refreshing taste and is very popular back home.
Unfortunately, I have never come across this type of cider in Japan.
Plymouth is a beautiful coastal city in the southwest of England.
It is home to both a historic fishing port and one of the country’s most important naval bases, giving the city a unique character shaped by the sea.
There are many well-known attractions in the area, but one of the most famous is Dartmoor National Park, located inland.
In the park, you can see sheep, cows, wild ponies, foxes, rabbits, and many other animals roaming freely. As a public national park, it is open to everyone, making it an ideal place to enjoy nature and wide, open landscapes.
What did you do for fun as a child?
When I was younger, I used to play a lot of sports, such as soccer, cricket, and rugby.
What brought you to Japan?
When I was working as an English teacher in London, I had a student who was from Sukagawa City.
One day, he told me that he was planning to start a new English school in Fukushima and asked if I would be interested in working with him. After giving it some thought, I decided to come to Japan. I was 24 years old at the time.
When you came to Japan the first time, did you feel some differences between Britain and Japan?
At the time, the biggest difference I noticed was the work style. In Britain, work time is clearly separated from personal time. In Japan, however, I felt that even free time was sometimes influenced or managed by the company.
I also found Japan’s strong seniority system interesting. Age often plays an important role in hierarchical relationships here, which is quite different from my home country, where that concept is less emphasized. On the other hand, the idea of the chōnaikai (neighborhood association) was something new and fascinating to me.
In everyday activities, such as shopping, I didn’t notice many major differences.
Overall, I think Japan is a very safe country. The quality of restaurants and customer service is exceptionally high. Even when I had repairs done on my house, the workers were extremely polite and professional.
As for food, I truly enjoy Japanese cuisine — fish, vegetables, and even wild mountain plants. I like sashimi very much. When it comes to grilled fish, my favorites are saury, salmon, and trout.
What do you do on your days off?
In my free time, I enjoy watching sports, exercising, reading books, watching movies, playing contract bridge online, and hiking in the mountains. In this area, I have climbed Mt. Utsumine, Mt. Takashiba, Mt. Azuma, and Mt. Adatara.
Learning history is also one of my main hobbies, particularly Japanese, British, and European history. In Japanese history, I find the period from the end of the Edo Period to the early years of the Meiji era especially fascinating. I often watch history-related channels on YouTube to deepen my knowledge.
What is your favorite place in Fukushima?
During cherry blossom season, I enjoy visiting the beautiful sakura along the Kannonji River in Inawashiro. The rows of cherry trees create a truly stunning scene each spring.
In other seasons, I like exploring different areas such as Aizu, Minami-Aizu, and traveling along the scenic Tadami Line. One of Fukushima’s greatest attractions is that it is surrounded by such rich and beautiful nature.
Koriyama City, in particular, offers just the right balance between urban convenience and rural charm. The sea is within reach, the mountains and ski resorts are nearby, and Tokyo is easily accessible — making Koriyama a very convenient and comfortable place to live.
What would you like to do in the future?
I would like to travel more within Japan. In particular, I hope to visit Himeji Castle. It is one of the twelve original castles in Japan that have survived in their original form, and I would love to see such historic architecture in person.
If I have the opportunity, I would also like to travel to Kyushu and Hokkaido. There are still many places in Japan that I would like to explore.
How do you collect daily Japanese information?
When I first came to Japan, I could not speak Japanese at all, so I only read the English-language newspaper. However, since the English paper only covers national news, I relied on people around me to learn about local events.
Now that I can read everyday kanji, I also read a Japanese newspaper to stay informed about both local and national news.
We hear learning Japanese is difficult for foreigners. How about in your case ?
Speaking Japanese is difficult for me, but learning to read it is even more challenging. Interestingly, for Japanese people, speaking English tends to be harder than reading it.
How often do you go to Britain in a year?
Before COVID-19, I returned to my hometown every summer. We also organized a school tour in Britain.
During the tour, we traveled around Britain together for a week. After the students returned to Japan, my family stayed in my hometown for about two more weeks to enjoy time together.
How do you feel about Fukushima after experiencing the Tohoku earthquake?
After the Tohoku earthquake, the people of Fukushima faced tremendous challenges.
Although the nuclear power plant issue is still ongoing, personally, I don’t feel that it affects my daily life. I don’t sense any danger from radiation in my everyday activities.
Finally, could you give Style readers your message?
I have long enjoyed living in Fukushima Prefecture, where the people have always been so welcoming and supportive. The prefecture has been faced with several serious problems in recent years, but together with Style, I hope I can contribute in some way to its recovery and future growth.
school introduction
Edwin English School
Phone: 024-923-6950
Address: Ishibashi Mansion 101, 3-23-10 Saikon, Koriyama City, Fukushima, Japan
Edwin English School offers a wide range of English-related services for both children and adults.
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English conversation classes
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Eiken and grammar lessons
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Teacher dispatches to companies
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Translation and interpretation services
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Study abroad consultations
Whether you are looking to improve your English skills, prepare for exams, or receive professional language support, Edwin English School provides comprehensive programs to meet your needs.
