Visiting Japanese fire chief gets grand tour of Cape

When Betty Griffith, a Southeast Missouri State University International Center host parent, found out that Hitomi Sato's parents were coming from Japan to attend her graduation, she planned a tour for them. Her main objective was to take the Satos to Interesting and informative sights that would familarize the couple with the American life their daughter had come to know.

Stops at Wal-Mart, the Church of God on Pindwood, Lynwood Baptist Church (where they heard Christmas carol rehearsal) and the Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge were enhanced by Hitomi's ability to interpret for her parents. Griffith also took them to a courthouse to explain the U.S. judicial system, a funeral home (since the Japanese often cremate rather than bury), and even showed them a John Deere tractor.

Griffith said Takaharu and Mikiko Sato's reaction to everything here could be summed up in a single word: "big." Their home in Kagawa, Japan, where Takaharu has been a fire chief for more than 25 years, has a population of 3,000 people. There are three men under his command in Japan.

Takaharu, 51, and his daughter toured all four Cape Girardeau Fire Department stations including headquarters on Independence Street.

Battalion chief Steve Niswonger led the tour. He said Takaharu described his visit to the fire department as "the best memory of my life."

The first event on the tour was to don firefighting turnout gear, which includes sewn-in wristlets made of fire-resistant material.

"Takaharu was really impressed with these. He took several pictures," said Niswonger.

The town the Japanese fire chief serves covers roughly two and a half square miles, and their trucks are about half the size of Cape Girardeau. By comparison, the Cape Girardeau Fire Deptartment covers roughly 26 to 27 miles, according to Niswonger.

In Japan they use the same MSA brand breathing apparatus. "He was also very impressed with our training," said Niswonger. With Hitomi serving as interpreter, there were many questions that went unanswered because of the lag time in translation, but Niswonger learned that Japanese firefighters must be 18 years of age and go through a training program.

Takaharu and his daughter took part in ladder training at the mall where Takaharu was set up to control the ladder from a turntable. No calls were received during the three hours they rode with the firemen which allowed time for Takaharu to examine the extrication equipment and hone in on the high-rise training at Towers.

Niswonger said that Takaharu loved the food here and was so pleased with the visit that he said he'd love to move here.