PRODUCTION NOTE
This film is "the light that memory gave us."
Shinji Ito
Kumon Learning Therapy Center (International Project)
The "Learning Therapy" method of dementia treatment was born as a "non-drug based therapy for dementia recovery" from a joint research project between the Japanese Government's Ministry of Education Culture Sports and Science 12 years ago. It was made possible by the cooperation of Dr. Ryuta Kawashima of Tohoku University, Kumon, and a nursing care facility in Fukuoka. Dr. Kawashima published the results of this joint research project into dementia recovery treatments and the prefrontal cortex in the American journal "Gerontorogy" in 2005. The results caused a sensation.
In response to the positive results, Kumon established the Kumon Learning Therapy Centre and began working to introduce the "Kumon Learning Therapy System" into nursing care facilities across Japan. Currently, over 1,600 Japanese nursing care facilities have adopted the system and are experiencing improvements in the happiness and quality of life of their patients as a result.
For us at the Kumon Learning Therapy Center, the development of the Learning Therapy over the last 10 years has been a journey filled with emotion. We have witnessed so many positive and moving changes. A bedridden patient was able to get out of bed with a smile after the therapy, daughters were brought to tears as their mothers remembered their names, patients who showed violent behavior became kind and considerate. Even more unbelievable stories included patients who had difficultly eating due to a gastrostomy becoming able to eat through their mouths, and patients who experienced a reduction in urinary retention. We have been able to experience so many of these unbelievable stories.
We have taken these wonderful results as energy and motivation and aimed to continue innovating to make improvements to people's lives.
The development and success of Learning Therapy and the Brain Health Centers is a result of the cooperation, openness, help and understanding of all those who we have worked with. It was thanks to this that a company like Kumon that did not have any previous experience in the world of nursing care was able to develop a program like this.
It was in the midst of this, around three and a half years ago that we received a proposal from Dr. Ryuta Kawashima to participate in trials of the Learning Therapy method in the United States. At the time, we wondered whether or not there would be a nursing facility in the U.S. that would be willing to participate in such a trial. It was at this time that we received an application from the "EJ" (Eliza Jennings) nursing care facility in Cleveland, Ohio, which impressed us with its respect and care for the elderly. It was at this point that we decided to continue with the project. From this time onwards, the project team visited Cleveland over 30 times and worked with the staff at EJ to develop the plan for the project. Then, for the three years over which the project was conducted, we witnessed with our own eyes the miraculous development and changes of the patients, their families and carers.
Now, these incredible experiences have been captured in this documentary, "Do you know what my name is ?" and I feel a profound sense of joy that we can share these amazing events with people all over the world.
This documentary was recorded when our team, consisting of Japanese researchers and Kumon research members, entered an American nursing home and began working with American staff to perform research. It is a completely true story and has not been changed for film in any way. Perhaps the best proof of this is the fact that we at Kumon were unaware that this was being made into a film. During the filming, we thought that the cameras were for recording the research and that the most that would come of them would be a small segment on the TV news. When we heard that the videos would be made into a film, we were, of course, overjoyed and were very pleased that the raw emotion and joy that was captured in the recordings would make its way into a film.
We had several concerns when embarking on this attempt to introduce Learning Therapy in the U.S.. will American patients respond as positively ? Will we be able to make English learning materials that are appropriate for Americans? We were full concerns at this point and we could not have dreamed that a film would be made of the adventure.
Even in May 2011, on the first day of the American trials, when we were asked if it would be okay to film our progress, we refused and got into trouble with the recording staff. We wanted the patients to be able to learn in the best possible environment and feared that the presence of a camera would interrupt this. We felt this early on in the trials, when the hero of the film, Evelyn was unable to place any tiles on the number board. In fact, our Kumon staff stood behind the camera and gestured for the American staff, assuring them that Evelyn could stop the session at anytime if it was too difficult for her.
Less than a month after starting the treatment, Evelyn was able to place up to 30 tiles on the board and was having witty conversations with the staff and carers. This was such a big change that it almost seemed like we were talking to a different person. Evelyn was able to regain her life and her expressions were perfect indications of how light had returned to her life. I will never forget the moment when the cameraman ran to us saying "something amazing is happening !" The families felt the emotion most. Evelyn's son was in tears when he said "My mom's back !" The families of the elderly expressed that they felt as though something that they thought was impossible had actually happened. We were able to experience this joy and emotion alongside the elderly and their families.
The narrator of the film, John, is a kind and gentle young man who we all loved to be around. Before the Learning Therapy experiments took place, John was working to manage the equipment at the nursing home. The man who was changing light bulbs and fixing broken electronics became one of the main roles in the production just before the trials started. However, again, this was not for the production of a film, but simply to create a video log of the trials to monitor and prove the results. If I think about it now, it was John, who was the most familiar with and spent the most time with the elderly. Therefore, the narration in the film is his own words and is a reflection of his personal feelings. After the trial, John volunteered to work full time at the facility and has become the leader of conducting Learning Therapy at the facility. John says; "the experience changed the way I think about life. I realized that this job could allow me to shine."
One day, one of the female staff grabbed an interpreter and approached us. She then began to cry and, while looking directly at us, said the following: "Thank you so much for bringing this wonderful opportunity and these amazing feelings all the way from Japan. We still can't believe how happy this has made everyone." The interpreter was overcome with emotion she heard this and had difficulty translating it.
What really surprised us was the staff at EJ - their sincerity, warmth, positive attitude and teamwork was really amazing. I think that all those who see the film will see how all the EJ staff members who appear in the film show their positive, bright attitude through their words and expressions. I can assure you that this is not just for the camera. Their attitude is to always find the positives, praise progress and work together to bring out the potential in each individual. I think that a lot of the miraculous changes in the elderly during the trials were only possible thanks to this. One of the key points of the learning therapy is the importance of people, and that results are dependent on who performs the treatment in what manner. I really believe that the staff at EJ - their teamwork and "find the positives" attitude was a key factor in increasing the level of results from the learning therapy.
Even after this film was made, the Cleveland Nursing Home that was the location for the film is continuing its use of the Learning Therapy and the emotional scenes that appear in the movie are still occurring today. We always hear from John and the staff at the facility new stories of emotion and joy. This film captures the real stories of what happened when we were filming, but it will remain relevant as what it captured is still occurring today.
When thinking of a Japanese title for the film, we proposed the title "the light that memory gave me". This title was not adopted in the end, but we still think of this film as the light that memory gave us. This is definitely not a movie about Learning Therapy, nor is it a movie about Kumon. We believe that this is a movie about how the Learning Therapy was the tool that, when paired with the enthusiasm and respect of the nursing staff was able to change the lives of and give the opportunity for the elderly to recover their memories.
Memory is what connects people with their family and friends. When someone's memory returns, they can regain their previous life. The light that returns penetrate s the lives of not just the patient, but also their family and the care staff. This light creates joy, tears and hopes for the future. This light could even be thought of as the meaning of life.
Caring for the elderly, and specifically dementia care is a very difficult, and sometimes painful thing. The person affected and their families undergo great suffering. This is something that remains the same wherever you go. We sincerely hope that those people around the world have the opportunity to see this film. We believe that those who have experienced the pain and suffering of dementia will be able to gain a lot from this film. I believe that you will be able to feel the light.
Also, I would also like all of those like John and the nursing staff in the film who dedicate their lives and work hard to improving the lives of the elderly and their families to see this film. I hope that you are able to gain an even greater appreciation for the wonderful job that you do that gives light to so many people everyday.
In response to the positive results, Kumon established the Kumon Learning Therapy Centre and began working to introduce the "Kumon Learning Therapy System" into nursing care facilities across Japan. Currently, over 1,600 Japanese nursing care facilities have adopted the system and are experiencing improvements in the happiness and quality of life of their patients as a result.
For us at the Kumon Learning Therapy Center, the development of the Learning Therapy over the last 10 years has been a journey filled with emotion. We have witnessed so many positive and moving changes. A bedridden patient was able to get out of bed with a smile after the therapy, daughters were brought to tears as their mothers remembered their names, patients who showed violent behavior became kind and considerate. Even more unbelievable stories included patients who had difficultly eating due to a gastrostomy becoming able to eat through their mouths, and patients who experienced a reduction in urinary retention. We have been able to experience so many of these unbelievable stories.
We have taken these wonderful results as energy and motivation and aimed to continue innovating to make improvements to people's lives.
The development and success of Learning Therapy and the Brain Health Centers is a result of the cooperation, openness, help and understanding of all those who we have worked with. It was thanks to this that a company like Kumon that did not have any previous experience in the world of nursing care was able to develop a program like this.
It was in the midst of this, around three and a half years ago that we received a proposal from Dr. Ryuta Kawashima to participate in trials of the Learning Therapy method in the United States. At the time, we wondered whether or not there would be a nursing facility in the U.S. that would be willing to participate in such a trial. It was at this time that we received an application from the "EJ" (Eliza Jennings) nursing care facility in Cleveland, Ohio, which impressed us with its respect and care for the elderly. It was at this point that we decided to continue with the project. From this time onwards, the project team visited Cleveland over 30 times and worked with the staff at EJ to develop the plan for the project. Then, for the three years over which the project was conducted, we witnessed with our own eyes the miraculous development and changes of the patients, their families and carers.
Now, these incredible experiences have been captured in this documentary, "Do you know what my name is ?" and I feel a profound sense of joy that we can share these amazing events with people all over the world.
This documentary was recorded when our team, consisting of Japanese researchers and Kumon research members, entered an American nursing home and began working with American staff to perform research. It is a completely true story and has not been changed for film in any way. Perhaps the best proof of this is the fact that we at Kumon were unaware that this was being made into a film. During the filming, we thought that the cameras were for recording the research and that the most that would come of them would be a small segment on the TV news. When we heard that the videos would be made into a film, we were, of course, overjoyed and were very pleased that the raw emotion and joy that was captured in the recordings would make its way into a film.
We had several concerns when embarking on this attempt to introduce Learning Therapy in the U.S.. will American patients respond as positively ? Will we be able to make English learning materials that are appropriate for Americans? We were full concerns at this point and we could not have dreamed that a film would be made of the adventure.
Even in May 2011, on the first day of the American trials, when we were asked if it would be okay to film our progress, we refused and got into trouble with the recording staff. We wanted the patients to be able to learn in the best possible environment and feared that the presence of a camera would interrupt this. We felt this early on in the trials, when the hero of the film, Evelyn was unable to place any tiles on the number board. In fact, our Kumon staff stood behind the camera and gestured for the American staff, assuring them that Evelyn could stop the session at anytime if it was too difficult for her.
Less than a month after starting the treatment, Evelyn was able to place up to 30 tiles on the board and was having witty conversations with the staff and carers. This was such a big change that it almost seemed like we were talking to a different person. Evelyn was able to regain her life and her expressions were perfect indications of how light had returned to her life. I will never forget the moment when the cameraman ran to us saying "something amazing is happening !" The families felt the emotion most. Evelyn's son was in tears when he said "My mom's back !" The families of the elderly expressed that they felt as though something that they thought was impossible had actually happened. We were able to experience this joy and emotion alongside the elderly and their families.
The narrator of the film, John, is a kind and gentle young man who we all loved to be around. Before the Learning Therapy experiments took place, John was working to manage the equipment at the nursing home. The man who was changing light bulbs and fixing broken electronics became one of the main roles in the production just before the trials started. However, again, this was not for the production of a film, but simply to create a video log of the trials to monitor and prove the results. If I think about it now, it was John, who was the most familiar with and spent the most time with the elderly. Therefore, the narration in the film is his own words and is a reflection of his personal feelings. After the trial, John volunteered to work full time at the facility and has become the leader of conducting Learning Therapy at the facility. John says; "the experience changed the way I think about life. I realized that this job could allow me to shine."
One day, one of the female staff grabbed an interpreter and approached us. She then began to cry and, while looking directly at us, said the following: "Thank you so much for bringing this wonderful opportunity and these amazing feelings all the way from Japan. We still can't believe how happy this has made everyone." The interpreter was overcome with emotion she heard this and had difficulty translating it.
What really surprised us was the staff at EJ - their sincerity, warmth, positive attitude and teamwork was really amazing. I think that all those who see the film will see how all the EJ staff members who appear in the film show their positive, bright attitude through their words and expressions. I can assure you that this is not just for the camera. Their attitude is to always find the positives, praise progress and work together to bring out the potential in each individual. I think that a lot of the miraculous changes in the elderly during the trials were only possible thanks to this. One of the key points of the learning therapy is the importance of people, and that results are dependent on who performs the treatment in what manner. I really believe that the staff at EJ - their teamwork and "find the positives" attitude was a key factor in increasing the level of results from the learning therapy.
Even after this film was made, the Cleveland Nursing Home that was the location for the film is continuing its use of the Learning Therapy and the emotional scenes that appear in the movie are still occurring today. We always hear from John and the staff at the facility new stories of emotion and joy. This film captures the real stories of what happened when we were filming, but it will remain relevant as what it captured is still occurring today.
When thinking of a Japanese title for the film, we proposed the title "the light that memory gave me". This title was not adopted in the end, but we still think of this film as the light that memory gave us. This is definitely not a movie about Learning Therapy, nor is it a movie about Kumon. We believe that this is a movie about how the Learning Therapy was the tool that, when paired with the enthusiasm and respect of the nursing staff was able to change the lives of and give the opportunity for the elderly to recover their memories.
Memory is what connects people with their family and friends. When someone's memory returns, they can regain their previous life. The light that returns penetrate s the lives of not just the patient, but also their family and the care staff. This light creates joy, tears and hopes for the future. This light could even be thought of as the meaning of life.
Caring for the elderly, and specifically dementia care is a very difficult, and sometimes painful thing. The person affected and their families undergo great suffering. This is something that remains the same wherever you go. We sincerely hope that those people around the world have the opportunity to see this film. We believe that those who have experienced the pain and suffering of dementia will be able to gain a lot from this film. I believe that you will be able to feel the light.
Also, I would also like all of those like John and the nursing staff in the film who dedicate their lives and work hard to improving the lives of the elderly and their families to see this film. I hope that you are able to gain an even greater appreciation for the wonderful job that you do that gives light to so many people everyday.
