A TEACHER LIFTS his thumb, index finger and little finger to say “I love you” in sign language, and the smiles widen on his students’ faces.

At the Setsatian School for the Deaf in Bangkok, more than six months have passed since retired Fukuoka art teacher Junichi Takaishi, 61, took up his post as a senior overseas volunteer for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“Whether in Japan or Thailand, whether able to hear or not, students are students. They react honestly to my sincerity whenever I do my best to teach them,” Takaishi says. His belief in his students, cultivated as a teacher in Japan, has strengthened with his latest assignment.

Raised in Fukuoka Prefecture, both of Takaishi’s parents were teachers. He started his career at an advertising design company, but at the age of 25 he became a design teacher at Kyushu High School, which is affiliated with Kyushu Sangyo University, in Fukuoka city.

He also appeared on the NTV network’s “Kinchan’s All Japan Costume Grand Prix” television show, guiding his students to victory. At the age of 53, he moved to Nakamura Gakuen Sanyo Junior High School and Senior High School in Fukuoka city.

Then, at age 60, with two years remaining until mandatory retirement, Takaishi opted to quit his job early.

“I’d done all I set out to do as a teacher,” Takaishi says, adding that he had long wished to challenge himself abroad.

He had lived for a short time in Stockholm and London, but still felt unfulfilled. He raised two sons after divorcing before 50 years old, but after his second son entered university, Takaishi found himself at a point in his life when he could pursue his goal to go abroad.

Familiar with the JICA senior volunteer system, he applied and was accepted in the summer of 2014. After receiving training in the Thai language and other useful skills at a JICA training office, he entered Thailand in March 2015.

He still has a housing loan but used his retirement allowance to pay it down and reduce his monthly payments to 55,000 Japanese yen (Bt16,700) Before leaving Japan, he also paid his second son’s university tuition fees for his fourth year. He pays his domestic expenses in Japan with his allowance from JICA, his savings and other means.

In Thailand, Takaishi makes his own breakfast and dinner, and eats school lunches with his students. Prices are lower than in Japan and, with the money for living expenses he receives from JICA, he suffers few inconveniences.

At school, he teaches 15 small classes a week, each consisting of about 10 high school students. He initially planned to teach only pottery making but has expanded his lessons to general art.

Though still learning Thai sign language, he compensates for any lack of understanding with the physical artwork he shows his students and with his enthusiastic gestures.

“It appears to be pantomime, but I can’t be beaten in terms of passion for teaching,” he says with a laugh, adding that he is once again enjoying the joys and responsibilities of teaching.

Senior overseas volunteers are a JICA project that began in fiscal 1990. At the end of October 2015, 444 people were working to 59 countries under the project. In total, 5,831 people have been dispatched to 73 countries.

Their fields of activity include agriculture, administration, quality control, health and medical work.

Applications are accepted twice a year in spring and autumn, and are based on requests from recipient countries. The target age for recruitment is from 40 to 69, and the dispatch period is two years in principle.

JICA pays US$570 to US$1,510 (Bt25,500 to Bt54,100) for monthly living costs and provides return transportation fees. The recipient countries offer accommodation. Those under 65 years old receive an allowance of 55,000 Japanese yen per month for domestic expenses in Japan during their dispatch periods.