Kirk

A while back, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Kirk Dixon, Class of 2007, to catch up on where life has taken him. Kirk, a proud NIS alumni from K-12, comes from a family closely connected to the school. He’s the nephew of Kazumasa Kondo (’87), a fellow NIS alumnus and now the headmaster of the Nishikawa School of Traditional Japanese Dance, and the son of Keith Dixon, a long-time NIS teacher and the namesake of Dixon Field. For the past seven years, Kirk has been a presenter on NHK’s Sala Sala Salada, a popular noon-time show that shares local insights and information. When we spoke, he had recently stepped down from this position and was excitedly looking toward new adventures.

Let’s start with where you went after you graduated from NIS.
Kirk:  After graduating from NIS, I went to the University of Arkansas. Without a clear career plan—I was more of a sports guy, into basketball—my dad encouraged me to try drama, at least as a minor because both my parents have backgrounds in theater. I wasn’t that interested initially—Japanese theater, which I’ve been involved with on my mom’s side from a young age, felt like a chore growing up. But at Arkansas, I fell in love with theater: the people, my professors, and especially building sets. It was like seeing a different side of it that really excited me. I still did a bit of acting, but I was happier designing sets and props.

That said, I still wanted some on-stage action, but I wasn’t getting that in Arkansas, so I decided to move to LA and study on-camera acting with Don Eitner, an old family friend who’d been on shows like M*A*S*H and Star Trek. To make ends meet, I worked behind the camera as a production assistant while going to auditions. Eventually, I got cast in a project that flew me to Okinawa for three months. It was a big production with a huge budget, and I played the main antagonist. The lead was Koyamada Shin, from The Last Samurai. Unfortunately, the producer did some shady things, and the series was never released.

Was it a movie?
Kirk:  No, it was a TV series. They were planning to sell it to Warner Brothers or Disney, but it was written in Japanese initially. We had to translate and adapt it into English, which ended up sparking my interest in writing. Sadly, the show never aired, and it was frustrating to work so hard on something that went nowhere. I went back to LA and faced the same cycle of filming things that never saw the light of day. I was getting tired of working without being seen. My grandfather once bluntly told me that if no one sees my work, it’s like I didn’t do it. That actually motivated me.It was harsh, but it lit a fire under me. I realized I needed more control over my career.

Around this time I got the opportunity to work with Anthony Gilmore (whose children also attended NIS) which led to various behind-the-camera projects, and a steady job for a change. My wife, who I was dating in LA at the time, is from Nagoya and Anthony’s company, Nameless Media, being based in Nagoya, it was an easy decision to return to Japan.

I worked with Nameless directing the Lego Ninjago live show, which was developed for Legoland. While working on that project, I was also performing with my mom’s family.

I understand your mom’s family school of dance is very traditional. How long has it been around?
Kirk:  The craft dates back to the Edo period, and the company is likely over 150 years old, maybe closer to 200. I think my family expected me to know Japanese history from growing up in Japan, but I didn’t have the foundation to fully understand it; especially since I didn’t learn much about Japanese history at NIS. I remember studying mostly World History. Returning to Japan for the summers while at university, is what really got me interested in Japanese culture. Once I turned 21, I really started doing more research and traveling around Japan.

Are you expected to take over your family’s business eventually?
Kirk:  Yes, I’m the last of the bloodline on both sides of my family—no pressure, right? (laughter) My uncle Kazumasa went through something similar. He initially went to New York to study something completely different but eventually returned and took over. He’s done a great job of carving out his own path within the family business though, which is inspiring.

Do you see yourself following in his footsteps?
Kirk:  It’s complicated. I want to do my own thing, but I also don’t want this part of my family’s identity to disappear. Kazumasa has done a great job of balancing his identity with the family’s legacy, so I’d like to explore a similar path while also trying new things.

Okay, let’s get back to your post-NIS journey. You returned to Japan, took an interest in Japan, and…
Kirk:  In 2017, I moved back to Nagoya, worked with Nameless, worked with Legoland, and was performing with my family. All this led to being selected to promote Nagoya, as Kanko Taishi—tourism ambassador, a very exciting opportunity, which eventually led to the TV gig.

NHK interviewed me in the Kanko Taishi role, and a producer noticed me. Later, when my family performed at an event for the Emperor's brother, I met a producer from Sala Sala Salada, and I guess they liked me for the show. When the host at the time moved on, they took a chance on me, even though I had no idea what I was doing. However, my co-host, an industry veteran, was amazing and said, "I’ve been doing this for over 30 years. Don’t worry—I’ll teach you." She really took me under her wing.

I ended up working on the show for seven years, with four different partners. The experience taught me more about Japan than I could’ve learned in a lifetime. It was a fantastic opportunity, though it was challenging since they expected me to know things the average Japanese person would know, and I often didn’t.

Like what?
Kirk:  One example was preparing nabe (hot pot). At home, my wife and I would throw in everything—cabbage, meat—and serve it. But apparently, you’re supposed to create a sort of "island" for the cabbage.

Oh, so you missed that cultural detail! Alright, so after your years at NHK, what was next? I think around that time, a year or so ago, I initially reached out, and you mentioned feeling unsettled.
Kirk:  Right, I actually stayed with NHK another year after that, though I was looking to move on. The on-camera world is so unstable. Most of us were contract workers, and I wanted something steady since I have a family. But I also don’t want to just fall back on teaching in the family business. It’s only been about two months since my time at NHK ended.

And now, I’m a content producer, handling everything from pre-production to post-production for a real estate company that renovates old Japanese kominka (traditional Japanese houses) and rents them to travelers. It’s a freelance role, mostly focused on social media. In a nutshell you can say I’m a filmmaker.

So your work is mainly film, video, and photo for online content?
Kirk:  Exactly, for social media. I’m freelancing, looking for more opportunities.

Do you think you’ll return to the family business, the theater?
Kirk:  I’ve been exploring ways to contribute. I’ve been filming instructional videos for my family’s dance group, especially during COVID when in-person classes were difficult. Documenting these dances is one of my goals—styles can change over time like a game of telephone, so preserving the original form is important to me.

How did NIS shape you for all of this?
Kirk:  NIS being a small school gave me the chance to try a lot of different things. For me, that meant sports and even classes in video production, that my dad taught. I didn’t realize it then, but these experiences opened my mind to different possibilities. Being around talented classmates, like Mackenzie (’08), who went on to become a filmmaker, showed me what was possible and motivated me.

Are you still in touch with old classmates?
Kirk:  Absolutely. I recently had dinner with a couple of guys from my class and keep in touch with others like Jamie and Charlie. Jamie actually connected me with his brother Charlie, who gave me a push towards UX/UI design, which helped me get where I am now.

What’s the accomplishment you’re most proud of so far?
Kirk:  Honestly, my family. My dad chose to leave his U.S. business to be with us in Japan, which inspired me to prioritize family over career opportunities I may have had in Tokyo and elsewhere. It’s why we’re here in Nagoya, so our kids can be close to both sets of grandparents.

How many kids do you have?
Kirk:  Two, and I’d love to send them both to NIS someday.

On the topic of family, what does your wife do?
Kirk:  She’s a professional classical saxophonist, performing with the Nagoya and Chubu Philharmonics.

I didn’t realize saxophone was used in classical music.
Kirk:  It actually started as a classical instrument.

Back to your time at NIS…what’s a memorable NIS experience?
Kirk:  Habitat for Humanity, definitely. We went to Fiji—it was a humbling experience. We went to where there was no electricity, just a generator. We played rugby with local kids on a gravel riverbed with a sandal because they couldn’t afford a ball. On our last day, we bought them a real ball. That experience showed me the value of non-material things and brought me closer to classmates like Jin Soo and Brett.

Any advice for current students?
Kirk:  Definitely do something like Habitat for Humanity if you can. Also, take a local train across Japan—don’t take the Shinkansen. You’ll see a side of Japan that’s not just Tokyo or Kyoto. Learn about local foods and culture. I didn't realize how special living in Japan was, so I didn't appreciate it was as a high school student as I did later in life.

One last question, what future goals do you have?
Kirk:  My main goal is to combine filmmaking with sports media. I see three types of fans—newcomers, casuals, and die-hards. My dream is to create tailored content that engages each group, maybe even working with a sports team to connect with their fanbase on all levels.

...

A bit of time has passed since we talked to Kirk so we asked him to update us.
Kirk:  Since August, I’ve had the pleasure of working with the Mitsubishi Electric Koalas Women’s Basketball Team as a content creator for their PR department. Filming the sport I love has been an incredible experience. I get the best seats in the house during games—right below the basket and up close to all the action.

As a filmmaker, I’m starting to identify my niche: the projects I enjoy most and those where I excel. Drawing on my multi-sport experience from my time at NIS—playing basketball, soccer, volleyball, and baseball—I’m eager to expand my involvement in sports media and broaden my coverage.

I’ve also started working as a UX Designer and Cultural Consultant at KORE META, an XR (Extended Reality) video game company that develops educational games for the Meta Quest series of headsets. Currently, we’re creating a game for studying Japanese, and my role involves ensuring the experience and features are culturally accurate.

I’m particularly interested in exploring the growing possibilities of XR technology. With continuous advancements making the tech smaller and more affordable, I believe that within the next 5–10 years, headsets and smart glasses will be as ubiquitous as smartphones.

My updated goal is to continue exploring my current paths, discover new opportunities, and eventually start my own company where all these interests intersect.