ERIC ROBINSON

Most people would agree that becoming a comedian is no easy job and that it probably takes a lot of gusto to become one.

How about trying that occupation in Japanese, with Japanese being a second language?

When ERIC ROBINSON was in second grade, his mother reluctantly let him skip to fourth because the teachers said he was so smart. When they asked her the same question a few years later, she refused, and Eric graduated high school at the ripe old age of 16. "I started college that summer but I really didn’t appreciate my mom’s 9 p.m. curfew, so at 17 I joined the Marines. I have always wanted to be a Marine," said Robinson.

When his orders came through to go to DLIFLC, his interrogation team was deploying to Beirut, Lebanon. Though not happy, he knew there was no point in fighting it. "Mid way through the course, I got sort of bored and went down to the textbook warehouse and requested they give me Japanese books," Robinson explained. "I took two DLPTs and passed them both in 1983." The year 1983 was also when the Marine barracks were bombed in Beirut, killing 220 of his fellow Marines.

Years later, Robinson left the military and opened an import-export company and a couple clothing stores in Hawaii. Life was good, until a family death in 1999 caused him to think twice, and he went to Japan for a break. "I was renting an apartment from this lady who one day asked me if I wanted to be an extra on a variety TV show," said Robinson in a matter-of-fact tone. "So while I was waiting to do my skit, I started telling jokes in Japanese and they really liked it. Eventually they would talk me into doing comedy in Japan," explained Robinson. Robinson’s stage name was Afro Eric, while his branded image was reminiscent of the 1970’s Motown music fashion with big hair, big glasses, and a big smile.

Afro Eric was an instant hit, appearing on prime time television every weekend. His image was on train advertisements, posters in big cities, fast food tray liners, cups, and T- Shirts, while people in the streets flocked him for autographs. Three years later, Robinson, again for family reasons, decided to come back to the United States.

"Coming back to DLI was a natural. What better way to pass on my joint/combined-service experiences to future linguists!" he said. Robinson is currently Director of Operations at the Institute’s Student Learning Center where he manages the influx of all basic course students for a week of English grammar, area studies and learning strategies before they begin their intensive language studies. "In my free time I run a blog called "Black Tokyo," which I created to help people learn about Japan from an "afro" perspective to overcome cultural and racial divides. I also blog on issues which impact U.S. military forces in Japan," said Robinson.