When I was a child, the world was facing many problems, including the Vietnam War. Japan, however, was in a party mood with Expo ’70. Even as a child, I felt that people’s destinies depended on when and where they were born. I thought I was lucky. I also wondered if I was leading my life in the right way.
　One day, I saw a TV program about starving children in Africa. I was shocked at the tragic sight and thought, “I wish I could do something for them.” I forgot about it, however, as I carried on with my daily life. But that TV scene suddenly came back to me when I began thinking about my future. I heard a voice from my heart saying, “You must become a doctor to help suffering children.”
　I told people around me that I would become a doctor, but none of them believed me. No wonder. I was a very lazy student who failed preparatory-school entrance exams five times!