On August 25, 2024, a screening of a documentary film about Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, who worked for 35 years in Pakistan and Afghanistan, was held at the Yokohama City Hall auditorium. Following the screening, a roundtable discussion took place with the film’s director, Kenji Yatsu, and third-year students from Seisa High School.
The representative and Toda, who served as facilitators, initially felt it would be very difficult for ordinary individuals to learn from Dr. Tetsu Nakamura’s great achievements. However, through conversations with Mr. Yatsu and the insightful high school students, they felt their perspective began to broaden slightly.First, they discussed the idea of “Serendipity” – not setting limits for oneself and taking action. Dr. Nakamura became a civil engineer. They emphasized the principle, “Be a stone sinking to the riverbed rather than a leaf floating on the surface.” This means when you find something meaningful, persist in it thoroughly. Thus, Dr. Nakamura dedicated himself to the dignity of people in remote areas for 35 years.They also discussed the concept of “Illuminating one’s corner.” Although a devout Christian, Dr. Nakamura valued the words of Saicho, emphasizing that each person should focus on what they can do in their own situation. These ideas resonated with the high school students.The students expressed their own thoughts: wanting to use their future earnings for society, aspiring to challenge unprecedented things in healthcare, becoming someone who helps those close to them, and turning anger at injustice into power to improve society. Their words surely left an impression on the hearts of those filling the venue.For details on the Mayor of Yokohama’s greeting after the screening and the subsequent roundtable discussion, please refer to the information below.
