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Hello.

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This is a picture of me when I was young.

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From an early age I have loved[br]going on adventures,

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and I would often go[br]looking for new paths on my tricycle

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with my friend.

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I would look under bricks for bugs[br]and then take them home

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often making my mother angry.

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Occasionally, I would be overly-bold[br]and return home in tears.

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This is how I spent my early years.

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Although I grew up physically[br]during my school days,

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my love for adventure never changed.

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Throughout my 12 years at elementary,[br]junior, and senior high schools

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my best friend was always by my side[br]sharing in the adventures.

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This was the kind of conversation[br]we used to have.

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I would say in a Kansai dialect[br]"Shall we go somewhere?"

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to which he would reply, "Sounds great!

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Let's do this and that,[br]go along here and there,

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buy candy at that shop[br]and then do this and that."

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Then I would say "Good plan!"

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Please notice that[br]I only said two things,

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one at the beginning[br]and one at the end.

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(Laughter)

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All I said was, "Shall we go?"[br]and "Good plan!"

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My friend decided the rest for us.

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This was how we continued our adventures[br]for the next 12 years.

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We were separated after entering[br]different universities

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and I thought to myself, "What shall I do?[br]I have to go on solo adventures."

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But then I found a new friend.

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(Laughter)

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I would say to my new friend,

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"Shall we go somewhere?"

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He would say, "Sounds great!

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Let's go this and that,

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eat at this and that place,[br]stay here and there,

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and then do this and that."

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Then I would say "Good plan!"

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Did you notice the difference?

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My accent changed from[br]the local to the standard.

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(Laughter)

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That's the only thing that's changed.

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I hadn't changed at all.

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I only said the first and last words[br]in the conversation.

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My new friend decided the rest.

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So my adventures continued[br]into my university days.

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One day I said to my friend,[br]"Shall we ride the whole length of Japan?"

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But he replied in a shocked voice[br]saying, "Ohhhhh!"

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The length of Japan sounds pretty far,[br]so his reaction was to be expected.

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I always thought that if we talked about[br]an adventure we would go.

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I was really excited.

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Then my friend responded, "So I won't go."

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"What?" I thought to myself.

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I believed that if I said[br]the first and last words

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then an adventure would follow.

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"What the heck?" I thought

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but then I guess the length of Japan[br]really is a long way, even for my friend.

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However, I was so excited[br]and really wanted to go

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so I would have to undertake the[br]adventure alone or not at all.

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At that time, traveling across Japan[br]seemed like a large wall in front of me.

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I wondered what I should do[br]so I sought advice

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from my university senior.

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Then he said, "Noguchi,[br]you always go on adventures together

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but going alone will be a great chance[br]to break out of your shell."

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Even though I agreed with what he said,

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I had always left it up to my friends.

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I didn't believe I could do it by myself.

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Despite my feelings of excitement[br]I gave up on the idea of going

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until I recalled my father's words.

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He would often say to me,

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"Masayuki, if you live your life,[br]somehow things will work out!"

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He would often say vague words like this.

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"Somehow things will be OK."

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Those words have got me[br]through a few times in my life.

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They suddenly came[br]to my mind at that time.

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So I thought that whatever happens[br]things will work out.

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And believing this I made[br]my decision to go alone.

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Then I set off on my journey[br]along the length of whole Japan.

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It was my first time traveling alone,[br]my first solo adventure.

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This is what I looked like.

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(Laughter)

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Being somewhat reckless I set off[br]on my scooter in winter.

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(Laughter)

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On my first day, without being[br]able to read a map,

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I set off on my scooter in winter.

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Not being able to use read the map,

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I rode 300 km from Kanoya City[br]to Beppu City in Oita Prefecture.

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Not using the map, I asked people for[br]directions and somehow I got there.

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When I arrived, I looked for[br]somewhere to stay but couldn't.

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So I made the impulsive decision[br]to pitch my tent and sleep in a park.

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I fell asleep fearful,[br]but on the second day, when I woke up,

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I thought to myself[br]that I am surprisingly still alive.

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Somehow it worked out OK.

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At that time the large wall disappeared

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and a realistic wall appeared[br]in front of me.

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I felt like I had reached[br]the top of the wall with my hand

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and after that things would go[br]without a hitch.

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I started to understand the map, I could[br]buy tickets and find places to stay.

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I achieved my traveling across Japan.

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I overcame the wall.

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As I turned round[br]to look back at the wall,

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it was not the large wall[br]I had imagined but a small wall.

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By overcoming obstacles in this way,[br]I was prepared to take on challenges.

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Next I went alone to Canada to study.

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Studying abroad in Canada was[br]the largest wall for me.

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Furthermore, it was at exactly[br]the same time as my university's exams.

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Normally students would give priority[br]to their tests and delay going abroad.

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However, I once again believed[br]that somehow it would work out.

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I directly appealed to all professors[br]for supplementary exams

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and somehow, all of them[br]agreed to my request.

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So I was also able to achieve[br]my goal of studying in Canada.

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Once more, the wall which once seemed[br]so large disappeared.

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This time I felt like I jumped over it.

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(Laughter)

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Looking back again at the wall,[br]it was actually very small.

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This prepared me for my next challenge.

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In fact my next challenge is now.

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I am standing here[br]on the TEDxKagoshima stage.

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I am a big fan of TED[br]and often watch its videos.

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Many people share their great ideas.

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I have always wanted[br]to stand on this stage,

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it feels like a dream to be here.

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I had another large wall in front of me,

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but I am somehow taking[br]on the mental challenge this time too.

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I am somehow getting[br]through it now, right?

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(Laughter)

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(Applause)

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Thank you!

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I just reached the top of the wall.

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I still haven't completed[br]so I can't look back yet,

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but my hands are on the top now,

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and I think I'll be able to climb over it.

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After I am over the top and I look back,[br]I'm sure it won't look so big

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and again I'll probably think[br]it was actually quite small.

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Do you have a large wall[br]in your mind, too?

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For example, telling someone you love them[br]or starting a new job.

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I can tell you that it is[br]only a wall in your mind.

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It is only your mind[br]which makes the wall large.

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If it's only in your mind,[br]believe that you can work it out.

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If you think in this way,[br]your first step will always be made.

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With your first step made,[br]you can reach the top of the wall,

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and after that it's easy.

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When you look back at the wall[br]you have just climbed you will see

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it was smaller than you thought.

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Overcoming obstacles can make[br]the next challenge easier.

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Please try to overcome your obstacles[br]and expand your horizons.

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I will make these words,[br]"Somehow it will work out"

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my family motto,[br]but I still don't have a wife or children.

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I would show my appreciation to my[br]father for giving me the words today

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which is the mother's day in Japan.

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Thank you.