Hello.

This is a picture of me when I was young.

From an early age I have loved
going on adventures,

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

with my friend.

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

often making my mother angry.

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

This is how I spent my early years.

Although I grew up physically
during my school days,

my love for adventure never changed.

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

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

This was the kind of conversation
we used to have.

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

to which he would reply, "Sounds great!

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

buy candy at that shop
and then do this and that."

Then I would say "Good plan!"

Please notice that
I only said two things,

one at the beginning
and one at the end.

(Laughter)

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

My friend decided the rest for us.

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

We were separated after entering
different universities

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

But then I found a new friend.

(Laughter)

I would say to my new friend,

"Shall we go somewhere?"

He would say, "Sounds great!

Let's go this and that,

eat at this and that place,
stay here and there,

and then do this and that."

Then I would say "Good plan!"

Did you notice the difference?

My accent changed from
the local to the standard.

(Laughter)

That's the only thing that's changed.

I hadn't changed at all.

I only said the first and last words
in the conversation.

My new friend decided the rest.

So my adventures continued
into my university days.

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

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

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

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

I was really excited.

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

"What?" I thought to myself.

I believed that if I said
the first and last words

then an adventure would follow.

"What the heck?" I thought

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

However, I was so excited
and really wanted to go

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

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

I wondered what I should do
so I sought advice

from my university senior.

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

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

Even though I agreed with what he said,

I had always left it up to my friends.

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

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

until I recalled my father's words.

He would often say to me,

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

He would often say vague words like this.

"Somehow things will be OK."

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

They suddenly came
to my mind at that time.

So I thought that whatever happens
things will work out.

And believing this I made
my decision to go alone.

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

It was my first time traveling alone,
my first solo adventure.

This is what I looked like.

(Laughter)

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

(Laughter)

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

I set off on my scooter in winter.

Not being able to use read the map,

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

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

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

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

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

I thought to myself
that I am surprisingly still alive.

Somehow it worked out OK.

At that time the large wall disappeared

and a realistic wall appeared
in front of me.

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

and after that things would go
without a hitch.

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

I achieved my traveling across Japan.

I overcame the wall.

As I turned round
to look back at the wall,

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

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

Next I went alone to Canada to study.

Studying abroad in Canada was
the largest wall for me.

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

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

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

I directly appealed to all professors
for supplementary exams

and somehow, all of them
agreed to my request.

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

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

This time I felt like I jumped over it.

(Laughter)

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

This prepared me for my next challenge.

In fact my next challenge is now.

I am standing here
on the TEDxKagoshima stage.

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

Many people share their great ideas.

I have always wanted
to stand on this stage,

it feels like a dream to be here.

I had another large wall in front of me,

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

I am somehow getting
through it now, right?

(Laughter)

(Applause)

Thank you!

I just reached the top of the wall.

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

but my hands are on the top now,

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

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

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

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

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

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

It is only your mind
which makes the wall large.

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

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

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

and after that it's easy.

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

it was smaller than you thought.

Overcoming obstacles can make
the next challenge easier.

Please try to overcome your obstacles
and expand your horizons.

I will make these words,
"Somehow it will work out"

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

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

which is the mother's day in Japan.

Thank you.