WEBVTT

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When we are connected with someone,
or feel sympathy with others,

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all of us feel happy.

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Today, I would like to talk about
the "feeling of appreciation,"

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"self-examination,"

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and "respect for others,"

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which I believe are
the most important mindsets in life.

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I was inspired to hold this belief

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by the "Omine Sennichi Kaihogyo,"

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a practice in which you walk
48 km in the mountains,

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every day, for a thousand days.

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After that, there is a period
of 9 days without drinking,

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eating, sleeping, or lying down.

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When I was a young boy,

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I found out about
this ascetic practice on TV.

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I then had this true, pure feeling
of wanting to give this challenge a try.

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You might wonder,

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"Why would a young boy suddenly
get interested in such a tough practice?"

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Perhaps the reason might be
my interest in figuring out

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how I can help people
get along with each other,

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learning the reasons
why people hate and dispute,

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and trying to find ways
to resolve such conflicts.

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Before elaborating
on the Sennichi Kaihogyo practice,

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I would like to talk about
the religious values of Japanese people.

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In Japan,

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we originally had "Shinto"
as the indigenous religion.

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Later, in A.D. 538,
Buddhism was introduced.

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Both don't exclude others or impose
a superior attitude towards non-believers,

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so these religions
coexisted naturally in Japan.

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Shintoism is about valuing a sense of awe,
gratitude and coexistence with nature.

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Buddhism is a religion which teaches us
the true, better way of life.

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The two harmonized deeply,

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and gradually evolved to treasure
the spirit of "wa" or "harmony."

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Therefore, many Japanese people
believe our life is supported by nature,

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which is a unique belief, globally.

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For example, on March 11, 2011,

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a great earthquake and tsunami
hit this Tohoku region.

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Since then, we have faced
tremendous suffering and difficulties.

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Despite such sorrow,
people helped each other,

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shared their limited food,

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and made our best effort
to live under the spirit of "wa."

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Various media covered
this attitude and spirit,

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which lead to countless voices
praising the people of Japan.

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A while after the earthquake,
one foreign news source said,

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"The Japanese people
believe that nature let them live.

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It's surprising that they never hold
a grudge against mother nature."

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This ascetic practice, peculiar to Japan,

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is based on this unique,
nature-oriented belief.

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To meet nature face-to-face and
to take on the challenge,

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I headed for the Kimpusen-ji temple
on Mt. Yoshino, in Nara prefecture.

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This practice demands that trainees walk
48 km of mountain trails every day,

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which takes 16 hours each time.

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This long journey lasted 4 months,
from May 3 to September 3.

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Once you start the practice,

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you cannot quit before completing it,
even in rain, or storms, or illness.

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Should you decide to stop
for whatever reason,

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you must end the practice
by killing yourself with a dagger.

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Why this harsh rule?

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The rule reflects the extreme difficulty
of completing even a day.

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Repeating this 48 km walk
for a thousand times

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means that a trainee must be prepared
to risk his life to try it.

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In this context,

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that rule is not something
that disregards human life.

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During the practice, I get up at 11:30 pm.

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I then purify myself under a waterfall,
dress myself in white,

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and take two rice balls
and 500 ml of water.

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At 12:30 am, I start my journey
towards the summit of Mt. Omine,

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which is 1719 meters high
and 24 km away from the start.

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Some mountain trails are extremely steep,
and precipitous cliffs await.

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Every moment is life-threatening.

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Arriving at the summit at 8:30 am,

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I pick up another rice ball and some water
to go back down the same trail.

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I would return at 3:30 pm,

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and do the cleaning, washing,
preparation for the next day,

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and sleep for four and a half hours.

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This cycle continues for four months.

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As I only eat rice balls
and drink water during the day,

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in a month, my nails crumble
due to malnutrition.

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In the third month, I walk in summer heat,
over 40 degrees Celsius.

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I start to see blood in my urine.

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I always faced the danger
of being attacked by bears, boars,

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and poisonous snakes.

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A trainee must endure and overcome
such situations every day,

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to complete the thousand days
of the Sennichi Kaihogyo.

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During this challenge,

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I kept a journal
to record my state of mind.

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Let me read some of it.

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Day 17.

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"The next step is unknown to an ascetic.

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There is no other option
but to keep going.

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It's beyond reason.

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If he doesn't go,
he must kill himself with a dagger.

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The next step is unknown to him."

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Every day, I was forced to extremes,
both physically and mentally.

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But at the same time,
I always had a feeling of fulfillment.

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Why?

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Perhaps it's because
I had the strong desire and hope

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to become a person
who can be of help to others,

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people suffering all over the world.

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I was determined to realize that dream
by devoting myself to the daily practice.

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Yet, only one person had completed
this practice in history.

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I faced many difficulties.

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Legend says there are at least
3 deadly moments during the practice.

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For me, the first was a serious landslide,

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the second was when
I was nearly attacked by a bear,

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and the third was losing 11 kg in 10 days,

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due to an illness, starting on Day 488.

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Day 489.

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"Stomachache. I cannot stand it.

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Every joint of my body aches.
The pain is so intense.

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I collapsed on the roadside,
leaning against a tree in tears and sweat.

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But for others' sake,
it's my duty to stand strong.

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My job is to give hope to others.

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I told myself that I were not qualified
to be an ascetic if I inspired pity,

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and I finally came back to the temple.

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I had no idea how I was able
to walk the 48 kilometers.

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My neighbor told me,

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'Your steps are so light!
You're still healthy, aren't you.'

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'Yes, thank you.' I say, but no.
I am in terrible shape.

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No one knows the backstage of my life.

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Nay, no one needs to know.

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I just want to be as pure and sincere
in front of the Buddha,

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as a wild flower blossoming,

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to be seen by no one."

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Running a high fever for several days,
unable to eat anything,

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on Day 495,

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I collapsed on the mountain,
in total darkness.

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In the dark,

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I didn't feel anything.

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No pain, no agony.

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I felt like I was enveloped
in something or by someone.

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I assumed I would die in the morning.

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Suddenly, memories of my life
came flashing back,

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reminding me of the people
who supported me.

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I firmly stood up, telling myself
that I couldn't quit here.

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That is why I'm here today.

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People say that our view of life changes
when one hovers between life and death.

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Let's take a look at my case.

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Day 563.

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"I think people are all equal.

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We must appreciate the fact
that we were born on the same Earth,

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equally provided with air,
water and light.

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We cannot count all the stars
in a lifetime.

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Given that, I thought I should live
a truly enriched, placid life.

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I can feel my heart beat
when I put my hand on my chest.

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If I remind myself
that my heart won’t be beating forever,

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I should be able to cherish and live
my gifted but limited life to the fullest.

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We should respect others

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just as we care about ourselves.

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A thoughtful mind will bring us happiness.

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Getting up early, walking,
eating, sleeping.

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With these simple,
most fundamental parts of human life,

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I contemplate such thoughts
alone in the mountain."

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2500 years ago, Buddha said,

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"Repeating the same practice with passion

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will lead you to a new discovery."

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This is where the meaning
of ascetic practice lies.

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As I walked the trail every day
with all my strength,

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I gradually realized what are
the important mindsets for us humans.

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They are the "feeling of appreciation,"

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"self-examination,"

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and "respect for others."

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They may seem simple and too ordinary.

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We learn them from our parents
when we're young.

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But when we ourselves experience
a critical moment,

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we finally realize the importance
of simple things in life

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from the bottom of our heart.

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What's important is the harmony
between yourself and others.

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We are all precious.

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Everyone is dearest to themselves.

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That's why it is important
to love our neighbor

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as we love ourselves.

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Your heartfelt respect,

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or your thoughtful mind,

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words and actions

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will connect people together.

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And someday, your blessings
will be returned to you.

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This cycle will lead you
to a better, hopeful life.

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Conflict and hatred
will never bring us happiness.

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It is important to reflect upon
the current situation you are in,

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to face it directly, and to accept it.

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By standing face-to-face with others,
you will discover something new.

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You can deepen the bond
between you and them.

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Of course, facing them like that

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may lead to additional problems
and difficulties.

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But with a thoughtful mind,
and through respectful discussion,

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we can discover new possibilities.

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That's why we, the people of Tohoku,

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have come this far from the disaster,

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by coming face to face
with the enormous difficulty,

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and by deepening our bonds.

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It is often said
that Japanese people are indecisive.

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I don't believe so.

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We have the ability to choose
the best option, harmonize our thoughts,

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and lead ourselves to a better future.

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This spirit of "wa," harmony, in Japan,

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should be shared with the world,

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from here, from Tohoku.

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An ideal world is a world

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where people, nations,
religions and cultures

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respect one another
with a thoughtful mind.

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It is my sincere hope that, one day,

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such a better and wonderful world
will be realized.

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Let us wish the best for world peace,

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and the peace of every individual.

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Even in this moment,

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there are people suffering
from hunger and poverty.

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Now is the time to take action for them,

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and to start with something simple.

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Let's think in a wide perspective,
with a broad mind.

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We are embraced by nature,

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with its unique and incredible balance.

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This nature and its balance
would never be achieved

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through man-made technologies.

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We must appreciate the fact
that we're able to live in such a world.

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And when we are connected with someone,

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or feel sympathy with others,

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all of us experience happiness.

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We are born on this Earth
to achieve such happiness.

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I wish you all happiness.

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Thank you.

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(Applause)