Memories of Ibaraki: One of the Greatest Honors of My Life

When I look back on my time in Ibaraki Prefecture, one of my strongest memories is also deeply personal. I won't go into too much detail, because dwelling on it still makes me emotional, yet it remains one of the greatest honors of my life.

As part of my work at the Kenchō, I traveled across the prefecture regularly. Among one of my occasional duties was visiting sick children in hospital classrooms; most of them battling cancer, and some, sadly, terminally ill. What stays with me to this day is how, despite their pain and what they were facing, they still smiled, laughed, and showed extraordinary bravery.

Having the privilege to bring a little joy to those children, even briefly, was truly the greatest honor.