Jan 16, 2026
Who is your hero!?
Today, January 16th, is Hero Day. Who is your favorite hero, fictional or otherwise? The first one who comes to my mind for me is a real life person; Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland (moreover, the first female president), and a former United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, among other impressive roles. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in December, a dream come true. I was trying to think about who my favorite fictional hero is. I have not come to conclusion yet! There is such a choice. Do you have one?
Irish, Mom of 4, currently also living beside the In-Laws. 25+ years back and forth between Ireland and Japan! I also write on my personal website: insaitama.com
Best Answer
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on Feb 6
One more hero is the poet Yokota Hiroshi. He had cerebral palsy in an era when disabled people were even more marginalized than today. He used his words to cut through ableism. One of his poems accuses society of restricting the movement of people with disabilities - "You Forbid Me to Walk", anatagata wa watashi ga aruku koto o kinzuru. He asked the public to see and hear people whose movement is challenged by disabilities. Powerful person.
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on Jan 17
Oooh, this is a tough one! I'm a bit on the side of "never meet your heroes" because I think every human has their flaws and negative characteristics...and it can be a bit of a letdown to idolize someone and then not have them meet those kind of lofty expectations. I think my heroes overall are people who stand up to injustices in the world. These days it feels like there's a lot of injustice, so I admire people who have the courage and fortitude to stand up for people.
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on Jan 17
Japanese heroes? I'd say Sugiura Chiune, the diplomat who provided transit visas for Jewish refugees fleeing Europe. He went against the foreign ministry's orders to save people from being left behind. Tsuda Umeko and Oyama Sutematsu fascinate me. They were two of the girls sent to the US with the Iwakura Mission. When they returned, they promoted education for women in Japan.
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on Jan 17
@TonetoEdo I'd never heard of Sugiura Chiune before, but sounds like a person who would definitely have my vote as a hero.
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on Jan 17
@genkidesu Please read up on him! He disregarded the strict foreign ministry vetting rules to evacuate people who were in danger. Another impressive thing - he wrote the transit visas by hand, permitting thousands of fleeing Jewish people to pass through Japanese-held territory.
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on Jan 17
I adore Japanese poets for their pithy examinations of life and nature. A favorite is Aida Mitsuo, who wrote simple poems often riffing on Buddhist themes. The poems are simple enough for Japanese learners. I think he's a hero for bringing deep thought to a wide audience, children, Japanese language learners, and anybody who craves some insight into the human condition.
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on Jan 17
@TonetoEdo I will! I'm already moved by what you've shared about him. Plenty of good lessons to learn from his brave actions!
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on Feb 2
I think I would have to pick Ralph Bunche. The grandson of a slave, Ralph Bunche was raised just a suburb away from my hometown and rose through hard work and determination to become the United States' foremost postwar diplomat. He helped negotiate the UN Charter in San Francisco, and when Folke Bernadotte was assassinated while attempting to mediate the first organized truce between Israel and Palestine, Bunche fearlessly stepped in to see the negotiation through to completion. He was offered the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts, which he refused, arguing that he was only doing his job. His UN colleagues convinced him to take the award, which he did on behalf of the United Nations.
8 Answers