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Good evening, everybody! I am the vice-chairman of Japan ALS Association, NAGAO Yoshiaki. We are so happy to have our guests from overseas, for the symposium, and for this welcome party, too. You must be tired; still, I hope we can communicate each other and enhance our mutual friendship. We would not have the chanse to meet each other here today, if we had not get ALS. This is the real fate of ALS!

Let me introduce a bit about myself. I was diagnosed as ALS 19 years ago. When I think about it, I feel it was a long time, yet it passed quickly, too. What I appreciate is that I could meet so many worthy people since I became an ALS patient. Humans are very selfish animals. We can be the unhappiest man in the world if we think we are unhappy, but we can also be most happy, if we think we are happy. I've been drawing computer graphics for seven years. My wife is puzzled and often asks me why I draw pictures all the time. My whole body is still -- except my toe. I can move my toe 1 or 2 millimeters. Still, I CAN move my toe! How happy and wonderful it is! I cannot fully explain this feeling to healthy people. When I draw a picture, I wear the censor on my toe, and I draw with whole my body. So drawing pictures is my hobby as well as my rehabilitation. Drawing pictures gives me the meaning to live.

Doctors are studying iPS and many patients and families are waiting for the day when ALS become curable. A doctor in the department of neurology and internal medicine told me the other day that it should be available in a decade. I'm still half in doubt. Still, we keep our dream until the day we die. Everybody here today, let's cure our ALS and meet again in 10 years -- walking in this room on our own feet, too! I will be waiting eagerly for the day to come. Please join us again -- we will treat you a roasted whale!

ALS associations in every regions, I ask you to be the breakwaters to protect ALS patients from any waves. The world has become close thanks to the mass media and the information technologies. I thought East Asia was a huge area, but actually we are in each other's neighborhood. Let's help and be friends among neighbors. Keep in touch! Thank you.

The works of NAGAO Yoshiaki:
- Queen's village (JPG 677kb)
- The Eiffel Tower (JPG 570kb)
- 8027 Aletsch (JPG 594kb)

2009年02月21日
International Symposium "Research on Home Care of Patients with ALS in East Asia"