Latest news with #Shun
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- General
- The Mainichi
Boy, 12, guides foreign visitors to Hiroshima in English, conveys suffering of war
HIROSHIMA -- "We want to convey the message that even when the war has ended, the suffering that remains with people lasts a lifetime," says Shun Sasaki, 12, a sixth-grade student at Hiroshima municipal Gion Elementary School. He is one of the two children to read out this year's Children's Commitment to Peace on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6. His great-grandmother was a hibakusha, or A-bomb survivor, and he has worked as a volunteer guide, speaking fluently in English to tourists visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in the city's Naka Ward. In early July, as the harsh sun beat down on Peace Memorial Park, Shun approached a foreign family and greeted them with a "Hello" and began guiding them. Holding materials in one hand and gazing toward the Atomic Bomb Dome, he informed them that the city had decided to preserve the building to ensure that the tragedy of the atomic bombing is never repeated. The family, who had initially appeared confused, began to listen intently. When a foreign man tried to hand Shun 1,000 yen (about $6.80) to thank him, he responded, "Time is money" and declined to take it. More people began to gather, and before long a large circle of listeners had formed. Shun finished his guiding by handing out handmade paper cranes and urged people to tell their friends what they had heard. Shun began listening to infant-oriented English educational materials "as play tools" when he was just 7 months old, and by the age of 4 he had gotten to the stage where he was able to convey his thoughts in English. The English materials were free samples that his mother Mio, 40, had gotten from a magazine. He began to take an interest in Peace Memorial Park when he was in his first year of elementary school. He looked at the Atomic Bomb Dome and wondered, "Why do they keep it when it's so dilapidated? They should tear it down and build something new." When he asked his mother about it, she said, "Let's look it up together," and they got information online and at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, learning about the history of the bombing and reconstruction. When Shun saw foreigners at places he visited, he would approach them without shyness, and actively talk to them. But one time after he told a foreign tourist standing in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome about the history of the structure, he was unable to answer a question, which left him frustrated. With further study, his knowledge increased, and his mother suggested, "Why don't you be a guide at Peace Memorial Park?" He made his debut on Aug. 6, 2021, the 76th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. He was in his second year of elementary school at the time. Now, twice a month, he guides foreign tourists at seven locations within the park, including the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. To engage visitors, he incorporates quizzes and recommends local "okonomiyaki" pancake restaurants. During his tours, Shun shares the experience of his great-grandmother Yuriko, an A-bomb survivor, through photographs. Yuriko was 12 years old at the time and was at her home 1.5 kilometers from the hypocenter when the bomb exploded. She was trapped under the rubble of the home, but was rescued by her father, and together they fled to a place in what is today known as the Itsukaichi-cho district of Hiroshima's Saeki Ward, about 10 kilometers away. Yuriko contracted breast cancer at the age of 38 and bowel cancer at the age of 60, and passed away at the age of 69. Her name is said to be included in the register of A-bomb victims. Shun learned about Yuriko's experience as a survivor of the bombing from his grandfather after starting to guide. "I never thought there'd be a hibakusha in my family. It was a shock to know someone close to me experienced the tragedy," he said. "At the same time, he felt a growing responsibility, thinking, "Now that I know, I must share it." This was also the first time Shun's parents learned about Yuriko's past. In March this year, Shun encountered a tourist who remains in his memory. It was an American man aged around 40. After Shun guided him, the man revealed he had thought that nuclear weapons could prevent war, but hearing Shun changed his mind and he agreed that nuclear weapons should be abolished. A Dutch man standing nearby, meanwhile, said he had learned that nuclear weapons had ended the war but he now felt this was wrong. Shun says, "I learned that when I'm guiding, people's hearts can be moved," and he felt what he was doing was worthwhile. At the same time, he said of the unending wars around the world, "It's really scary. Wars happen because people can't accept differences in other countries' cultures and ways of thinking. Even in daily life I guess it's important to search for the good in other people, not just the bad things." As this year's anniversary of the atomic bombing approaches, Shun was one of two children chosen from 10,465 sixth graders in the city of Hiroshima who wrote opinion essays, to serve as representatives for the Children's Commitment to Peace. "Many people don't know the true nature of the tragedy. Rather than what's right or wrong, I want people to know the facts," Shun says. Through the pledge, he hopes to convey his message to the world. (Japanese original by Takehiko Onishi, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
The Sun
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Steven Sim adopts fourth USM student, offers financial and emotional support
GEORGE TOWN: Human Resources Minister Steven Sim has extended his support to another Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) student, marking the fourth individual he has assisted under his personal initiative. Shun Yong, a second-year student facing severe financial hardships, became the latest beneficiary after his struggles came to light. Shun lost his mother at 14 and has never known his father. He lives with his 87-year-old grandmother, relying solely on a RM500 monthly welfare aid from the Welfare Department (JKM). Despite these challenges, he excelled academically, scoring four flat distinctions in his STPM exams and securing a place at USM. 'Student loans from PTPTN were not enough to cover all his expenses. During semester breaks, Shun took on part-time jobs to support his daily needs and living costs,' Sim shared on Facebook. The student's difficulties escalated when he nearly missed semester registration due to unpaid fees. A concerned individual, Uncle Ooi, alerted Sim to Shun's situation. The Bukit Mertajam MP promptly intervened, settling the outstanding tuition fees. Shortly after, Shun faced another setback when his laptop malfunctioned, cutting off access to essential academic materials. Sim arranged to take him to purchase a new device, though Shun initially hoped to repair the old one. 'Uncle Ooi, who is not related to Shun but has quietly supported him all along, had already bought him a new laptop to ensure he wasn't held back by faulty equipment,' Sim explained. The minister then formally invited Shun to be his 'adopted child,' emphasising that the gesture goes beyond financial aid. 'I want him to know that we stand behind him,' Sim said. Shun joins three other USM students who have received similar support from Sim, reflecting the minister's commitment to uplifting struggling students. – Bernama
Barnama
07-07-2025
- General
- Barnama
Steven Sim Adopts Fourth USM Student, Offers Support Amid Hardships
GEORGE TOWN, July 7 (Bernama) -- Human Resources Minister Steven Sim today welcomed his fourth 'adopted child' from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), after hearing the inspiring story of Shun Yong, a second-year student facing significant personal challenges. Shun, who lost his mother at age 14 and has never known his father, lives with his 87-year-old grandmother. Despite surviving on just RM500 a month from the Welfare Department (JKM), he persevered academically, achieving four flat distinctions in the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examination and securing a place at USM. 'Student loans from PTPTN were not enough to cover all his expenses. During semester breaks, Shun took on part-time jobs to support his daily needs and living costs,' Sim shared on Facebook today. Several months ago, Shun nearly missed his semester registration due to unpaid fees. A kind Samaritan named Uncle Ooi, reached out to Sim to highlight the student's plight. Moved by the situation, Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MP, stepped in to clear Shun's tuition fees. Shortly after, Shun informed him that his laptop had broken down, cutting off access to crucial academic documents. 'I went to USM to take him to buy a new laptop, though he only wanted to fix the old one,' said Sim. 'But Uncle Ooi, who is not related to Shun but has quietly supported him all along, had already bought him a new laptop to ensure he wasn't held back by faulty equipment.' 'Today, I invited Shun to be my adopted child, not just to provide financial help, but to show him he's not alone. I want him to know that we stand behind him,' Sim added.
Sinar Daily
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Steven Sim adopts fourth USM student, offers support amid hardships
Shun, who lost his mother at age 14 and has never known his father, lives with his 87-year-old grandmother. 07 Jul 2025 05:04pm Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MP, stepped in to clear Shun's tuition fees. - Photo source: Steven Sim/Facebook GEORGE TOWN - Human Resources Minister Steven Sim today welcomed his fourth 'adopted child' from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), after hearing the inspiring story of Shun Yong, a second-year student facing significant personal challenges. Shun, who lost his mother at age 14 and has never known his father, lives with his 87-year-old grandmother. Shun is now the fourth USM student to receive such support from Steven Sim. - Photo source: Steven Sim/Facebook Despite surviving on just RM500 a month from the Welfare Department (JKM), he persevered academically, achieving four flat distinctions in the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examination and securing a place at USM. "Student loans from PTPTN were not enough to cover all his expenses. During semester breaks, Shun took on part-time jobs to support his daily needs and living costs,' Sim shared on Facebook today. Several months ago, Shun nearly missed his semester registration due to unpaid fees. A kind Samaritan named Uncle Ooi, reached out to Sim to highlight the student's plight. Moved by the situation, Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MP, stepped in to clear Shun's tuition fees. Shortly after, Shun informed him that his laptop had broken down, cutting off access to crucial academic documents. "I went to USM to take him to buy a new laptop, though he only wanted to fix the old one,' said Sim. "But Uncle Ooi, who is not related to Shun but has quietly supported him all along, had already bought him a new laptop to ensure he wasn't held back by faulty equipment.' "Today, I invited Shun to be my adopted child, not just to provide financial help, but to show him he's not alone. I want him to know that we stand behind him,' Sim added. Shun is now the fourth USM student to receive such support from the minister. - BERNAMA More Like This
The Drive
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
Go From Wake Up to Wind Down With This Japanese Truck Factory Worker
The latest car news, reviews, and features. When I was a kid, my elementary school had a program that let students shadow adults at their job for a day. The idea was to show us what working as, say, an architect was like. 'Japanese assembly plant worker' wasn't one of the options available, but a video posted on YouTube fills that void. It documents a day in the life of someone who works in a huge Isuzu factory that assembles about 500 trucks per day. The video follows a 27-year-old man named Shun who lives in an apartment owned by Isuzu. This practice is fairly common in Japan: About 41% of Japanese companies offer some type of housing, according to the narrator. After getting ready, Shun walks 25 minutes to the Isuzu plant in Fujisawa, makes a quick stop at a 7-Eleven for breakfast, clocks in, and starts his shift as a manufacturing department captain. Beyond shedding light on the daily routine of a Japanese factory worker, the video gives us a fascinating and rarely seen glimpse at what an Isuzu plant looks like from the inside. About 6,000 people work in the Fujisawa plant, and it's so big that employees rely on shuttles to get around. And yet, every section of the factory that's shown in the video is stunningly clean. The narrator explains that this cleanliness is rooted in the Japanese concept of 'sort, set in order, and shine.' The idea is that a well-organized work environment increases productivity. Another thing that stands out in the video is the number of humans working on the assembly line. Isuzu builds commercial vehicles, not niche, small-batch supercars, so payload capacity and maintenance costs are more important to buyers than old-school craftsmanship. However, human workers remain essential because there are so many different variations of Isuzu's trucks all built under the same roof. The company notably sells different models, several variants of each model, as well as gasoline- and diesel-powered trucks. Workers like Shun keep the line moving smoothly and ensure that Isuzu can build a complete truck from start to finish in approximately 150 minutes. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@
