BY IZUMI OKUHARA

The book "Dakara anatamo ikinuite" (Don't give up on life) written by Mitsuyo Ohira has sold one million copies. This book is about her unimaginable life.

When she was a junior high school student, she attempted suicide because of bullying, the betrayal of her friends, and friction with her teacher and parents. Even after the suicide attempt, the bullying continued. Although she wanted to escape from the bullying, she was said with a word of "You bastard!" She began to behave violently due to bullying. However, her teacher was indifferent.

Finally she was unable to stay there. She was an only child and lived with her father, mother, and grandmother. She used violence against her father and mother in her home. Outside of home she tended to be a delinquent.

When she was 16 years old she became the wife of a gang leader. She had her back tattooed and didn't go to high school. She entered a gang world. But she had doubts about her life. She couldn't endure this life style and couldn't feel happy.

A turning point came when she was 22 years old. By chance he met Hirosaburou Ohira, who was an old friend of her fathers. He worried about her greatly. He said, "Certainly your present unhappiness isn't your responsibility. But it is your responsibility is that you don't try to recover. You cannot depend on others." He usually encouraged and scolded her.

She wanted to apologize to her parents. That feeling roused her. However, her grandmother had died, and her father died of cancer before she could make up with her parents. This shocked her strongly and this shock was not yet passed.

At last, she found her whereabouts and was determined to make a fresh start. She divorced and started to live alone.

Surprisingly, she could pass the bar examination after passing an examination to get a license as a real estate agent, and a test for legal transcriber by studying hard.

Generally, the legal examination is very difficult even for university graduates.

But she could pass the exam. It must have required a powerful spirit and effort. She had a powerful belief that she wants to be reborn.

At present she is a lawyer in charge of youth crimes. She doesn't hide her past, and does not believe that there is a need to hide it. She hasn't had the tattoo on her back removed. She left her tattoo on because she wants to help children who have a similar past to her. Certainly she is able to help many children. She understands their feelings.

Readers might think that her life today is wonderful. However, if she wasn't bullied, she could have had a more wonderful life. This book gives us a chance to reconsidering ourselves. It may be surely your spiritual nourishment to touch her life.