NO ONE'S PERFECT (Gotai Fumanzoku in Japanese), a relentlessly upbeat
memoir by Hirotada Ototake, has become best-seller in Japan. In this first-person account, The 24-year-old Japanese youth born in 1976, without arms and legs recollects the day-to-day challenges of living without arms or legs. He recounts the story of his life and explains how he coped with disability and adversity: buoyed by his parents' generosity and love, he adopted an optimistic attitude and challenged himself to try anything. His parents determined that he would live a "normal" life so that he was given no special treatment either at home or at school, and ended up participating in schooling and sports. His education at regular schools, where he gained acceptance of classmates and how he overcame the skepticism of the teaching staff etc are narrated in an easily understandable language. Author describes the creative rules his schoolmates formed so that he could join their soccer games and basketball on his stumps. He describes how, in high school, his active athletic life almost jeopardized his academic career. At Waseda University, he became an activist, who spoke and wrote about the necessity to create a barrier free environment. Now, has become a celebrity in Japan
and other parts of the world. He is always daring, charming and apparently never sad. According to him - The important thing is not to turn your disability into an excuse. True, when your heart's just been broken, it may be the first thing you think of... but was that the real reason it didn't work out? I don't suppose a disability is actually an asset in too many people's eyes, but don't let that stop you. In the end, it all comes down to what you, as a person, have to offer. We could see him as the perfect boy that all parents wish for, he's the disabled kid always smiling, always looking on the bright side. The book is well written, inspirational and relevant for people of all age groups, around the globe. This is a remarkable story penned by a highly optimistic mind, who possess an unfailingly bright view of the world.