大学の部 3位
北田　勝彦（神戸市外国語大学）

Our Love for All Children

 Where all children are surrounded by people who love them. This is my ideal Japan where I would like to live. So, what is it actually like in Japan right now? When I imagine a place where every single child can live with love, I can't help but think about cruel incidents of child abuse in Japan. According to data, there are 140,000 children who suffer from child abuse such as physical violence or mental violence like ignorance from adults. In addition, more than 50 children die of child abuse every year, which means at least one child is killed every week. Children can't choose their parents, but they have the right to live with hope for the future. That's why I do believe that we all have a responsibility to protect children from any violence which would damage their lives and break their hearts. Today, I will share with you my beliefs that form my ideal future for Japan. These beliefs come from experiences deeply rooted in my past.
 When I was a kid, my parents always worked hard from early in the morning until late at night every day, even on weekends. They often left home before I went to school in the morning. In the night at the table, they would keep talking about their business which I was not able to understand at all. I didn't receive physical violence, however, I felt that my parents had no interest in me. I sometimes asked them "Why do you have to work so hard?" Loneliness provoked these words to escape from the bottom of my heart. I still remember the confused face of my mother.
 When I was 14, I belonged to the basketball club in junior high school. One day, my parents came to watch a game on a Saturday. I was really surprised, because they had never come to see me for any games or any other school events before. Although it was just that once, and it was the first and last time they came, I was so happy and still to this day remember their warm eyes. In the night, I asked my mother "What made you come? I know you two are always busy on weekends." She answered with soft smile "I explained to my co-workers that your next game was so important, and then they kindly took over our work for us." At that moment, I realized that I was not alone. Even though I didn't know the co-workers who helped my parents, I felt I was surrounded by people who loved me. I was filled with happiness. This feeling remains in my heart.
 Every single child needs love. Through my experience, I have realized that what we may need is strong bonds with people around us to solve child abuse which many children face today. If we have the courage to corporate with their parents and share their pain, these children would be able to have a place to be loved. If we can expand the social awareness that child abuse is not only a parent's problem but our own serious issue, these children would be able to have an opportunity to escape from the darkness. We should think about all children as if they are our own family. We should not ignore child abuse. We should not see child abuse as just one social problem, but a problem of the future.
 When you imagine an ideal future for Japan, can you draw a picture? What kind of picture do you draw? I have a clear picture in my mind that every single child will be able to have their own hope for their own future. I have a clear picture in my mind that every single child will not be surrounded by loneliness but love. Even if a human like robot can talk with children, it would not be able to meet all their emotional needs, but we have the power in our hearts to do so. No matter what technology will develop in the future, it would not be able to take complete care of children, but we can build relationships and help them.
 I do believe this picture should be drawn by our own hands. Let us start with people around us. Please look at children's eyes, and just give them your soft smile because they might be feeling lonely now. Please take care of children around you because they might need your help now. It seems like only a ripple of impact here, but I believe it will become a wave in the future. We can make all children happy and smile together. This is my ideal place to live in the future. This is my ideal future for Japan.