Latest news with #Shun
The Mainichi
22-07-2025
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Hiroshima boy guides tourists and shares message of peace
Shun Sasaki works as a volunteer guide for foreign visitors at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima's Naka Ward on July 10, 2025. His bib is signed with messages from the people he has guided. (Mainichi/Takehiko Onishi) HIROSHIMA -- Shun Sasaki, 12, is a sixth-grade student at Hiroshima municipal Gion Elementary School. He and one other child will read this year's Children's Commitment to Peace on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6. Shun's great-grandmother was a hibakusha, or A-bomb survivor. Shun works as a volunteer guide, speaking English to tourists at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Read the full English article Read the original Japanese article In July, Shun greeted a foreign family at Peace Memorial Park. He told them about the Atomic Bomb Dome and why the city keeps it, so people remember the tragedy and do not repeat it. When a man tried to give Shun money, he said, "Time is money" and did not take it. Shun gave out paper cranes and asked people to share what they learned. In these photos from a folder Shun Sasaki uses when guiding tourists, his great-grandmother Yuriko is seen, in Hiroshima's Naka Ward on July 10, 2025. (Mainichi/Takehiko Onishi) Shun started listening to English learning materials when he was only 7 months old. By age 4, he could speak his thoughts in English. He became interested in Peace Memorial Park in first grade. He asked his mother, "Why do they keep (the A-bomb Dome) when it's so dilapidated? They should tear it down and build something new." His mother said, "Let's look it up together." They learned about the bombing and the city's recovery. Shun likes to talk to foreign visitors. Once, he could not answer a tourist's question, so he studied more. His mother suggested, "Why don't you be a guide at Peace Memorial Park?" Shun started guiding on Aug. 6, 2021. Now, he guides tourists twice a month at seven places in the park. He uses quizzes and tells people about local okonomiyaki restaurants. Shun also shares his great-grandmother Yuriko's story. Yuriko was 12 when the bomb exploded. She was trapped under her ruined house but was saved by her father. They escaped to a safer place. Yuriko later had cancer and died at 69. Her name is in the register of A-bomb victims. Shun learned about Yuriko from his grandfather. Shun said, "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 also said, "Now that I know, I must share it." Shun Sasaki, far right, guides foreign visitors to Hiroshima in English at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima's Naka Ward on July 10, 2025. (Mainichi/Takehiko Onishi) That March, Shun met an American tourist who changed his mind about nuclear weapons after hearing Shun's story. A Dutch man also said he learned something new. Shun said, "I learned that when I'm guiding, people's hearts can be moved." He also said that the wars happening in the world are "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." Shun and another student were chosen from over 10,000 sixth graders to read the Children's Commitment to Peace. He said, "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." (Japanese original by Takehiko Onishi, Osaka Photo and Video Department) Vocabulary hibakusha: a person who survived the atomic bomb in Hiroshima or Nagasaki tragedy: a very sad or terrible event dilapidated: old and in bad condition pledge: a serious promise register: an official list anniversary: a special day to remember something that happened in the past commitment: a promise to do something abolished: ended or stopped completely
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
A digital revolution transforms early assessment
WHEN Shun Matsuzuka was diagnosed as dyslexic at the age of 19, he was pursuing his foundation year at art school in the UK. It came as a total shock to him. As a child he enjoyed learning, but could not quite understand why his grades did not reflect his efforts or his curiousity in learning. 'That discovery at age 19 proved significant, as it helped me understand that my challenges were not due to lack of ability but rather a different way of processing information. It changed how I saw myself and later how I supported others facing similar struggles,' said Shun, who made the decision to move to Malaysia in 2017. He had worked as creative director for a global advertising agency in Japan. It was also a pivotal moment for Shun when he became a father. He preferred his daughter to grow up in a diverse environment, which Malaysia offered, due to its multicultural identity and culture. When his daughter turned 3 years, Shun received a government issued notice from Japan for a standardised developmental check-up in Japan for her. This he then realised was the missing gap in Malaysia, where there was no systematic developmental screening for children in the crucial ages of 3 to 5 years. Why develop a digital tool for assessment? 'After I became a parent, I was determined to build a tool that would help other children like me – before they start falling behind. That determination led to the creation of TOY8, which later when I introduced the screening aspect became known as TOY8 screening,' said Shun, who teamed up with a former Nintendo game director to co-design the app. The digital screening and intervention tool was also built in collaboration with Sunway University, University of Malaya and the Clinical Research Centre (CRC) of Ministry of Health (MOH). Dato' Dr Amar-Singh HSS, Consultant Pediatrician and child disability advocate said, 'Most Malaysian children receive surveillance and screening for developmental disabilities until the age of 18 months, linked to the Ministry of Health's (MOH) primary vaccination programme. Some may opt out to see private pediatricians. 'However, from the age of 2 to 6 years, most children do not receive any routine surveillance or screening. 'Developmental surveillance is also expensive in the private sector and limited. Hence important developmental disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, intellectual disabilities, attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and other specific learning disabilities, such as dyslexia are not identified. As a result, many children enter school, unable to face the academic challenges. For 2024, MOE reported that 122,000 year one students, which represents 24% of children for that age, lacked the essential skills of reading, writing and counting,' said Dr Amar-Singh. Today TOY8 screening provides parents with an invaluable opportunity to have their child screened; using this AI-powered digital screening tool in preschools so as to identify the children with learning disabilities early. TOY8 is revolutionary due to the time taken to screen the child, in total twenty minutes and the child-centred design and playful interaction is highly engaging for young children to use. Implementation of the TOY8 screening tool The developmental TOY8 screening project has been successfully introduced both in Sarawak and Selangor. The Sarawak state government offered TOY8 the opportunity to pilot the digital screening tool in preschools. In 2024, Shun launched the first pilot programme in Sarawak with 301 children. More than 30 children were identified as needing developmental support. 'We worked closely with local educators and health professionals to provide targeted interventions for each child. In 2025, the programme is expanding to reach 600 children across the state,' said Shun. In Selangor, the system is being spearheaded through organisations such as KEMAS, the community development department, an agency which manages preschools and the Selangor Children's Heritage Foundation, also referred to as Yayasan Warisan Anak Selangor (YAWAS). TOY8 is now preparing to present this Sarawak based model as a regional policy proposal at the 2025 ASEAN Business Summit, to be held in October this year and hosted by Malaysia. 'What began as a local effort has evolved into a globally recognised initiative. Sarawak's model is now seen as a towering initiative of how data and digital innovation can enable inclusive education to function as a full eco-system –integrating health, education and family support,' added Shun.
The Mainichi
14-07-2025
- 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.
