The story of Hatsuko Takara-Kalabula is one of a Japanese woman who decided to visit Zambia back in the 1970s, fell in love with the country and its people, and chose to stay. It is also an inspiring story about the power of love to break racial prejudice and transcend religious bigotry that still fuel many social injustices across the globe today. It is a story of courage; of how a young girl escaped the horrors of the Second World War and decided to pursue her own dream, against all odds. It is a story of a woman who ventured into a continent and country unknown to her. It''s a romantic story of how a Japanese woman "accidentally" fell in love with a Zambian man. This is a story of compassion, of a woman who touched the lives of visually-impaired pupils, helping them to break through many barriers set by a society that was far less accepting of people who had physical challenges. In essence, this is a story of a woman who chose to be blind to race, nationality, religion and social status, and have her own world view free of prejudice. Hatsuko would most definitely not consider herself a heroine, but the many people she touched, changing their destinies, definitely regard her as such.
