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  • 台灣國旗
  • 菲律賓國旗

  Love Beyond Borders! How Yukiko Igarashi from Japan Uses Home Healthcare and Football to Brighten Taitung

  A Love Beyond Borders! How Yukiko Igarashi from Japan Brought Healthcare and Football to TaitungThe World Baseball Classic 12-team tournament recently concluded, with Taiwan defeating Japan to claim the championship. This match not only showcased sportsmanship but also reinforced the deep bond between Taiwan and Japan. Yet, this friendship extends far beyond the playing field — it has taken root on Taiwanese soil, especially in the eastern region. One remarkable example is Yukiko Igarashi, a new resident from Gunma, Japan, who has brought hope to rural Taitung through her love and actions, nurturing the dreams of healthcare and football.From "Invisible Pain" to "Heartfelt Care" — The Miracle of Dulan ClinicIn 2017, Yukiko Igarashi and her physician husband made a life-changing decision to establish Dulan Clinic in Taitung, introducing Japan's long-term home healthcare and end-of-life care system to Taiwan. Their goal was simple — to ensure patients were no longer seen as just "patients" but as complete individuals deserving of dignity and care.Yukiko Igarashi and her doctor husband co-founded the Dulan Clinic, introducing Japan's long-term home healthcare and end-of-life care system to Taiwan (Image/Source: Global News for New Residents).This warmth has changed the lives of countless elderly residents living alone and members of the local community. Alongside founding an association, they partnered with churches and temples to promote community integration. At their Mipaliw service center, they offer medical consultations, charity sales, and film screenings — transforming healthcare from a cold clinical experience into a warm and culturally enriched environment.Kicking Off Life-Changing Football! Building a Stage for Taitung's ChildrenYukiko Igarashi's influence doesn't stop at healthcare. She quickly realized that many children in rural Taitung, especially those from disadvantaged or grandparent-led families, lacked not only material resources but also emotional support and guidance.Determined to help, she launched an after-school tutoring program, enabling children to build confidence through learning and sports. She went a step further by organizing the "5-A-Side Football Star Match – East Coast Football Star Match," where children could shine on the field, developing not just their football skills but also teamwork and perseverance.This event received support from the National Immigration Agency's "Dream Building Project," turning what once seemed like an impossible dream into a tangible goal that children could now reach for.Loving Taiwan More Than Some Taiwanese! Proving That "Home" Is Where the Heart BelongsYukiko Igarashi doesn't rely on grand statements — she lets her actions speak for themselves. Through her dedication, she brought warmth to healthcare and guided rural children toward a brighter future. Her hands have planted seeds of change on this land, touching the hearts of countless Taiwanese people.A new resident from Japan has taken real action to make her community a better place, bringing hope and light to those around her. (Image/Source: Global News for New Residents)"She loves this land even more than many Taiwanese themselves."Thanks to her efforts, Taitung's elderly residents can now enjoy a peaceful and secure retirement, while its children no longer feel lost about their future. Yukiko Igarashi has not only transformed a community — she has shaped an entire generation.Memorable Quote:"When you devote yourself wholeheartedly to every moment, your perspective will ultimately shape the outcome."

  2025-03-18 09:00
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  • 菲律賓國旗

  The surprising evolution of the weirdest animals on Earth, according to a new study

  The platypus and echidna-two of the most unusual mammals on Earth-have long puzzled scientists due to their mix of primitive and unique traits. Both are monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs, and have no teeth. While the platypus is semiaquatic with duck-like features, the echidna lives on land and is covered in spines. A new study based on a fossil humerus bone discovered in 1993 in southeastern Australia reveals new insights into their evolution. Although the fossil looked like it belonged to a land-dwelling echidna, internal 3D imaging showed it shared features with the semiaquatic platypus.The fossil belongs to an extinct animal called Kryoryctes cadburyi, believed to have lived over 100 million years ago. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that the fossil’s dense bone structure helped reduce buoyancy, a trait useful for aquatic animals. This supports the theory that Kryoryctes may be a common ancestor to both the platypus and echidna, with an amphibious lifestyle emerging far earlier than previously believed. Scientists suggest that echidnas later transitioned back to a land-based life, possibly inheriting features like their backward-facing hind feet from aquatic ancestors.A cross-section comparison shows (from left) a Kryoryctes (A), platypus (B) and echidna (C) humerus bone. Hand et al.This discovery gives evolutionary biologists rare evidence of a water-to-land transition, which is much less documented than the reverse. Understanding how monotremes evolved sheds light on the broader history of mammals. As relics of an ancient lineage, platypuses and echidnas may hold critical clues about the biology of the earliest mammals. Researchers believe that studying these “living fossils” could help us better understand our own evolutionary past.

  2025-05-16 09:00
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  • 台灣國旗
  • 菲律賓國旗

  Artistic light coming out of the ward: A teenager with brain cancer_Lin Ziyang, a new second-generation life fighter who draws a ray of light with his pen

  His childhood was filled with illness, but it didn't take away his smile.For most elementary school kids, childhood is about chasing each other on the playground, having snacks after school, and laughing with friends. But for Lin Ziyang, a Taiwanese-American new immigrant, those are memories of cold hospital wards, constant examinations and the torment of chemotherapy side effects - all of which started when he was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 8.Due to the special location of the brain tumor, it could not be removed surgically. He could only rely on brain edema drainage surgery to maintain his life, coupled with repeated chemotherapy. However, the side effects made him prone to agitation and anxiety. It was in the shadow of such pain that he picked up the paintbrush - painting became his outlet for communicating with himself and fighting the disease.Silence and color opened another door to his lifePainting requires patience, concentration and thinking, which are exactly the way to calmness he needs most. He uses colors to express emotions, lines to tell unspeakable pain, and canvas to record hopes and dreams.Lin Ziyang's works are not just children's graffiti, but artistic creations that carry the weight of life. Every stroke and every color seems to say: "I am still here, I am still willing to believe, and I am still willing to create."In May 2024, Lin Zi-Yang continued to fulfill his dream of holding an art exhibition. Through his paintings, he and his friends showcased their talents and ideas to the world. (Photo: Sourced from United Daily News)From Dreaming to Realization: The First Art Exhibition in LifeIn May 2024, with the support of the Lan-Yang branch of Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, the Immigration Agency, and the Hsuan Hsuan Maternal and Child Care Association, the "Glory of Humanity - Joint Art Exhibition" was successfully launched.A total of 40 works were exhibited at the exhibition, 34 of which were created by Lin Ziyang. He uses his paintings to communicate with the world, telling everyone that even after going through hardships, dreams can still grow wings.Another Presidential Education Award winner, Chen Yizhen, was deeply moved and said, "Lin Ziyang's paintings contain the weight and warmth of life, and also bring hope to countless patients."The extension of the paintbrush: from artistic creation to charitable actionThis exhibition is not only the realization of a dream, but also a transmission of love and hope. In addition to the participation of artists Wu Shouzhen, Huang Xiaorou, Wu Yuhan, and Ye Baicheng, the entire exhibition also received a subsidy from the Immigration Bureau's "Dream Building Project". With the theme of "Life Fighters Show Their Talents, Art Heals Courage and Friendship", it shows the public that art not only heals individuals, but can also connect society and illuminate the group.Lin Ziyang also donated part of the proceeds from the charity sale of his past art exhibition in collaboration with Luodong St. Mary's Hospital to St. Cambrian's Hospice, contributing to the promotion of palliative care. He understood that true strength lies in being willing to be gentle to others even after having suffered yourself.Lin Zi-Yang's journey of battling cancer reflects his own words: as long as you persist, you can overcome any challenge. (Photo: Sourced from New Resident News Network)Light up the light of others and become your own sunFaced with cancer and pain, Lin Ziyang did not choose to escape. He chose to paint, and he also chose to stand up, proving with his actions that "even if you are in darkness, you can still shine, and even become the light for others."This flower of life that bloomed from despair not only brings honor to itself, but also inspires more children and more families - adversity is not the end; it is a deeper practice.Quote: "You may not be able to change the flaws in your life, but you can definitely change your positive thoughts."

  2025-03-16 09:00