October 10, 2002
(Clearwisdom.net) I first met Yoko Kaneko in front of the Chinese embassy in Japan. She, along with some practitioners in Japan, was carrying out a hunger strike in front the Chinese embassy to support fellow practitioners who had been tortured in China.
I was surprised when I heard that they were about to carry out a hunger strike, thinking that Yoko Kaneko was so skinny--would she be able to do that? After several days' hunger strike and appealing activities, she appeared a little tired, but she looked even more determined, which filled me with respect towards her.
The second time when I met her was on the "SOS Rescue Walk" in Japan. We had a chance to get to know each other better. We planned to walk from Fukuoka to Tokyo, a journey of approximately 1150 kilometers. It would take about two months. Although everyone had a busy schedule, most practitioners managed to participate in the walk. I planned to participate in the first several days' walk.
With the practitioners' righteous thoughts, the walk started. At the beginning, Yoko Kaneko gave me the impression that she was quiet and reserved. Yet I felt a special atmosphere around her. During the walk, I initially did not understand why she and others were so thrifty. I noticed that she would always buy the cheapest instant noodles, add some hot water and eat. Soon I had the answer: She and others had planned for the whole two-month-long trip. They had a long-term plan.
In order to complete the whole journey, they had to convince their family before they started the walk. They did not want to increase their family's financial burden, and that was why they were so thrifty! I was once again touched.
At that time, I did not think about finishing the whole walk. Seeing Yoko Kaneko, I suddenly understood what it was about her -- it was her righteous thoughts and firm belief in our Teacher and in Dafa. I saw my own shortcomings.
One of the aims of this walk was to clarify the truth and collect signatures to gain support for Falun Gong from the Japanese government, media and public. During the walk, Yoko Kaneko never mentioned her physical discomfort. She only firmly walked in silence. Meanwhile, she tirelessly collected signatures and handed out flyers along the way. Afterwards, she had to catch up to the walking team. In September, it is still summer in southern Japan. After walking for a while, one would sweat a lot. They slept in tents at night, but they never complained about the conditions.
Yoko Kaneko would sincerely share experiences with other practitioners so that we could improve as a whole and understand the Fa from within the Fa. After talking to her, I came to realize the sacred mission of a Dafa disciple and decided to finish the whole journey.
During the two-month walk, Yoko Kaneko never slacked off in studying the Fa. She read Essentials for Further Advancement ten times during the journey. She was strict with herself as a Dafa student. Her righteous thoughts and firm belief in Teacher and in Dafa greatly influenced and inspired me.
At present, Yoko Kaneko is being illegally imprisoned in a detention center in China by Jiang's regime. She is being brutally tortured and her life is in danger simply because she went to Beijing to tell people the truth about Falun Gong. I hope that all kind-hearted people in the world will help her to return and reunite with her family soon.