The original story of 2-29-2000 from the AP was entitled:
Limbless college student defies Japan’s notion of disability
The above story was written later but it includes his popularity as a best selling author, “Nobody is Perfect”.
a prime time news anchor and sought after public speaker.
It is so inspiring - he joined the basketball team on his first day of middle school, stunning his parents.
“You alone decide if you are going to be happy”, Ototake said. He has done so much to change the Japanese perception of separate worlds for able bodied and disabled.