Why I hug strangers

I grew up in Singapore. For eleven years I went to an international school there, with classmates from all over the world.

Then I came back to Japan, and for two years I was depressed since I struggled adapting to Japanese society, being treated as an outsider (外人) and bullied.

Free Hugs changed that. I stood in the street holding a sign, and strangers came up and hugged me. From them I learned how warm people can be, and that understanding starts between two people.

So my goal is to achieve world peace through youth empowerment. I work toward it as Representative Director of Returnees Hotline, at PLAY&LINK, and through entrepreneurship education for students like me.

Soh Kawabata17, Tokyo