Bringing Smiles Across the World

Poverty, discrimination, and racial segregation. What can one person address the challenges that blight the world?
Kazuko Hillyer Tatsumura offers one solution for those of us struggling in a moral maze. For half a century she has championed the oppressed across borders, with no backing from any major organizations.
The Manjushree Vidyapith Orphanage is in Tawang, in northeastern India. Fifteen years ago, it was on the verge of collapse, due to a shortage of funding. She traveled the world to find support, and rebuilt the orphanage. Today, it's home to over 300 children, providing them with excellent facilities and an education. A growing number of children there are now fulfilling their dream of a college education.
She was once a leading concert and stage promoter. Her many achievements included bringing the renowned conductor Leonard Bernstein to Japan for his first performance there. At the peak, she was involved in an amazing 2,000 performances per year. But then, half a century ago, she turned to philanthropy after meeting the 14th Dalai Lama. In the late 1970s she began helping refugees from the Vietnam War. She went on to perform a range of helpful roles around the world. She contributed to countries afflicted by disaster, and supported orphanages in India, Indonesia and Panama.
In 2023, her work took her to Central America. There, she suffered a stroke, and these days she struggles to walk. But she hasn't given up. She stays in touch with international colleagues while undergoing rehab at a medical facility in Japan, and plans to return to the front line in six months' time. At 86, she's overcome many hardships as she strives to bring smiles to people around the world.