Sum of Few Parts

What is a man? Is he the sum of all his parts? What if some of the parts are missing: big parts like entire arms and legs? Does it make him less of a man? Usually, yes. One averts one's eyes when one sees a wretched, helpless, and pitiful shell like that; and maybe try to salve the shame at one's inner abhorrence, by giving a small hand out. But it does not have to be that way. There are some men - extremely rare - who can rise above deformities so staggering that they beggar the imagination. And not just survive; but inspire; and reach heights of achievement that would be the envy of his able-bodied contemporaries. One such man is Hirotado Ototake.

Take a look at the photograph accompanying this article. What is your first reaction: shock, revulsion? But look closer: this is no pathetic wretch to whom fate has dealt an incredibly cruel blow: this is a well-dressed man; whose eyes gleam with intelligence and whose chin is set with determination. This is no bum; but one of life's success stories. You can tell that by just looking at him.

Hirotada Ototake was born in 1976 with tetra-amelia, a congenital condition that left him with almost no arms or legs. It was his further misfortune to be born in Japan. Japan is a country notorious for its rough treatment of the physically and mentally handicapped. They have endured decades of being ignored, personally and politically. Fortunately for Hirotada, his parents did not despair or give up on him. In fact, they determined that, as far as possible, he would live a "normal" life. This means that he was given no special treatment either at home or at school, and ended up participating in school activities and sports. The only 'special thing they did for him was to order a highly advanced, electronic wheelchair. He used this to play basketball; and pulled himself around on his behind for the 50-meter dash. One time, he had his friends take him up Mount Kobo.