Dr. Sadao Hoki’s house was built on a spot off the Japanese coast.
As a little boy he had often played there. His low square stone house was built
above the narrowbeach. His father had taken him often to the islands
not far from the shore. He would say to the serious little boy at his side.
“Those islands out there are the stepping-stones to the future of Japan.”
“Where shall we step from them?” Sadao had asked. “Who knows?” his father had answered.
“Who can limit our future? It depends on what we make it.” Sadao had paid attention
to this as he did everything his father said. His father never joked or played with him.
However, he gave all his attention to his only son. Sadao knew that his education”
was the most important thing in the world to his father.
