I had low self-esteem.

我很自卑。

I felt I was not talented at anything.

我覺得我對任何東西都沒有天份。

One day, I bought a yo-yo.

有一天，我買了一個溜溜球。

When I tried my first trick, it looked like this.

當我嘗試第一個花招的時候，它看起來像這樣。

I couldn't even do the simplest trick,

我連最簡單的花招都不會，

but it was very natural for me,

但這對我而言是很正常的事，

because I was not dextrous, and hated all sports.

因為我手腳並不靈活，也討厭所有的運動。

But after one week of practicing,

但是，經過一個禮拜的練習後，

my throws became more like this.

我拋出來的比較像這個樣子。

A bit better.

有好一點了。

I thought, the yo-yo is something for me to be good at,

在我人生中，溜溜球讓我第一次覺得

for the first time in my life.

有東西是我可以擅長的。

I found my passion.

我找到了我的熱情。

I was spending all my time practicing.

我把所有時間花在練習上。

It took me hours and hours a day

我一天需要好幾個小時

to build my skills up to the next level.

才能將我的技能提昇到另一階段。

And then, four years later, when I was 18 years old,

四年後，當我 18 歲的時候，

I was standing onstage at the World Yo-Yo Contest.

我站上了世界溜溜球比賽。

And I won.

然後，我贏了。

I was so excited. "Yes, I did it! I became a hero.

我當時非常興奮，「太好了！我成功了！我成了英雄。

I may get many sponsors, a lot of money,

我可能會有很多贊助商、很多錢、

tons of interviews, and be on TV!" I thought. (Laughter)

一堆訪問，還有上電視！」我是這麼以為的。（笑）

But after coming back to Japan,

但回到日本之後，

totally nothing changed in my life.

我的人生沒有任何的改變。

I realized society didn't value my passion.

我意識到社會並不重視我的熱情。

So I went back to my college

於是，我回到社區大學

and became a typical Japanese worker

並成為了一個典型的日本上班族--

as a systems engineer.

一名系統工程師。

I felt my passion, heart and soul, had left my body.

我覺得我的熱情、心和靈魂全都離開了我的身體。

I felt I was not alive anymore.

彷彿行屍走肉。

So I started to consider what I should do,

因此，我開始思考我應該怎麼做。

and I thought, I wanted to make my performance better,

我想，我希望我能讓我的演出更加精彩，

and to show onstage how spectacular the yo-yo could be

並在舞臺上展示出溜溜球可以是多麼精妙絕倫

to change the public's image of the yo-yo.

以改變溜溜球的公眾形象。

So I quit my company

所以，我辭掉了我的工作，

and started a career as a professional performer.

成為一個全職表演家。

I started to learn classic ballet, jazz dance,

我開始學習古典芭蕾、 爵士舞、

acrobatics and other things

雜技和其它技能

to make my performance better.

這都是為了讓我的演出能更加精彩。

As a result of these efforts, and the help of many others,

在我的努力，以及他人的幫助下

it happened.

它成真了。

I won the World Yo-Yo Contest again

我再次贏得世界溜溜球大賽，

in the artistic performance division.

在藝術表演家的類別。

I passed an audition for Cirque du Soleil.

我通過了太陽馬戲團的面試。

Today, I am standing on the TED stage

今天，我站在 TED 的舞台上

with the yo-yo in front of you.

和我手上的溜溜球。

(Applause)

（掌聲）

What I learned from the yo-yo is,

我從溜溜球上學到的是

if I make enough effort with huge passion,

當一個人全心全意的做一件事的時候，

there is no impossible.

沒有什麼是不可能的。

Could you let me share my passion with you

我是否可以通過我的表演

through my performance?

與你們分享我的熱情?

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Water Sounds)

（水聲）

(Music)

（音樂）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Music)

（音樂）

(Music) (Applause)

（音樂）（掌聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Music) (Applause)

（音樂）（掌聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

(Music)

（音樂）

(Applause)

（掌聲）