In 2011, two high school students were tragically killed in Fukuoka Prefecture when they were struck by a car driven by someone under the influence of alcohol. Now, 15 years have passed since that fateful day, and Miyako Yamamoto, the mother of one of the victims, continues to share her story across Japan in various speaking engagements—over 1,600 to date. Yamamoto emphasizes the importance of compassion over anger and hatred in her mission to change society's attitude towards drunk driving, stating, "We must keep insisting that drunk driving should not be tolerated as a norm in society."

On the 6th of this month, she addressed an audience of around 270 people in Saga City, including members of the transportation sector, passionately urging them to recognize the ongoing issue of drunk driving. Yamamoto's motivational speeches serve as reminders of the continued prevalence of this danger, despite the time that has passed. She maintains a poignant reminder of her son, Kanta, whose photo sits in her living room as she wonders about the life he could have led: "What would he have been like if he were alive? He must have wanted to live."

As a volunteer helping at a local elementary school on the morning of the tragic accident in 2011, Yamamoto recalls the rushed goodbye she gave to her son that day, unaware of the enormity of what was to come. The sudden loss of her child propelled her into a lifelong commitment to educate others about the consequences of drunk driving, highlighting the need for societal change and greater awareness to prevent future tragedies like hers. This narrative not only sheds light on the grief endured by victims' families but also seeks to inspire collective action against a persistent societal issue.