Do you know the true meaning of the phrase "shikuhakku" (四苦八苦)?

Generally, it is used to mean "to have a lot of trouble" or "to be in great difficulty."

However, the term originally refers to the "eight sufferings," which are four additional sufferings added to the four sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death. I feel that this phrase, "four sufferings and eight sufferings," holds great power. In life, there are times when your efforts don't yield results. You may be separated from loved ones. Things may not go as planned. You may fail. Especially for young people from Nepal aiming to study or work in Japan, going to Japan is not the goal. While new possibilities open up when they go to Japan, they may not understand Japanese. They may be confused by cultural differences. They may struggle to keep up with work or studies. They may miss their families. They may suffer from the difference between reality and what they had imagined. Such "new sufferings and eight sufferings" begin. That's why what we consider true pre-departure education is not simply about preparing to obtain a visa or learning Japanese to pass exams. What's important is how to think when you're in trouble. How to get back up when you fail. How to ask for advice when you don't understand something. How to accept differences in culture and values. How to turn difficulties into opportunities for growth. I believe it's about acquiring these "life skills." Hayabusa Japanese Language School aims not to provide education that simply sends students to Japan, but rather to cultivate individuals who can thrive in Japan. I don't tell my students that I want them to live a life without hardship. Rather, I want them to become people who can bounce back even when faced with difficulties. I want them to learn from their mistakes. I hope that they will one day transform the suffering they have experienced into strength to support others. Because they know suffering, they can be kind to others. Because they know failure, they can understand the value of success. Because they know parting, they can cherish encounters. And I believe that suffering itself will one day become a great asset that supports them . They learn through struggle. They grow stronger through struggle. And they transform that experience into kindness towards others. I want to continue to nurture such young people.