FOR Haruna Inoue, curiosity began with a book about the flags of the world.
Growing up in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, Inoue was fascinated by the colours, shapes and symbols on flags. She was particularly drawn to flags that used the same colours in completely different ways.
To her, flags represented more than countries. They reflected history, identity and hopes for the future.
That childhood curiosity eventually became an interest in the wider world.
Today, at 28, Inoue works as a dietitian at the Nausori Health Centre, where she is part of a team visiting primary schools and kindergartens in the Nausori area.
Her work focuses on nutrition education, teaching children about healthier food choices and preventing non-communicable diseases.
But her path to Fiji began long before she arrived.
At high school in Japan, Inoue studied subjects beyond the conventional curriculum, including sign language, home gardening and fermentation alongside mathematics, social studies, English and science.
Years later, she discovered the value of that learning when she met a hearing disability. Although her sign language was limited, she was able to communicate, reminding her that knowledge can become useful long after it is first acquired.
After high school, Inoue spent four years at university studying to become a dietitian. She obtained Japan’s national qualification after passing the required examination.
Her first professional role was at a preschool, where she prepared lunches and conducted monthly food and nutrition education sessions. It was there that she developed an interest in teaching children about healthy food from an early age.
Her decision to work overseas was influenced by her father, who had served as a Japan International Cooperation Agency volunteer in Kenya.
She eventually joined the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers programme under JICA’s technical cooperation framework, bringing her to Fiji.
Before arriving, she remembered Fiji’s flag from her childhood book, a blue flag she associated with the ocean.
In Fiji, Inoue uses food cards and games to make nutrition lessons engaging for children.
She believes those lessons can extend beyond the classroom, with children passing what they learn about food and health to their families and future generations.
Rather than setting a specific personal goal for her two years in Fiji, Inoue said she wants to help children discover their potential.
Her message to young Fijians is to take on challenges, remain curious and discover what they are capable of.
For someone whose curiosity began with the colours and symbols on flags in a childhood book, her journey has taken her far beyond its pages.
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