Book Launch Highlights Taniguschi’s Love for Fiji
Alove for Fiji has ignited Hiroshi Taniguchi to write his story of how he settled in within the country and the contributions he has made to it. Born in Japan, Mr Taniguchi started his career in Hong Kong and later in Thailand. He began his consultation business and led the company to grow to ¥380 million (FJ$6.53m).
When the 50-year-old came to Fiji, he started to fall in love with our island nation. He gave his consulting company to his company No.2 and established the Free Bird Institute and South Pacific Free Bird in 2004 to provide English education with hospitality in Fiji with a very reasonable cost.
The start was slow, but it received popularity in Japan. This is the reason there have been so many Japanese students in Nadi and Lautoka.
In 2010 he was appointed as the Chairman of Ba Provincial Secondary School by Ba Provincial Councils and started to change everything. It was almost like a revolution.
He led the BA Pro Rugby team from the bottom to the top in the Coca Cola Cup several times.
He survived Stage 4 cancer in 2016.
The bookcase named Free Bird was published in Japan in 2017. More than 10,000 copies were sold.
On Tuesday night, his book was launched by Professor Biman Prasad at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi.
“This book is about how I settled here and the love I have for Fiji and the people. I really wanted to join politics because I want to contribute change to the Fijians as well as those Free Bird students who are studying here in Fiji,” he said.
The National Federation Party leader, Mr Prasad said: “A book written by anyone is always a milestone. It is not easy to write a book whatever the subject might be.
“Free Bird is a book that involves a lot of passion, a lot of emotions about his personal journey and what he thought about important issues.”
Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Ram Raju also spoke on the contribution of the Free Bird author to the Nadi business community.
“We have witnessed a lot of international students from Japan, Korea and China come every year to learn English in Fiji,” he said.
“The contribution by Hiroshi and the Free Bird Institute has been enormous to the business community in Nadi.”