Since becoming an assistant language teacher at Nishi High School in the city of Nagano in 1999, David Hathaway, who is blind, has impressed his Japanese colleagues and students with his love of teaching while dispelling some of the ingrained prejudices against disabled people.

As the 26-year-old from Chesterfield, England, greeted students fresh out of junior high in the new academic year at the prefectural high school with "Good morning, everyone," he received a cheerful "Good morning, Mr. Hathaway" in response.

Hathaway is in Nagano on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, which the government initiated in fiscal 1987 to invite young foreigners to help Japan enrich its foreign-language education and also for the purpose of international exchanges.