Although Rie Tanaka died in an unfortunate accident eleven years ago, she had a donor card, and everyone in her family wanted to see through her wish to be an organ donor. They fulfilled her wish by donating her organs to seven recipients in March 2000 in Tokyo, Japan. Rie was only the fifth organ donor after brain death in Japan, following the enactment of the Organ Transplant Act of 1997. "Through her wish, Rie taught us the preciousness and nobility of life with a sense of gratitude," said her father, Kazuyuki Tanaka, "My daughter Rie is alive, shining bright as a jewel in the seven recipients of her organs."

Rie's Story

Although Rie Tanaka died in an unfortunate accident eleven years ago, she had a yellow donor card, and everyone in the family wanted her wishes of being an organ donor to become true. They fulfilled her wish by donating her organs to seven recipients in March 2000 in Tokyo, Japan.

Rie was only the fifth organ donor after brain death in Japan, following the enactment of the Organ Transplant Act of 1997. Her father did not know she had a donor card at the time she was in the hospital, but her sister remembered that Rie had signed the card, and she found it. Rie was a cheerful and kind woman, so it would be very natural for her to have signed the card.

"Through her wish, Rie taught us the preciousness and nobility of life with a sense of gratitude," said her father, Kazuyuki Tanaka. "As Rie's father, I am currently speaking in all areas of Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa as a motivational speaker. Many from elementary school children to college students have listened closely to Rie's story about the joy of living, which is also printed as a book titled Always Here. My daughter Rie is alive, shining bright as a jewel in the seven recipients of her organs."

Rie is always alive.
Alive with me.
And alive with all the recipients.