As this issue [March '99] of The New Observer went to press, a drama was taking place in Kochi Prefecture: Japan saw its first heart transplant in 31 years. Indeed, the lungs, cornea and liver of the woman donor in the Kochi hospital were also "harvested." This adds an element of reality to the recent decision by a volunteer group to print donor cards in English as well as Japanese. This decision of course makes it easier for foreigners, if they wish, to become potential donors.