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75-year-old Japanese man opens free cafe in Ukraine's Kharkiv

31 Comments
By Vitalii Hnidyi

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31 Comments
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What a good man.

19 ( +26 / -7 )

Heart-warming story.

Great to know the free world still has lots of caring souls like Tsuchiko-San who care about the plight of victims of war - the Ukrainians.

Total respect, sir.

15 ( +23 / -8 )

Hat off to him.

What a top bloke.

14 ( +21 / -7 )

Faith in humanity restored.

14 ( +22 / -8 )

What a really nice chap...

12 ( +20 / -8 )

This is an Angel! there are two kind of human beign, one who care about money, buying expensive things to showing off and very greedyand thing always that ghey are Superiors cause of their money balance! and another human beign who do not care to become rich or love money and live humble and simple life! this man live with the Love of GOD inside him! bless him for that! this is call genuine unconditional Love! great man!

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Keep The Good Work Very Very Inspiring

6 ( +12 / -6 )

There are good people in this world, and then there are great people.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

That cheered me up. What a champion and at his age. Excellent news!!

5 ( +10 / -5 )

What a fellow! Japanese pensioners of his generation are basically invincible. Many a time I've reached the top of a lung bursting hill caked in dust and sweat to be greeted by a gang of obasans armed with pocketfuls of snacks.

If I were Putin I'd be more afraid of Japan sending a few hundred obasans than a few hundred tanks.

3 ( +11 / -8 )

What a great exceptional guy. Even if we had the money and a few would do it like him, but surely even much fewer of us would do it in a war zone.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

… he said he wanted to do anything he could to help people following Russia's invasion.

Moved by the plight of residents forced by Russian shelling to shelter in subway stations, the 75-year-old Japanese national from Tokyo decided to stay.

For months, he said, he lived in a metro station and worked as a volunteer distributing food in the subway.

He and a Ukrainian he met in the station have now opened a free cafe in Kharkiv's Saltivka neighborhood - mainly thanks to what he said were donations made by Japanese people via social media.

"June, July, August, September, October, November, December - (for) seven months I stayed in the metro, underground, sleeping or eating, and together (with) many, many Ukrainian people," Tsuchiko said.

FuMi Caffe serves about 500 people a day, he said.

Wow

I just wanted to say thank you…;

this warms our hearts.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Diego Today | 05:18 pm JST...good posting! Positive up vote!

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Tsuchya is a great man with a great soul!

Many Many More than three cheers for this great man with a great soul!!

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The man has my respect. Amongst the daily horror news we are getting there are occasional stories that allow us to keep our faith in humankind. Bless you Tsuchikosan.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

He didn’t need to do that, but he did… he’s there… he’s helping these people and that’s beautiful…; I’m sure that he can sleep peacefully at night… knowing that he’s touching the hearts of other human beings…; this is the kinda stuff that can restore our faith in humanity…; he’s seventy five(?)… I wanna tell him this: stay genki and healthy… we want you here with us… ( and the world needs more people like him )…; you’re a great man, Fuminori Tsuchiko.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Kudos To Fuminori, the world needs more and more like his and his helpers.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

OUTSTANDING!

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Life is a precious gift. Hats off to Fuminori Tsuchiko who is feeding the hungry.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

cheers my day! tsuchiko san, a man with good heart. curious why there are negative comments.

i just couldn't get it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It looks like he is serving food too. Is it all free, or is the coffee free as an incentive to attract customers?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

spelling correct name : Fuminori Tsuchiko.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Good on this man. I would love to help!

0 ( +7 / -7 )

There are many NPOs helping in Japan, like Second Harvest in Tokyo.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Why isn't Zelensky supporting this fine man and cafe. Why only Japanese donors?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Such an inspiring story! It was in our news as well. Such a nice oji-san I really want to cry.

i wonder if his ancestors are from Shimane...

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

That is very generous supporting Ukrainians hope Kishida learns something

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

badmoonrising

If Russia disappeared off the planet tomorrow, I’m not sure many people would miss it. The world needs to reminded that they are killing children daily with missiles into APARTMENT BLOCKS, like an hour ago too

If all the govts of the p5 security council (china, US, Russia, etc) went away, many would be better off. Many of the wars would no longer be fought, staffed, or supplied. Many kids and other civilians wouldn't be victims of "collateral damage" (us terminology).

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

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