Watch: Ukrainians Celebrate 75-Year-Old Japanese Cafe Owner in Kharkiv

Despite Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which has lasted for over 600 days, a heartwarming story has gained popularity. It revolves around a Japanese man residing in the war-torn nation. In a viral video, the people of Kharkiv are celebrating the 75th birthday of Fuminori Tsuchiko, a Japanese individual who operates a free cafe.

Tsuchiko initially visited Ukraine as a tourist in January 2022, as reported by Ukrinform, the country’s information and news agency. His visit coincided with a time when thousands of Ukrainian refugees were enduring hardships due to the conflict that had erupted following Russia’s invasion in February of that same year.

Moved by the situation, Tsuchiko returned to Japan briefly but quickly decided to show his support for Ukraine by relocating to Kharkiv in May 2022. To fund his mission, he sold his home in Japan and established a cafe where he provides free meals to the local residents. His cafe is situated near the Heroiv Prati metro station, which served as a refuge for residents during months of shelling. The majority of the funding for this endeavor comes from contributions, with a significant portion originating from Japan.

In a heartwarming gesture, a video shared on Sunday by Anton Gerashchenko, the former deputy minister of internal affairs for Ukraine, depicted the citizens of Kharkiv embracing Tsuchiko and presenting him with modest gifts while singing “Happy Birthday.”

Take a look at the post below: