When 75 yr outdated Fuminori Tsuchiko from Tokyo arrived in jap Ukraine‘s city of Kharkiv final year, he knew he wished to assist folks affected by Russia’s invasion. Touched by the hardships faced by residents who were pressured to seek shelter in subway stations because of Russian shelling, Tsuchiko decided to remain and lend a helping hand.
For a number of months, he lived in a metro station, working as a volunteer to distribute meals to these in need. During this time, he met a Ukrainian who shared his willpower to assist these deprived by the battle. Together, they opened a free cafe in Kharkiv’s Saltivka neighbourhood, named FuMi Caffe, with its funding primarily coming from donations made by Japanese people by way of social media. Tsuchiko said…
“From June to December, I stayed within the metro, underground, residing and consuming alongside many Ukrainian folks.”
FuMi Caffe now serves around 500 folks every day, offering a welcoming house for those in need.
Tsuchiko initially visited Ukraine as a vacationer in February 2022. However, he was advised by the Japanese embassy to depart the nation as Russia ready to invade. Although Uncharted relocated to Warsaw, Poland, he returned to Ukraine just two months later, compelled to make a positive impact on the lives of the folks affected by the continuing conflict.
One customer to the cafe, Anna Tovstopyatova, spoke of her admiration for Tsuchiko’s selflessness and dedication. She said…
“It’s fantastic that there are such honest people with open hearts and souls, who sacrifice their lives and time to assist and give hope.”