Hu Jindan never thought her student life in Japan would end this way.
Hu should have been back to her home in China in spring after four years of studies at the University of Shizuoka, but the COVID-19 outbreak interrupted her plan. Flights were cancelled, her lease ended and her student visa was about to expire, all while the coronavirus situation was worsening.
Screenshot of Hu Jindan at the ramen store. /Shizuoka TV
Hu applied and successfully got a short-term visa to stay in the country. However, that meant she would no longer be permitted to work in the ramen store where she had been helping as a part-time staff for a while.
Without income, how would the student survive during tough times while alone abroad? The ramen store owner Amano Yohei made a decision to help out.
"I told myself if I did nothing now, I would have regrets," Yohei said in a TV interview.
Screenshot of the ramen store owner Amano Yohei. /Shizuoka TV
Yohei posted Hu's experience online and announced a fundraiser on April 16.
"To help our staff member Miss Jin (a nickname given to Hu), although we are supposed to be off tomorrow, we will open and sell meals," the post read. "We will cover the cost and all the money will be donated to our part-time worker Miss Jin. Hope you could help and enjoy the special meal."
On the morning of April 16, all the store workers showed up in time, giving up their day off. Orders kept coming, and the queue outside stretched for quite a few meters.
"I've been dining here constantly. I'd love to help as much as I can," a resident told the crew of Shizuoka TV, who were at the scene.
Screenshot of a customer. /Shizuoka TV
At the end of the day, the ramen store sold 500 meals and received donations worth 300,000 yan (279 U.S. dollars). They were all given to Hu.
"I could have supported Miss Jin on my own but the business is not running well during the pandemic," Yohei said. "I didn't want this to be a public issue but I am so grateful for the help."
And as it turns out, a bit of kindness goes a long way. The ramen store received donations from Chinese residents in the town.
"Masks are in short supply, if the ramen store is still operating every day, they must need more," Sun Jiangming, a worker from the China and Japan Communication Center in Shizuoka, told Xinhua News Agency.
A worker in the ramen store received the masks from Sun. /Sun Jiangming
After watching the TV report, Sun went to the ramen store and donated three packs of masks. Sun said stories that restore faith in humanity are happening all the time. During the COVID-19 pandemic, what people can do is express love and give a hand to those in need.