On January 31, a long-awaited meeting with a Japanese volunteer, the founder of the free FuMi Caffe in Kharkiv – Fuminori Tsutiko, took place in Kharkiv. The meeting was attended by the coach and head of the Ukrainian branch of the International Federation of Fudokan Karate-do Yury Povh together with his students, volunteers of the Humanitarian Hub “East-West” Oleksandr Yalovol and Dmytro Bereshev, as well as volunteer Nataliya Grama.
Volunteerism and oriental martial arts are the main topics of the meeting.
The story of Fuminori Tsutiko is extraordinary. In June 2022, he moved to Kharkiv to help Ukrainians. For about half a year, Fumi lived in the subway, at the Heroes of Labor station, bought food and medicine for others, entertained children. Later, he went home to Japan, sold the house there and returned to Ukraine. With the help of crowdfunding, the volunteer collected about 7 million yen and in April 2023 opened a free FuMi Caffe for children and the poor in Saltivka. Natalia Grama from Kharkiv actively helped in this Fuminor.
The volunteer from Japan was pleasantly surprised that during the war in Kharkiv they did not forget about the physical and spiritual development of the youth. This is exactly what coach Yuriy Povh and his student, Okinawan Kobudo world champion Valeriya Piskun, are doing.
Fuminori said that martial arts are part of the Japanese school curriculum. He himself practiced kendo and karate, plans to practice kendo or judo again. He noted that previously judo was popular in Japan, currently the majority prefers karate, it is actively spreading throughout the world. Fumi also recalled with a smile that in Japan the judo federation deprived Putin of his black belt.
On the sheet, Fuminori Tsutiko left a wish for the club’s students. In turn, Yuri Povkh invited the volunteer to training, and Oleksandr Yalovol to the upcoming volunteer forum.
With support Humanitarian Hub «East-West»
