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93-year-old Japanese woman donates ambulance to local fire station

24 Comments
By Meg Murphy, RocketNews24

One elderly woman from Nara Prefecture felt so grateful to the ambulances who often help her that she decided to donate a brand new ambulance to her local fire station. And it wasn’t just any ambulance – this was a top-of-the-line model worth 27 million yen.

Fukuko Kitamuro, 93, donated the state-of-the-art ambulance to the Yoshino town fire department as a way of saying thanks for helping her in times she was sick or injured.

What makes this ambulance special is that it has a 2,600cc engine, four-wheel-drive capabilities, a larger interior than normal ambulances, and is equipped with ventilators and other devices which would allow paramedics to perform life-saving procedures while en route to the hospital.

The local fire department already had four ambulances, but was able to replace one of its older models with the new one Kitamuro donated. The vice superintendent of the prefectural fire fighting association and the Yoshino mayor expressed their gratitude for the generous gift, and Japanese net users had lots of good things to say about her as well:

“Such a cool old woman!” “I want to be like her.” “That’s such a great way to put her assets to use.” “What a nice old woman. I hope she lives a long life.”

Sources: Sankei West, Hachima Kiko

Read more stories from RocketNews24. -- Mysterious fire materializes inside Saitama train station on Tuesday -- Japanese university lecturer arrested for assaulting…an ambulance -- Man learns lesson the hard way, wakes up on train tracks with severed leg

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24 Comments
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I must tip my hat to this most generous oba-chan and salute her wonderful generosity.

19 ( +19 / -0 )

2.7 million for a top of the line state of the art ambulance is REALLY cheap! That's about the price of an average mid-sized car. Sure its not suppose to be 27 million?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Yes, that was a typo. The correct figure is 27 million yen.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

WOW ! just WOW ! What a wonderful idea !

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Wow! What a wonderful person and what a nice thing to do. Makes me glad to be living on planet Earth!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

God bless you grandma.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Who said Japanese are not a charitable people - this is awesome!~

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Pretty awesome thing for her to do! Wish I had that kind of loot to be able to do that kind of thing and not blink.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

That is really paying foward! In her 93 years she's seen the good the bad and the ugly and rather than leave a will after she's gone she's seeing the good being done by these first responders!

5 ( +5 / -0 )

"it wasn’t just any ambulance – this was a top-of-the-line model worth 27 million yen."

Fukuko Kitamuro, 93, Gotta love the spunk! What a wonderful gift to Yoshino!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

It seems that many elderly people are rich and likely keep extra 500-2000 million yen for (tansu deposit) at their houses. More elderly could do it like this if they wish for the society.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Nice to hear some uplifting news for once instead of all the heinous crimes we read about on here.

What makes this ambulance special is that it has a 2,600cc engine

Too bad I doubt this engine will ever be pushed hard as all the ambulances I see driving around here tend to drive under the speed limit.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Why does the fire station need an ambulance? I was under the impression that they used fire engines.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

Good news. Rather than reading about another person swindled by the ole' "Ore-ore" scams.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It is good to see such generosity from this wealthy woman.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Greetings this is A very good heart Women, maybe She want to let part of Her money invest on Her Town, and maybe She don't have a big Family that complaint Her for the decision, or She don't want let Her Life save money for Goverment if She don't have children or relatives ( I don't if there in JP

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Very nice! Thanks Grandma!!!!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I hope she gets taken for a ride in the front of the van for a tour of her city, rather than having a ride in the back, I hope the mayor has said thank you!

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Who said Japanese are not a charitable people - this is awesome!~

The article says she is 93 years-old, a person from another time, with different experiences and values from the common Japanese you see, staring soullessly into their smartphones on the train.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

One act of generosity that could potentially save the lives of hundreds of people during the lifespan of the ambulance. Much respect to Kitamuro-sama.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

That is nice but it gives the government a false sense of security and reliance on a wrong treatment of their malady: The Reserve Bank, as it is in the US and about every other place in the World where they have taken control and spread like a cancer.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@ Stewart Gale at Mar. 30, 2015 - 11:14AM JST "Why does the fire station need an ambulance? I was under the impression that they used fire engines."

Just as in the United States, Britain, and other counties, fire departments in Japan provide emergency medical services in addition to firefighting services.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I only wish we had her picture. I would print, frame, and hang it on my wall.

Now if this ambulance has a positive impact, perhaps local authorities can decidedly invest in an improved ambulance fleet instead of waiting for the graces of angels like Kitamuro-sama.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Very nice of her. It's so nice of her.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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