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Just a few weeks after the heartwarming story of an evil villain donating backpacks to a Japanese orphanage, comes another tale of anonymous Japanese winter philanthropy, this time from Toyama prefecture.
At around 2:30 pm on Dec 8, a female staff member at an orphanage in Takaoka city noticed a man pulling up in a white vehicle and placing three large boxes, two styrofoam and one cardboard, at the base of a telephone pole near the entrance. The man, who seemed to be in his 30s, beckoned the staff member over with his hand and, without saying anything, left the boxes and drove off.
In the cardboard box were five daikon, or Japanese radishes. In the styrofoam boxes were two large, plump yellowtail, accompanied by a letter that read: “The men of the ocean have braved billowing waves, putting their lives on the line for these kan-buri (winter yellowtail).” The letter was signed: “Yours truly - A Man Who Loves the Ocean”.
At first, vegetables and fish may seem like a rather strange combination to leave outside an orphanage, but the man had actually gifted the children with a luxurious winter feast: winter yellowtail are a major seasonal delicacy that normally sell for anywhere between 30-40,000 yen a fish.
The daikon radish were left to be either sliced and used in buri daikon, or grated into daikon oroshi and enjoyed with as a topping if they chose to grill the yellowtail or prepare it as sashimi.
The sea-loving stranger even left an envelope containing a 10,000 yen bill to be used for hiring a local chef to prepare the fish.
The orphans burst into excitement upon seeing seeing the two large fish, which were measured to be 1 meter long and weigh 8 and 10 kg each. And it wasn’t just the size of the fish that got the children worked up: the kids knew what was in store as the orphanage received a similar gift of yellowtail from a mysterious “man of the ocean” last year as well.
If you thought it couldn’t get any more heartwarming, the local fish dealer offered to prepare the yellowtail for the orphans free of charge and on December 8 and 9, the children feasted on sashimi and grilled yellowtail—with grated daikon, of course.
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun, Naver Matome
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29 Comments
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sakurala
I wish more stories like this would be plastered all over the news instead of glorifying horrible crimes. The man who loves the sea is an amazing person and hopefully he will inspire more copy cats!
hoserfella
So a complete stranger leaves fish outside an orphanage and the orphanage allows the kids to eat it no questions asked.
Sakurala - sorry, this was a stupid and irresponsible decision by orphanage staff
nath
People like that help keep my faith in humanity.
Just a couple days ago when buying a couple presents for my daughter at what would be the equivalent of a "Toy Store" on Yokota AB. The woman in front of me had nearly $400 worth of small toys. I kept thinking to myself I wish I got in line sooner to avoid being stuck behind her. After she finished and I paid for my gifts. I exited the store and noticed she put all the toys in a donation box to be given away to those less forunate. Just watching this made me reflect a little for a couple minutes.
Small gestures like that man and the fish may not seem like such a big deal, but to children who are often forgotten it can make a positive impact, especially during this time of the year.
.
tokyo-star
Sorry, I'm with hoserfella here - there are too many wierdo psycos around. While this sounds like a heartwarming gesture, the fish could've been poisoned or whatever worse you could imagine. Did they even test them before slicing and serving them?
sakurala
Horse fella: I'm sorry that you don't have faith in humanity. Hopefully at some point over the holidays or in the new year, you will get to experience first hand the kindness that can be found. Perhaps you can take a leap of goodwill and donate something or volunteer to see how it can brighten someone's day.
Happy holidays everyone and let's keep the giving spirit alive (^_^)
sakurala
By the way...the story mentions that they received the same thing last year...I'm guessing it was safe then and is safe now.
Sabrage
I, like many, many people around the world donate food - canned or packet food, clothing and books.
However, fresh food, particularly the fish have a personal touch.
tokyo-star, I hope you test all your food. Danger lurks.
nath
I understand where both Horsefella and Tokyo-Star are coming from... Maybe I'm just naive in my way of thinking, but I refuse to believe someone would stoop that low as to donate/poison an orphanage.
I would also like to think the staff used their judgment in this matter.
hoserfella
Sakurala - so you leave the safety of kids in your charge to your "faith in humanity" eh?
tokyo-star
Sabrage, I buy my groceries from a reputable supermarket, not pick them up off the side of the road from some stranger.
nath
I would bet someone at the orphanage knew the individual who donated the fish. I would also guess he does this each year.
Although, trying to plays the devil's advocate... I'm trying to decide if I would let my daughter eat the fish. All I can say is I would be much more inclined if I knew the guy who donated.
Possibly, the world is coming to the day in age where we can no longer trust acts of kindness from strangers. Sad day indeed if that's the case.
tokyo-star
See now you are changing the game - the article mentions that the guy was "anonymous". If the orphanage knew the guy then I wouldn't have much against it.
That said, when I was living up north, random obachans used to give me boxes of apples - never seen the person before, or after that. Ate them and thought nothing of it. But this is slightly different, as it involves children and perishables.
bajhista65
I love this kind of NEWS compared to what I read daily mostly about school bullies, suicides, killings, nonsense news like naming their child Pikachu...
sakurala
Just a question for the skeptics here...do you buy food from the store? Your life may be at risk too because you don't know if it has been safely processed, packaged and labeled.
It seems silly that this man, who gave them fish last year, would donate such expensive fish, just poison them. And since he did it last year, seems like he jet really wants to gI've the kids something special. I don't know where you ate living but I've noticed in the countryside that aot of people like to share what they have with others. It seems that the children enjoyed their dish and will be able to think about the kindness or strangers for years to come.
Tamarama
Oh, dear me. You think a guy who might be attempting to poison the kids, or whatever you have in your mind, would ask one of the staff members to help him?! So she can, you know, get a good look at him, describe what he is wearing, what kind of car he drives, etc, etc?
Tessa
According to the story, the fish was then cooked by a local fish dealer, so it would probably be very bad publicity for his business if he'd served poisoned products to a bunch of kids! I love hearing stories like this.
hoserfella
Tessa - since the local sushi chef had no idea where the fish came from. He could have very well served those kids their last meal. Lets all take a deep breath and use some common sense here.
Disillusioned
Nice! But, they are yellow tail 'king fish'.
Yubaru
If it was your daughter I would be asking you why she was in an orphanage?
rickyvee
sorry horsefella, but that is not using common sense. that's just being a cynic about altruism. i still have a basic faith in the goodness of humanity.
sushilover
All it takes is one nutbag. You're right, hoserbloke.
megosaa
i see we have a coupla uncle scrooges posting in here.. :roll eye: i am sure the staff has a thing called "common sense" before serving those anonymously donated gifts! geez.. just because they are not "you" stop treating others like kids!
Happy Holidays Y'All!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
Blaine Morren
Do you honestly have to dump on everything good in the world? Are you that much of a depressed loser?
The same reasoning you use to argue that its unsafe can be used back on you: Don't you think the chefs they hired would have used their heads, examined and prepped the fish before serving it? People like you read all of these horrible news stories and immediately think the world is filled with people like that, when in reality it's a small percentile.
Besides, if he was trying to murder innocent people, it probably wouldn't be the smartest move to LET THEM SEE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.
And if someone came to my door with $500 fish for orphans, yes, I would see it as a gesture of kindness and good will. Only monsters think with a monster's mentality.
hoserfella
Blaine Morren - so lets say you have a young child in nursury school, elementary school, etc. They are given food to eat by a complete stranger out of a car. As a parent, you would rightfully scream bloody murder if the staff let that happen.
What really bugs you is you know I'm right.
For all those posters who are almost in tears at the news we don't live in a Utopia, - don't worry. I'm sure Santa will still come on Christmas night and the sun will rise tomorrow.
JA_Cruise
I am sure the staff used their good and wise discretion and probably could have even gotten a glimpse of his car plates, but if we can't simply trust an act of good charity, then who can we trust? You want to live in fear your entire life thinking this or that?
midnull
Acts like these make me think there is still hope for humanity!
Eigen
What a wonderful thing to read. I think the idea of random acts of kindness during the holidays is such a wonderful thing. I hope more will do this! So many people struggle financially and they feel added pressure during these holidays. It makes such a difference to get a little food or clothing to help you along.
I'm looking forward to volunteering over the holidays myself. Please, JT...report more on stories like these!
okillbegoodthistime
I agree with Tessa.
okillbegoodthistime
Also, Hoserfella, I respect your opinion but there are no confirmed cases of random malicious/intentional poisonings of children, not even during Trick or Treat at Halloween. You can check online to confirm this, or simply research the topic a little at your local library until realise that you are unable to find any such news stories. Yes there is a first time for everything, but you can't seriously suggest that they shouldn't have enjoyed this food. The danger of going hungry would have been far greater in the long term. Sorry for the double post but I can't seem to edit. That's all now.