Betrayal of trust: the story of Fuminori Tsuchiko and his struggle for a charity cafe in Kharkiv

Fuminori Tsuchiko, a 76-year-old Japanese, has become a symbol of hope and support for many Ukrainians in Kharkiv. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tsuchiko left his native country and decided to help Ukrainians by opening a free cafe for Ukrainians, where he fed the needy with his own funds for over two years. His story is an example of dedication and self-sacrifice, but also a story of the difficulties he had to face along the way.

Fuminori Tsuchiko came to Ukraine to help people in a difficult time for the country. His motivation was to support those affected by the war. Tsuchiko found a place for his cafe in Kharkiv, which quickly became a meeting place for many needy Ukrainians. He wanted people to be able to get a hot meal and a little warmth in wartime.

A Japanese philanthropist opened a free cafe to treat the townspeople together with Ukrainian Natalia Grama, but he faced serious problems when it turned out that his partner used the money collected for the cafe for her own needs. When Fuminori temporarily returned to his homeland, Natalie Grama opened a fundraiser on his behalf and managed the funds from his account.

After Fuminori learned about the situation, he decided to return to Ukraine to find out all the circumstances and find a solution. On his initiative, an investigation was conducted, which confirmed the improper use of Natalie’s funds. As a result, Fuminori decided to break up with her and start a new fundraiser for the cafe, but already under the control of reliable partners.

“It was important for me to create a place where people could get free food and support, especially in difficult times. I trusted Natalie as a partner, and her actions were a big blow to me. She registered the cafe, because I am a foreigner. All legal matters she was busy. The contract is with her, so she says that it’s all hers. I still have my personal things and the books that I want to organize. By the end of June unfortunately, I’m starting to lose trust in the Ukrainian people. And I don’t really understand Ukrainian legislation. I feel cheated.

I am outraged and disappointed by what happened. But I will continue my mission of helping people and will be even more careful in choosing partners in the future.

I am grateful to everyone who supported me during this difficult period. I assure you that all collected funds will be used exclusively for their intended purpose. Thanks to the local community for their support and cooperation. Thanks to your help, the cafe will be able to continue its activities and even expand the range of services.

I call on everyone who cares to join charitable initiatives and help those in need.” said Fuminori Tsuchiko.

This incident caused a great resonance among the public, which led to the active involvement of local residents and benefactors in supporting the cafe. Thus, thanks to the support of the community, the cafe continued its work and even expanded its services, providing not only free food, but also organizing cultural and educational events for the townspeople.

Currently, Fuminori Tsuchiko plans to open another free cafe in the same area, near the Studentska subway station. On July 2, the Japanese published a post on his Instagram page with the caption:

“I will do my best. As long as there are people who need help, I will help them. I will help until the end.”