Taipei: The Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corp. (KRTC) has extended an offer to a Japanese rice ball vendor and his Taiwanese wife to set up a stall in one of the city’s metro stations. This gesture comes after a viral video showing their landlord damaging items outside their store sparked widespread public sympathy.
According to Focus Taiwan, KRTC reached out to the couple, inviting them to explore potential stall locations at Zuoying, Kaohsiung Main, and Formosa Boulevard stations. The transit company characterized this offer as a symbol of “friendship and support between Taiwan and Japan.”
Additionally, Chang Yen-ching, the head of the Kaohsiung City Department of Administrative and International Affairs, announced that the city is offering the couple a spot in the cafeteria of its administrative center. This offer is available if it aligns with their interests.
The Japanese-style rice ball shop, situated in Gushan District and operated by a 60-year-old Japanese man named Higuchi and his Taiwanese spouse, became a focal point of public support. This surge of sympathy followed an incident where their landlord was recorded overturning and breaking items outside the shop.
Chang, the vendor’s wife, mentioned to reporters that her husband was deeply touched by the overwhelming community support. The couple witnessed long queues of customers purchasing rice balls, alongside an influx of encouraging messages on social media.
Chang also noted that they are actively searching for a new business location while navigating ongoing court proceedings concerning the dispute. She acknowledged that the situation had inflicted emotional strain and disrupted their business operations.
According to the Kaohsiung City Police Department, the conflict involved the tenant Chang, aged 62, and the landlord, a 59-year-old surnamed Shao. Shao accused the shopkeeper of placing items in unauthorized areas and lodged a theft-related complaint. In response, the couple filed a countersuit for property damage and a minor injury allegedly caused when the landlord kicked a chair that hit Higuchi.
Police reports indicated that Ms. Shao was suspected of being emotionally agitated, leading to the overturning of tables, chairs, flower pots, and other items during the altercation.
On Monday, Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Huang Jie visited the store to express her support. She later shared on Facebook that the shop exemplified the “sincerity of Taiwan-Japan friendship.”
