From Rice Balls to Rescue: Taiwanese Solidarity Supports Japanese-Owned Business in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung Government and MRT Offer Support After Japanese Rice Ball Shop Faces Rental Dispute

A recent incident involving a Japanese-owned 飯糰 (rice ball) shop in Kaohsiung's Museum of Fine Arts area has sparked public interest and a wave of support. Following a dispute with the landlord over rent, which reportedly resulted in damages to the shop, the Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit (KMRT) has stepped in to offer a helping hand.

The KMRT has invited the shop to consider setting up a stall within its stations, providing a potential new venue. Furthermore, according to Director Zhang Yen-ching of the Kaohsiung City Government's Administrative and Service Department, the city's administrative center also has available space in its employee cafeteria for rent, offering further options for the business.

The shop, owned by Japanese national Higuchi and his Taiwanese wife, opened on Qinghai Road in the Gushan District. The situation has garnered sympathy, amplified by the owner's history of goodwill; Councilor Jian Huan-zhong highlighted the shop's support for firefighters during a typhoon, providing rice balls as a gesture of appreciation. The incident underscores the strong bonds between the Taiwanese and Japanese communities.