As a boy, Ichio Yachimukai wanted to become a teacher out of gratitude for the kindness of his junior high school teacher, but he never imagined that he would one day venture to Vietnam to realize his ambition.
Yachimukai, 60, a resident of Sapporo, was born in Hokkaido's Yubari as the first of five sons. His father's death from tuberculosis when he was 15 left him and his brothers to be raised by his mother.
"My family was very poor," he said. "There was no money to join a school excursion. I thought that I couldn't take part in the trip, but my class teacher paid for it. Just recalling that brings tears to my eyes."