3 days ago
News in Easy English: Syrian man in Osaka uses Arabic coffee to help his homeland
OSAKA -- A man from Syria has opened an online coffee store in Osaka. The store sells special Arabic coffee. This coffee has a different taste from Japanese coffee. It is mixed with a spice called cardamom and boiled. This gives the coffee a fresh smell and unique flavor. People drink it from small cups.
The man's name is Baraa Fuji, and he is 31 years old. Fuji came from Damascus, Syria, and he moved to Japan in 2017. He studied in graduate school in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, then moved to Osaka for work.
There was a war in Syria for 13 years. Fuji felt sad for the people there and wanted to do something to help. So he decided to open an online coffee store called "Qafua Shop." "Qafua" means coffee in Arabic.
Fuji opened his store in March this year. Each time he sells coffee, he sends some money to help Syrian people. The money goes to a group that helps people who need medicine, food, and education after the war.
Fuji lives in Osaka with his family. His wife Eman, 32, came to Japan while Fuji was studying. They now have two children, Adam who is 6 and Basema who is 4. Both children were born in Japan and started school here this spring. Last year, Fuji became a Japanese citizen. He chose the name Fuji from Mount Fuji. He said, "I want to live as a Japanese person, not as a foreigner."
Last December, the war in his country finally ended, and the leaders changed. Fuji was very happy when he heard this good news.
He said, "Many people in Syria are having a difficult life after the war. Syria needs help. I want to help them through coffee."
(Japanese original by Rei Kubo, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
Vocabulary
Arabic: language and culture of Arab countries in the Middle East
spice: something you put into food or drinks to make them taste better or different
unique: special or different from others
graduate school: special school you finish after university
citizen: a person who officially belongs to a country and has that country's passport
donate: give something (usually money) to help people who need it
