Late one autumn afternoon in 2023, amidst the bustling crowds at Kyoto station, Dieu Thu panicked when her phone died, making it impossible to check for a train back to Shiga station. She wandered aimlessly, unsure who to ask for help, until she bravely stopped a man in a suit, assuming he was a station employee.

Shota, then 32, an engineer just off work, was also preparing to board a train home. Seeing the petite girl struggling amidst the crowds, he gave her thorough directions and carefully wrote down his phone number in case she needed further assistance.

Shota and Dieu Thu at a spring festival in Japan, 2025. Photo: Aki

The thank-you call from the Muong ethnic girl from Hoa Binh, after she safely returned home, initiated a series of messages, followed by their first date. Shota invited Thu to eat Vietnamese food, drink coffee, and listened as she recounted her journey as a 19-year-old Muong girl working in Japan to support her family.

"She chirped like a young bird, always smiling even when talking about her hard days of manual labor. I admired her optimism", Shota recalled his impression of his wife.

For Thu, the sincerity of the Japanese man, who had lived a reserved life for over 10 years after his parents' divorce, deeply moved her. On their first date, when Thu asked about the average income of Japanese people, Shota unhesitatingly showed her his payslip. Although his income was not high, Shota's straightforwardness and sincerity earned her trust, a rare trait given the generally discreet nature of Japanese people.

In subsequent meetings, Shota spoke little, quietly listening to the young woman share various stories. After one encounter, he remembered that she did not eat spicy food and what dishes she liked, proactively ordering them. By looking into Thu's eyes, he knew when she was tired or happy.

Shota often bought flowers for Thu without waiting for special occasions. Despite his modest finances, he always chose the best tickets whenever they went out. After 5 months of knowing each other, he introduced Thu to his mother.

However, cultural barriers and personality differences meant Thu, 27, never dared to have high expectations. "He didn't text every day or use flowery language. I thought I would return home soon, so I didn't place much hope", she admitted.

Shota and Dieu Thu during an outing near Lake Biwako, 2024. Photo: Aki

A turning point occurred in the summer of 2024.

Work pressure led Thu to exhaustion, causing her to frequently faint at work and experience nosebleeds. Despite this, her manager continued to pressure and scold her. During Thu's hospitalization and leave, Shota, a man of few words, contacted labor protection organizations, compelling the company to apologize and ensure his girlfriend's rights.

She realized that behind his reserved exterior was a kind, sincere heart. "If he hadn't stepped up to protect me, I might have been fired without any rights", she said.

Concerned that Thu might face trouble alone, Shota asked his father for permission to bring her home. Thu declined, but he continued to regularly visit after his night shift, which ended at 12 p.m., bringing food and medicine to care for her. The Japanese man's words, "I can eat bean sprouts for a month to save money for you", completely won over the Vietnamese girl.

Shota's parents also advised the two to seriously consider marriage. Not wanting to miss out on a good man, in 6/2024, Thu introduced her boyfriend to her family. Four months later, they completed their marriage procedures. "There was no proposal or diamond ring. Everything happened simply, but full of trust and love", Thu recounted.

However, marriage was not always easy. After the wedding, Thu experienced a psychological crisis due to the pressures of her living environment and homesickness. She lost weight and suffered from chronic insomnia. Out of love for his wife, Shota took two months off work to take her to various hospitals, but no cause was found.

"I even had to help her bathe. Seeing my wife so frail, I understood she had endured too much", he said.

At a critical point, Shota decided to quit his job entirely and bring his wife to Hoa Binh to live with her parents for "healing". The warm Lunar New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) days in 2025 spent in the traditional stilt house of the Muong people helped Thu gradually regain her smile.

This spring, they returned to Japan. This time, Thu chose a lighter job at a kimono rental shop in Osaka. In the evenings, Shota became her "teacher", teaching her Japanese.

"If I hadn't gotten lost that afternoon and he hadn't appeared at the right moment, I might not have found this happiness", Dieu Thu said, watching her husband diligently prepare dinner. For her, the Japanese man's genuine affection was the most precious "ticket" she found at the train station that day.

Pham Nga