For the Necessary Momentum!

Wishing to highlight the work of healthcare professionals fighting in the frontline against the new coronavirus and untiringly defying the danger, a young Japanese chef has decided to donate Japanese food to the workers of a hospital in Budapest.

Japanese chef Takashi Nagatake (pictured in the middle, in blue shirt) opened a new restaurant in downtown Budapest in January this year. He has been working for restaurants since his he was 16, starting in Japan, then trying his luck in Australia and Canada, as well. Eventually, he chose Hungary and settled down in the capital receiving help from local people.

However, before the season could really start, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Budapest, as well, restaurants changed their operation to home delivery or they closed down. Takashi Nagatake, as the owner of the WAFU Japanese Bar, wanted to do something useful: to give energy to hospital workers and strengthen their immune system with healthy Japanese food – as the menu card says: ‘For the necessary momentum!’

The menus offered for nurses and doctors include items like teriyaki chicken with salad, curry pork with rice, and karaage, specially spiced Japanese fried chicken. The food is delivered each workday this week to the Péterfy Sándor Street Hospital-Clinic and Trauma Center in Budapest’s District 7. As a member of the hospital management put it, this gesture really means a lot to them and fill them with joy. In organizing and coordinating this support, the WAFU Bar was assisted by the Budapest office of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

As Takashi Nagatake tells Diplomacy&Trade, he “loves the views of Budapest and people living here. Lots of things, events and buildings inspired me, so, I opened a restaurant with the intention of delivering the goodness of Japanese food culture. I feel that everyone is suffering the consequences of the pandemic – especially the healthcare workers. So, I wanted to support them somehow. What can I do? The only way I can support these people is making them feel better and giving them energy with my food. I hope I can save lives of patients through this."

Commenting on this nice gesture, District 7 Deputy Mayor Balázs Szűcs stressed that “as a long-time fan of Japanese culture and cuisine, I would like to say a special thank you for this generous offer. This pandemic has shown that we have to fight it together – that is how we can overcome this crisis. A better future is built on great gestures of empathy towards each other such as this one.”