For the first time in 36 years, a former refugee reunited with an Okinawan man who rescued him and a hundred others fleeing their home country of Vietnam from a cramped and food-depleted boat sailing on a perilous journey.
Masakazu Minami, 50, whose Vietnamese name was Giang Thai Tuan Binh, visited the Okinawan city of Naha on July 13 to meet with Gensho Miyagi, who at the time was the captain of the training ship that saved the refugees.
Minami firmly embraced Miyagi, 75, and tearfully repeated words of gratitude.