A wonton shop owner in China has gained fame for his resemblance to renowned Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki, as he generously provides free meals to those in need. -- Photo: SCMP composite/RedNote/AFP
BEIJING (SCMP): A wonton street shop owner in China has become a local celebrity for looking like the celebrated Japanese animator and filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki.
Yin Zhenggen, 76, who has been nicknamed the Hayao Miyazaki of Nanjing because he bears a striking resemblance to the filmmaker.
His shop is also like one that appears in Miyazaki’s fairy tales; it provides free food for people in need.
Yin and his wife, Wang Chunlan, have been running the shop in Nanjing, eastern China’s Jiangsu province, for the past four decades.
Top Taiwan singer Richie Ren popped into the wonton shop and showered praise on its owner. - Photo: QQ.com/SCMPYin was born in Anhui province, central China.
The former Nanjing railway worker and his wife became street vendors after their child was born.
About a decade ago, they moved their shop to Jishan Lane, which means “Karma Lane” in Chinese.
In 2017, Yin’s shop went viral after he invited people to take shelter from a heavy rain and the moment was captured by a reporter who happened to be there.
In 2020, a group of migrant workers passed by Yin’s shop and asked if the couple could let them eat wonton and pay later.
Yin’s sells wonton boiled with firewood, a traditional way of cooking that is favoured by some.
He said the price for a bowl of 18 wontons has been 10 yuan (US$1.40) for a decade.
Realising that the workers must be in difficulty, Wang invited them in and provided them with free food. The workers later returned to pay.
Since then, the couple decided to give free wonton and sesame buns to people in difficulty, and even thoughtfully set a code for the free meal, “Set Menu A”, to avoid possible embarrassment.
Former railway worker Yin Zhenggen cooks up a storm at his shop which has gone viral. -- Photo: QQ.com/SCMPHe said their kindness is returned by many people. Some pay much more than the price of the free wonton; one handed over 500 yuan (US$70) to thank him.
Yin contacted the person to refund the money, but the person asked him to keep it to feed other people in need.
Yin’s resemblance to Miyazaki was only recognised after his kind deeds went viral.
Many people have gone to his shop to take photographs with him.
His outlet even attracted Taiwan singer Richie Ren while the entertainer was on a cycling trip in the city in February.
“Grandpa Yin is very kind. I see my own grandpa in him,” said one visitor to the shop.
“It is like he walked out of a fairy tale,” said another.
