The Japanese men joining Ukraine’s fight


Motomura, who plans to join the Georgian Legion to fight for Ukraine, holding a military jacket at his store in Maebashi, Gunma prefecture. — AFP

YUYA Motomura, a mahjong parlour manager in Japan, had always wanted a way to prove himself to a society he felt looked down on him. Then Russia invaded Ukraine.

The 45-year-old is one of a handful of Japanese men who have joined Ukrainians battling the Russian invasion, defying their government’s warnings and bucking a decades-long national principle of pacifism.

Play, subscribe and stand a chance to win prizes worth over RM39,000! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
StarExtra

Next In Focus

The sound of stress floating away
Media leadership: Delivering the people’s voice�
'Protection or overreach?'
A brewing misunderstanding?
A minority within a minority
Subterranean salvation under siege
India rekindles an old friendship
A dish dogged by inflation
China’s great energy pivot
The soldier who came back from the dead

Others Also Read