With a pandemic raging and an uncertain future hanging over most of the world, it's nice to come across an uplifting story from time to time. Here at grape Japan, we try to take a break from more serious topics and provide some eyebleach from time to time. Recently, we talked about the outpouring of support for a beloved older restaurant owner who had to close shop due to a health concern. Other times we covered how members of non-traditional families pull together to provide one another support, or how much sharing a cup of coffee can mean to a couple.

Along those lines, other content creators like manga illustrator Tomoko Nishiyama (nishiyama_tomoko07) understand the need for heartwarming stories during difficult times. She recently animated an anecdote shared by one of her followers. In the piece, an old couple's retirement plans are suddenly thrown off when they receive some unexpected bad news.

Certainly, Tomoko’s follower was very touched by the experience. She must often recall it when drinking coffee.

Tomoko's readers were touched by the story. They commented:

If you liked this manga, you can find more like it on Tomoko’s Instagram page, Twitter feed, or blog. The artist also has books available on Amazon.