Yamazaki Yumiko prepares for disinfecting in her community as a volunteer. Photo provided to China Daily

Dream realized

Yamazaki came to Changchun in October 1995 to learn Chinese language in Jilin University, and got married to a Chinese man in June 1996.

She began to teach in the university's Japanese Department until 2003, when the couple started their institute, where Japanese language was taught.

"Sendai and Changchun are sister cities," she said. "I was born in Sendai but Changchun has become my second hometown, where I realized my dream of becoming a teacher."

"I must do something for the city I have deeply loved," she said. "Although I can't fight against the virus on the front line like medical workers, I hope I can give my students more power and confidence."

She spends six hours every day, giving online classes in pronunciation, grammar and spoken Japanese for her students.

Yamazaki has added a lot of content about COVID-19 in her lessons. "A student said he was honored to learn about the construction of two hospitals－Huoshenshan and Leishenshan－within a short time in Wuhan, in my class."