Taiwanese actor praised for act of kindness on Japan flight

Amidst controversy surrounding another Taiwanese celebrity's alleged actions in Japan, actor Song Wei-en is winning hearts with a simple act of kindness. While "Wu Xiong" (Cai Yizhen) faces backlash for allegedly defacing a historic Buddhist artifact, Song's heartwarming gesture on a flight to Japan has gone viral, attracting over 2 million views and widespread praise from Japanese netizens.

Song, who was traveling to Kyoto for a two-week study trip, noticed a female passenger and her companion were seated far apart. He proactively offered to switch seats, ensuring they could sit together. This thoughtful act deeply touched the passenger, who later offered him a thank-you gift of traditional Taiwanese taro pastries, which he politely declined, stating he could easily buy them in Taiwan.

Even after landing, the grateful passenger sought him out to present him with dorayaki, a Japanese pancake. Song shared a video of the encounter, reflecting on the serendipitous nature of travel and the meaningful connections formed. "In life, many people only pass by like strangers. Those who leave memories are fate. I think this is the meaning of travel," he said, adding, "When you're away from home, everyone helps each other."

The story resonated powerfully on Japanese social media, with comments praising his warmth and the spread of goodwill. Many described him as a "tall, handsome Taiwanese man." The positive exchange has been widely shared, offering a heartwarming counterpoint to recent negative headlines and reinforcing a sense of friendly relations between Taiwan and Japan. Many Taiwanese netizens expressed pride and emotion, seeing the story as a beautiful representation of cross-cultural goodwill.