Japanese boy with illness set to meet head of favorite ramen chain thanks to origami June 7, 2022 (Mainichi Japan) Japanese version Origami works of employees at ramen eatery chain Tenkaippin, which were made by Kento Kitanaga, are seen in this image provided by Chika Kitanaga. SANYO-ONODA, Yamaguchi -- A 9-year-old boy battling heart disease who loves ramen and has a special passion for origami caught the attention of his favorite ramen chain operator's president, with arrangements for them to meet underway. Kazuhito Kimura, 35, president of Tenichi Shokuhin Shoji K.K. スーパーコピーブランド時計  which operates ramen chain Tenkaippin ブランドコピー通販  expressed the desire to meet Kento Kitanaga, a fourth grader at Motoyama Elementary School in the city of Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The president saw the boy's works themed after the eatery's employees and was moved by his devotion to creating origami pieces. Kento has suffered from a heart disease called "tetralogy of Fallot" since birth -- a condition where a hole exists in the wall between the two ventricles of the heart. At age 3, the boy underwent surgery to implant a pacemaker in his chest. His parents have encouraged him to practice origami, and the boy engaged in a project of folding origami "yuru-chara" mascot characters of each area and pasting them onto a map of Japan. The work has been displayed in his local community and other places since autumn 2021, and he has been eagerly creating various origami works as of late. Kento Kitanaga, center, is seen celebrating with his parents after hearing that the president of his favorite ramen chain operator asked to meet him, in this photo taken in Sanyo-Onoda スーパーコピー服  Yamaguchi Prefecture, on June 1, 2022. (Mainichi/Seiichiro Yanase) The boy also loves ramen noodles, and dreams to work at a ramen eatery in the future. Kento said he is especially a fan of Tenkaippin's ramen, which has a rich flavor, and enjoys visiting the eatery with his parents. In April, he spent about 10 days creating origami works of the ramen restaurant's employees, and gifted them to the branch in the city of Shimonoseki. President Kimura, who learned of the origami gifts and the boy's other works 偽物ブランド  was impressed and thought it was "amazing that he is passionate about origami while he is going through a tough time visiting hospitals while also studying." He contacted the boy's 46-year-old mother Chika and told her of his wish to meet Kento in person. The two plan to meet around the summer, and specifics are still being arranged. The boy appeared excited about the opportunity, saying 偽物時計  "I'm so happy I can meet my idol who makes my favorite ramen. I want to work at Tenkaippin in the future." His mother said, "I'm astonished at the possibilities my son opened up. I want to continue helping him improve what he's good at." (Japanese original by Seiichiro Yanase, Ube Local Bureau) Font Size SML Print Go to The Mainichi Home Page