. >> reporter: keiko okamoto is a local resident. ang will be staying with okamoto. part of a new program to foster a stronger connection to the area. okamoto tells ang about the city hall that was reconstructed with singaporean money. >> translator: after the tsunami there was nowhere we could gather to hold events or meetings and it was very hard on our spirits but this magnificent hall was built because singapore donated a large amount of money. we feel very grateful. >> reporter: okamoto is hosting ang at her relatives' house. that's because okamoto's home was destroyed by the tsunami. she and her family went from one shelter to another and eventually ended up living here. >> translator: i'm very happy and grateful to take care of others. i got to where i am thanks to the support of many people. ♪ happy birthday >> reporter: and after finding out about ang's 45th birthday, she secretly bought him a cake. on the day of the event, okamoto gave him a sendoff at the starting line. >> translator: please tell the people of singapore that we are grateful to them. >> oka

on the day of the event, okamoto gave ang a sendoff at the starting line. >> translator: please tellhe people of singapore that we are grateful to them. >> if i choose to stay in the hotel, i will be alone in the room waiting for a race today. what i heard from the host and what i heard on the tour i get to learn more about the restoration effort. >> translator: when i meet with visitors and have a good time, it boosts my spirits. the accumulation of these experiences help us to move forward little by little. >> reporter: the scars left by the tsunami are still deep, but like okamoto, many residents think with these kinds of interactions they can turn the corner. seigi ishikawa, nhk world. >>> japan's auto industry provided much of the horsepower for the country's post-war economic growth. cars were being made in japan much earlier than that, though, as our next story shows, an innovative model from the 1930s is back on the road. >> reporter: the first compact four-wheel drive auto to be mass produced anywhere in the world. manufacturing stted in 1936. the former imperial army used t

mccutchen, round of applause. [ applause ] and vincent okamoto, born in 1943 to an american family of japanese origin and interned in world war ii. we rounded up japanese in this country because we didn't know what else to do. we were attacked by the japanese in pearl habor and knee jerk reaction we thought anyone japanese, put them in camps. stripped them of their lively hoods. aching them out of the tam. s would be the united states >>> became a second lieutenant in the u.s. army and after that he went to ranger training and was ordered to vietnam serving as a platoon leader with an infantry unit and fire support base under heavy attack for which he would be awarded the distinguished service cross. and oak leave clusters. obviously he is a hero. both of you gentlemen have microphones on. if you give us a background of what inspired you to join the military but tell us the kind of things that you think are forever with you. >> i'm the tenth child and 7th son born to japanese immigrants. my six older brothers served in the military. the two eldest served in the combat team. another br