Down on his luck, Yoichiro Wakayama was so broke at 23 that he could only afford one plate of curry in a chain restaurant to share with his girlfriend.

But that modest meal would change the life of the struggling street dancer. 

After finishing the dish, Wakayama filled out the feedback form for customers to express his gratitude. 

Later, he would receive a personal letter from the founder of Japanese-style curry restaurant chain Curry House Coco Ichibanya (Cocoichi), which would inspire him.

DANCING IN THE CAPITAL

Wakayama had moved to Tokyo from Gifu Prefecture in 2002, hoping to make it big as a street dancer.

Wakayama became enthralled by street dancing after seeing the popular dance style on TV when he was a junior high school student. He was so skilled that he was even selected as a backup dancer by a then-popular band, but he got paid only when he was called to perform. 

However, he had no regular dance gigs.

With almost no savings to fall back on, there was a time when he had no money to even buy a train ticket. When hungry, Wakayama would go to department stores to eat food samples offered to customers--the only food he could find.

It was then when his girlfriend came to visit from Gifu Prefecture.

ONE CURRY DISH FOR TWO

Wakayama wanted to take her to a decent restaurant, but all he had on him was only 400 yen ($3.80).

As they kept walking, he found a Yoshinoya Co.'s "gyudon" restaurant and a Cocoichi outlet standing side by side. Thinking that she would prefer curry over a beef and rice bowl, he took her to the Cocoichi joint.

But the only dish he could afford on the menu was a plate of pork curry rice. Being the gentleman that he is, Wakayama was determined not to let his girlfriend pay for the meal and decided to share it with her.

"I'd like to have a plate of pork curry rice. We'll share it," Wakayama told an attendant, but he couldn't make eye contact because he was too embarrassed.

But the attendant treated him no differently than other customers, repeating the order back to him with a smiling face and even offering an extra plate so they could share their meal.

CUSTOMER SERVICE QUESTIONNAIRE

Finding a bundle of customer service questionnaires at the end of the table, Wakayama took one and filled it out to show his gratitude for the service. On it, he also shared his personal story.

About a month later, Wakayama found an envelope from Cocoichi in the mailbox, containing a handwritten letter, which said: "I was touched by your postcard. I, too, was poor at one time in my life, so I can relate to you.

"Please don't give up on your dream. If you find yourself discouraged, come back to Cocoichi. We'll be waiting for you with a warm plate of curry."

It was written by the Cocoichi founder, Tokuji Munetsugu, himself.

Also included in the envelope was a meal ticket worth 3,000 yen. The young man couldn't understand why the businessman wrote the letter himself to a customer who spent only 400 yen to share one meal for two people, not to mention a meal ticket.

Wakayama decided he would go to Cocoichi when he wanted to eat curry.

MEETING UP 8 YEARS LATER

Eight years later, in 2010, Wakayama met Munetsugu in an unexpected situation.

At the time he had started a junk removal business after working as a part-time telephone marketer and also as a door-to-door salesperson.

One day, Wakayama visited a Cocoichi outlet to eat curry rice with a female client who lived in Ichinomiya, Aichi Prefecture. He remembered how he shared a plate of curry rice with his girlfriend and the kindness he received at the restaurant and from the company founder.

When he told her about it, the client said in tears, "That's exactly what Mr. Munetsugu would do."

Cocoichi is based in Ichinomiya, and the founder was known for his good deeds.

After finishing the meal, Wakayama and the woman visited the chairman of a cotton-spinning company and talked about his past experience.

Wakayama thought the official would be pleased to hear about it, but instead, he grimaced and asked him what he did in return.

"You forgot to do something important. Why didn't you express your gratitude to Mr. Munetsugu?" he said.

The chairman made a phone call then and there and arranged for Wakayama to meet Munetsugu.

At a later date, Wakayama went to the Munetsugu Hall in Nagoya, which the Cocoichi founder opened in 2007. The hall provides opportunities for local people to enjoy classical music as part of Munetsugu's contributions to society after he left the management of the curry restaurant chain.

Wakayama was escorted into the office where Munetsugu was waiting.

When Wakayama thanked him for sending the letter and the meal ticket eight years ago, Munetsugu said he clearly remembered it.

And when Wakayama explained how he had been doing after he received the letter, Munetsugu said: "The 3,000-yen investment I made on you was a major success. Now that you have come to see me like this, I gained a lot. It should be me who is thanking you."

Wakayama was so elated that he said he wanted to be a "big man" like Munetsugu to give dreams and hope to young people.

NOW RUNS OWN COMPANY

Eleven years after the meeting, Wakayama, now 42, is the president of a company he founded, Waai Group Co., which collects unwanted items and runs a secondhand store. It also engages in volunteer efforts to build schools in Cambodia, while Wakayama gives lectures.

Acting on Munetsugu's advice that day to see the world while he was young, Wakayama has visited 15 countries on his own.

The Cocoichi founder had also told Wakayama that he should write a book about his life, which became a reality in November last year when his "Lucky Man" was published by Hyogensha Co. In the book, the author recalls how he shared a plate of curry rice with his girlfriend and how the meeting with Munetsugu significantly changed his life.

The book begins with a message for young people, saying: "Whatever happens, it will be all right. Everything will help you get through tough times, and some day you can write a book about your life."

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 "I thought he was a completely different person from me and had an attractive personality," Munetsugu recalled his impression of Wakayama when meeting him for the first time.

"There are many people who talk about their dreams with stars in their eyes, and that's wonderful. But it is difficult to make dreams come true. I think Mr. Wakayama has become the man he is today because he has set goals for each step toward a big dream and has been working diligently."