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For the past 16 months, 72-year-old Huang, from Huarong County in China’s Hunan Province, had been desperately seeking contact with her daughter, Xiang Xiaofang, who moved to Japan years ago. Since August last year, Xiang had stopped responding to messages, calls, or even interacting on social media, leaving her family in anguish.
On December 12, the search finally came to an emotional resolution when volunteers in Tokyo, led by Liu Hao, a Chinese expatriate, located Xiang in Yokohama. A live-stream organized by Xiaoxiang Morning News connected Xiang with her family back in China. Tears streamed down her face as she confirmed she was safe but acknowledged experiencing significant struggles in her life.
Xiang’s story is one of resilience and heartbreak. According to her relatives, Xiang studied computer science in university and learned Japanese in 2004 to follow her then-boyfriend, a Chinese student in Japan. Driven by love, she worked three jobs to support him through his three-year postgraduate studies. However, after he graduated, their relationship ended, leaving Xiang in a vulnerable position.
Despite the setback, Xiang tried to rebuild her life. A Chinese friend introduced her to her current husband, and the couple seemed happy initially. They welcomed a son in 2012, but their relationship deteriorated over the years. Financial troubles began surfacing in 2018, exacerbating the strain in their marriage. Xiang wanted to work to improve their finances, but frequent disputes with her husband made the situation worse.
Eventually, her husband filed for divorce and refused to let Xiang stay in their marital home without paying rent, leaving her in a precarious situation.
During the live-streamed reunion, Xiang expressed deep emotion upon hearing from her family. Huang urged her daughter to prioritize her well-being and stay connected with loved ones.
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