Shimada Kouji is ecstatic that he could begin welcoming his customers to his curry restaurant again in Wuhan, Hubei province in April, when dine-in services resumed.

Shimada, 72, a retired accountant from Fukuoka, Japan, was invited in May 2010 by a Wuhan student who had studied in Japan to teach the skills of making curry.

He had been visiting other cities in China, including Wuhan, since 1982.

"I really love China and Chinese culture," he said. "After several months' living in the city, I decided to stay here."