Japanese citizen Kazumasa Kakimi, who has been doing social service in the eastern part of Palpa for three decades, was felicitated with a cultural tableau at Rampur Kisanbari on Saturday.

Palpa, Nawalpur and Nawalparasi, various educational institutions, local level, social development organizations, clubs, etc., took him around Rampur city with a rally and a chariot ride.

A full-length statue of Kakimi with children has also been installed on Saturday itself. A statue is placed in Miteri Park. Kakimi, who came to Nepal 30 years ago as a hiker, is continuously active for the development of Palpali through social service. 

Kakimi started social work from Dholimara of Purvkhola Rural Municipality-2 Jalpa after seeing poverty, illiteracy and backwardness. Although Kakimi did not understand the Nepali language at that time, he used to say 'OK OK' when talking, so the locals nicknamed him 'OK Baje'. More than 250 organizations have honored him.

Kakimi, who attended the program dressed as Palpali Daurasuruval of Dhaka, said that Sundar Rana of Abhinandan original organizing committee has been supporting the construction of school buildings, clubs, mothers' groups, children's education buildings, educational development and health sector development of backward and underprivileged children in this area. Kakimi has been providing scholarships to Jehendar students as well as helping in the operation of the ambulance. 

Since 2050/51, Kakimi has been supporting Palpa as well as Nawalpur and Nawalparasi districts by collecting more than crores of financial aid annually from various organizations, donors, counterparts, and own income in Japan. They have been supporting educational organizations, health service providers, drinking water, roads, forest environment, irrigation, children's club, youth club and community development related organizations. 

85-year-old Kakimi started living in Dholimara village of Savik Jalpa gavis in East Palpa in 1993. Palpali community of Kakimi has also performed 84 pujas. On the occasion of reaching 25 years of social service, he was also felicitated in Palpa's Tansen. Bhim Vishwa Bhattarai, the coordinator of the committee, said that he served the people by reaching places where transportation facilities were not available, rural poor settlements, where they had to walk. He has been spending here by asking for help from various organizations in Japan. Akshay Kosh has been opened here with the amount of honor he received in Japan. Through which the students of remote, Magarbasti, villages who do not understand Khasbhasha have been able to read.