On April 18, a food truck operated by Sukiya, a national gyudon chain with its roots in Yokohama, rolled into the town of Mashikimachi in Kumamoto and began distributing beef bowls to disaster victims, with a total of 1,000 meals handed out at lunchtime.

Sukiya followed this by serving another 1,500 free meals in the evening, and the truck’s kitchen was busy again the next day, once again providing meals to those in need.

Also in the area was Yoshinoya, Japan’s largest gyudon chain, which had a mobile kitchen set up in the town of Nishihara, Kumamoto, on April 19 and 20 to distribute beef bowls before moving Mashikimachi for two days starting on April 21.

Many in Kumamoto lost homes or loved ones in the quakes, and with so many pieces of their lives left to pick up. But in the communities where these displays of generosity took place, at least they could take finding food for lunch and dinner off their list of concerns.

Related Stories:
How to make a mouth-watering Japanese beef bowl in just five minutes
Adventures in Gyudon: We order all seven toppings at Japanese beef bowl chain Sukiya
This restaurant’s in a bit of a pinch and is enlisting your help!