The Ellicott City community is coming together to support the owners of Matcha Time Cafe.Derek and Hatsumi Smith were in Japan for Hatsumi Smith's father's funeral when Derek Smith had a heart attack. The couple is stuck in Tokyo as he recovers in a hospital.Expenses are piling up because everything is out of pocket, so one of the restaurant's vendors set up a GoFundMe page to help the couple pay the bills."It's a 14-hour flight, so he isn't cleared to fly. And while he's recovering, they need to stay in Tokyo, paying for the medical expenses out of pocket because the hospital won't take their American insurance. They have to pay for a house, a car, food and the cost of living there is very high," said Kat Van Green, with the Matcha Time Cafe.Derek Smith is reported to be doing much better, and the couple hopes to return to the U.S. next month.In addition to the GoFundMe page, a fundraiser is planned for Sunday at Matcha Time Cafe in historic Ellicott City.

The Ellicott City community is coming together to support the owners of Matcha Time Cafe.

Derek and Hatsumi Smith were in Japan for Hatsumi Smith's father's funeral when Derek Smith had a heart attack. The couple is stuck in Tokyo as he recovers in a hospital.


Expenses are piling up because everything is out of pocket, so one of the restaurant's vendors set up a GoFundMe page to help the couple pay the bills.

"It's a 14-hour flight, so he isn't cleared to fly. And while he's recovering, they need to stay in Tokyo, paying for the medical expenses out of pocket because the hospital won't take their American insurance. They have to pay for a house, a car, food and the cost of living there is very high," said Kat Van Green, with the Matcha Time Cafe.

Derek Smith is reported to be doing much better, and the couple hopes to return to the U.S. next month.

In addition to the GoFundMe page, a fundraiser is planned for Sunday at Matcha Time Cafe in historic Ellicott City.