At noon on May 5, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) received an 11-member delegation led by Hiranuma Shojiro, Director of the Youth Division of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Upon arrival, the delegation first posed for a group photo with President Han before engaging in cordial exchanges. President Han noted that since his previous interaction with the Youth Division last year, the international landscape has become increasingly complex and unpredictable, presenting numerous challenges for both Taiwan and Japan. Meeting the young parliamentarians from the LDP Youth Division, he said, reminded him of the significant responsibilities they carry. Drawing an analogy to Cerberus, the three-headed hound of Greek mythology, President Han remarked that legislators must simultaneously balance parliamentary duties, constituency services, and family life—an apt reflection of the multiple expectations placed upon elected representatives. He expressed his hope that through joint efforts, Taiwan and Japan will continue to deepen exchanges and work together to navigate an ever-changing international environment.
Director Hiranuma stated that amid today’s rapidly changing international environment, Taiwan and Japan, as important partners bound by mutual trust and reliance, should seek to elevate cooperation to an even higher level. He also expressed his hope to lead another delegation of Youth Division members to Taiwan this August to engage in more in-depth dialogue with various sectors of Taiwanese society and explore additional opportunities for concrete cooperation.
The delegation subsequently toured the Legislative Yuan chamber before attending a luncheon hosted by Legislative Yuan Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang (江啟臣). Also in attendance were KMT Legislator Hung Mong-Kai and TPP Legislator Dr. Hung Yu-Hsiang, both Vice Chairmen of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association; DPP Legislator Dr. Kuo Kuo-Wen, President of the East Asia Parliamentary Association; Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office; and Secretary General Hung Ying-Chieh of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his remarks, Vice President Chiang warmly welcomed Director Hiranuma and the delegation to the Legislative Yuan. He noted that this marked his third meeting with Director Hiranuma within the same week, with exchanges taking place in both Taichung and Taipei, demonstrating Taiwan’s sincere friendship with Japan and the high importance it places on bilateral relations. Vice President Chiang expressed his hope that deeper exchanges among parliamentarians would inject further momentum into Taiwan-Japan relations.
Vice President Chiang continued by noting that Taiwan and Japan enjoy a comprehensive friendship built from the bottom up, spanning all levels from civil society to government. He said that according to the latest public opinion surveys, favorable views between the peoples of Taiwan and Japan exceed 75 percent. Vice President Chiang also added that in terms of economic and people-to-people exchanges, bilateral trade has surpassed US$80 billion, while two-way travel has reached a record high of 8 million visits, underscoring the strong bonds of friendship and mutual trust between the two societies. Vice President Chiang highlighted recent statistics released by the Japan Tourism Agency showing that Taiwanese visitors ranked first among foreign travelers in terms of spending in Japan during the first quarter of this year. He further noted that among all parliamentary friendship associations within the Legislative Yuan, the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association has the largest membership. These figures, Vice President Chiang said, clearly demonstrate the depth and sincerity of Taiwan-Japan relations. He expressed hope that continued parliamentary diplomacy would help ensure the steady development of the partnership between Taiwan and Japan in the years ahead.
Director Hiranuma expressed his sincere appreciation to Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators for hosting the luncheon. He remarked that it was a great honor to have met with Vice President Chiang several times within such a short period. This, he said, not only represents a rare milestone in bilateral exchanges but also reflects the close and friendly nature of Taiwan-Japan relations. Director Hiranuma emphasized that amid an increasingly challenging and complex global environment, parliamentary diplomacy has become even more important in fostering mutual trust. Echoing Vice President Chiang’s remarks on bilateral friendship, he agreed that the relationship between the peoples of Taiwan and Japan is currently at its strongest point in history. On behalf of the Liberal Democratic Party, he expressed a firm commitment to further deepening exchanges with the Legislative Yuan and expanding substantive cooperation with Taiwanese society across a wide range of fields.
During the luncheon, the two sides exchanged extensive views on topics such as youth exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, regional security, and mail-in voting in elections. The luncheon lasted approximately 100 minutes, after which Vice President Chiang and the attending legislators joined the delegation for commemorative photographs and exchanged commemorative gifts. The event concluded successfully in a warm and pleasant atmosphere, with both hosts and guests enjoying the occasion. (2026/05/05)
