On the morning of May 7, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜), accompanied by the three Vice Chairs of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association—KMT Legislator Hung Mong-Kai, DPP Legislator Chiu Yi-Ying, and TPP Legislator Dr. Hung Yu-Hsiang—received a three-member delegation led by Chairman Sumi Shuzo of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. Also in attendance were Secretary General Hung Ying-Chieh of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki and Director Kobayashi Chino of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office.
President Han first extended a warm welcome to Chairman Sumi on his return visit to Taiwan and recalled the hospitality extended by Chairman Sumi during the visit to Japan by the cross-party Legislative Yuan delegation he led in September last year (2025). President Han pointed out that the joint participation of the Vice Chairs of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association from all three parties in receiving the delegation fully demonstrated the high importance attached by both ruling and opposition parties in the Legislative Yuan to deepening Taiwan-Japan friendship, as well as their unanimous support for doing so.
President Han stated that people-to-people exchanges have always been the most important foundation of Taiwan-Japan relations. He noted that according to statistics released by the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), Taiwanese travelers made 6.76 million visits to Japan last year. He further pointed out that Japan has been Taiwan’s largest source of foreign visitors for two consecutive years, with 1.48 million Japanese visitors traveling to Taiwan last year. As a result, two-way tourism exchanges reached more than 8.24 million visits, setting another all-time high and demonstrating increasingly close interaction between the peoples of Taiwan and Japan.
President Han continued by saying that amid rapidly changing global political and economic developments, Taiwan-Japan economic and trade cooperation has continued to deepen. President Han further pointed out that bilateral trade between Taiwan and Japan reached US$84.8 billion last year. He noted that TSMC has established a semiconductor fabrication plant in Kumamoto Prefecture and is already constructing a second facility, which is expected to generate approximately JP¥23 trillion in economic benefits for the Kyushu region over the next decade, fully demonstrating the solid foundation of complementary industrial strengths and high-tech cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
President Han also mentioned that Chairman Sumi would travel to Tainan during this visit to attend a memorial ceremony commemorating the 84th anniversary of the death of engineer Hatta Yoichi. He remarked that Mr. Hatta Yoichi led the construction of the Chianan Irrigation System and the Wushantou Reservoir, making far-reaching contributions to Taiwan’s agricultural development and public infrastructure. President Han said that his spirit continues to be deeply respected and remembered by the people of Taiwan.
President Han concluded by noting that the global situation has changed dramatically since his meeting with Chairman Sumi last year. Quoting Chairman Sumi’s previous public remark that “Taiwan is an extremely important partner and a treasured friend of Japan,” President Han stated that, as steadfast partners, Taiwan and Japan should continue to deepen cooperation and support one another in the face of challenges such as natural disasters, energy security, and changes in the international situation. Through such efforts, the two sides will undoubtedly be able to overcome all manner of difficulties together.
Chairman Sumi thanked President Han and the legislators from across party lines for their warm reception. He remarked that since assuming the chairmanship last year and making his first visit to Taiwan in that capacity, this was already his third meeting with President Han. He added that he had fully felt Taiwan’s regard for and friendship toward Japan. Chairman Sumi noted that one of the primary purposes of his visit was to attend the memorial ceremony for engineer Hatta Yoichi in Tainan the following day. He added that he was very pleased to see that infrastructure built by Japanese people for Taiwan continues to make contributions to this day.
Chairman Sumi stated that, through the efforts of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Taiwan and Japan have continued to deepen cooperation in such areas as the economy, energy, and people-to-people exchanges. In addition to visiting Taipei, he noted that he would also travel to Tainan during this trip and hoped to have the opportunity to visit cities such as Kaohsiung in the future, allowing more Japanese people to become acquainted with the different cultures and unique charms found throughout Taiwan. Regarding the international situation, Chairman Sumi pointed out that both Taiwan and Japan remain highly dependent on Middle Eastern energy and could further strengthen cooperation in areas such as supply chain resilience and energy security in the future.
Chairman Sumi further noted that President Han also serves as Chair of the Legislative Yuan’s Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association, demonstrating the high importance that the Legislative Yuan attaches to Taiwan-Japan relations. He also expressed respect for President Han’s role in coordinating diverse views and building consensus among both ruling and opposition parties within the Legislative Yuan. He further expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan would deepen exchanges and mutual learning in such high-technology fields as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and drones.
Legislator Hung noted that he established the Association for the Advancement of Sports Industry Policy in April and plans to visit Japan in the second half of this year to learn from Japan’s successful experience in operating indoor dome stadiums and developing professional sports industries. He expressed hope that this would further promote cooperation and exchanges between Taiwan and Japan in baseball culture and the sports industry. Legislator Hung also conveyed the shared position of both ruling and opposition parties, expressing hope that Japan would continue to support Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP so that Taiwan and Japan could work hand in hand and make joint efforts in the international community.
Legislator Chiu pointed out that the people of Taiwan have always held deep friendship and affection for Japan and expressed hope that additional direct flights between Japan and Kaohsiung could be introduced in the future to further promote local tourism and city-to-city exchanges. She also once again expressed her sincere appreciation for Mr. Hatta Yoichi’s outstanding contributions to irrigation development in the Chianan Plain.
Drawing on more than two decades of industry experience, Legislator Hung noted that, in addition to the semiconductor industry, Taiwan and Japan have already established a strong foundation for cooperation in such areas as software applications, artificial intelligence, healthcare, long-term care, and manufacturing automation. He added that the two sides could further deepen cooperation in fields such as drones and autonomous driving in the future, and expressed hope that more exchanges and interactions between young entrepreneurs from Taiwan and Japan could be promoted.
The two sides exchanged views extensively on topics including economic and trade cooperation, energy security, tourism and cultural exchanges, sports exchanges, and the development of high-tech industries. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Finally, President Han introduced Chairman Sumi to Taiwan’s unique wax apple cultivation techniques and presented the visiting guests with premium Black Diamond wax apples, which symbolize the resilient spirit of the Taiwanese people. Following the exchange of commemorative gifts and the taking of a group photograph, the meeting concluded successfully. (2026/05/07)
