At noon today (August 5), President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan hosted a luncheon for a study delegation from the Youth Division of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led by Director Hiranuma Shojiro of the LDP Youth Division. Also in attendance were Vice Chair Hung Mong-Kai of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association, KMT Caucus Convener Fu Kun-Chi, KMT Legislators Hsu Yu-Chen, Lin Szu-Ming, Wang Hung-Wei, Huang Chien-Hao, DPP Legislators Lee Kuen-Cheng, Kuo Yu-Ching, TPP Legislator Dr. Hsu Chung-Hsin, Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office, and Deputy Secretary General Lin Yu-Hui of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association.
President Han began by extending a cordial welcome to Director Hiranuma and all members of the study delegation. He noted that people across Taiwan are deeply concerned about the casualties and property damage caused by the recent earthquake in Kumamoto. On behalf of the Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China, he expressed deep condolences for those who had lost their lives and conveyed his hope that normal life would soon be restored in the affected areas. President Han noted that Taiwan, too, frequently faces natural disasters, including earthquakes, typhoons, and torrential rainfall. He recalled that when Hualien suffered an earthquake and the breaching of a landslide-dammed lake last year, people from all sectors of Japanese society actively showed concern and sympathy for Taiwan. He emphasized that Taiwan and Japan have long supported one another in times of disaster, demonstrating a friendship whose sincerity is revealed in adversity and whose value is all the more profound. He expressed the hope that both sides would continue to deepen cooperation in disaster prevention and related fields.
President Han further remarked that the youthful energy of the study delegation reflects the drive and potential of Japan’s younger generation. He then cited three sets of figures to illustrate the close ties between Taiwan and Japan: First, two-way visits for tourism, study, and other purposes reached 8.24 million in 2025; second, bilateral trade totaled US$84.8 billion last year, while trade in the first half of this year grew by 22% compared with the same period last year, showing prospects for continued growth; third, parliamentary exchanges are very robust, as the 11th Legislative Yuan has already received 54 Japanese delegations, and the scale of exchanges is expected to expand further this year. He noted that these figures fully reflect the depth and closeness of the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
President Han extended appreciation in particular to Chief Representative Katayama for his longstanding dedication to promoting Taiwan–Japan exchanges and fostering steady progress and new breakthroughs in bilateral relations. He also acknowledged the important role that the LDP Youth Division has long played in fostering ties between Taiwan and Japan, noting that many of its former officials now hold positions of considerable responsibility in Japanese politics. He wished Director Hiranuma and the visiting young leaders every success in their future political careers and encouraged them to continue contributing to the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.
In concluding his remarks, President Han shared with the young leaders his own experience of entering public office as a local councilor at the age of 32 and becoming a member of the Legislative Yuan at 35. Using the analogy of a circle and a square, he shared the maxim, “Be rounded in your dealings with people and square in your conduct of affairs.” He explained that one should treat others with tact, openness, and understanding, while remaining principled, upright, and grounded in carrying out one’s responsibilities. He wished the study delegation success in its exchanges in Taiwan, expressing the hope that its members would achieve fruitful results and take home warm and lasting memories.
Director Hiranuma thanked President Han for taking the time to receive the study delegation and for graciously hosting the luncheon. Recalling his previous visit to Taiwan in August last year, he said that the warmth extended by people across Taiwan had left a deep impression on him. On behalf of the Japanese people, he expressed sincere gratitude for President Han’s concern regarding the earthquake in Kumamoto. He noted that Taiwan and Japan have long shown care for one another and extended mutual assistance in the face of natural disasters, and that this friendship has become an important foundation for deepening cooperation.
Director Hiranuma went on to explain that the study delegation was on the third day of its overseas study program and that through meetings with a number of prominent Taiwanese political figures, its members had gained an even deeper appreciation of the strong friendship that people across Taiwanese society feel toward Japan. In the face of an increasingly complex international environment, he emphasized that Taiwan and Japan should work together more closely and continue to strengthen the bilateral partnership. He further mentioned that Japan attaches great importance to the development of artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and drones. Given Taiwan’s outstanding technological capabilities and industrial strengths in these fields, he expressed optimism about the prospects for future cooperation.
Responding with humor to President Han’s analogy of “being rounded in your dealings with people and square in your conduct of affairs,” Director Hiranuma remarked that, upon meeting President Han, one could immediately sense the warmth and graciousness represented by the circle. He added that the round-table seating arrangement at the luncheon also helped bring participants closer together through face-to-face exchanges. He expressed the hope that the visit and the discussions over lunch would mark another important milestone in deepening Taiwan–Japan relations, and once again thanked President Han and the Legislative Yuan for their gracious hospitality.
President Han and Director Hiranuma then exchanged commemorative gifts and posed for photographs. During the luncheon, the two sides had wide-ranging discussions on Taiwan–Japan relations and cooperation in semiconductors, AI, and related industries. The luncheon lasted approximately 80 minutes in a warm and convivial atmosphere. Legislators Kuo Yu-Ching, Hung Mong-Kai, and Hsu Chung-Hsin delivered closing remarks in turn, bringing the occasion to a successful conclusion. (2026/08/05)
