Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han meets and hosts dinner for the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Youth Division Overseas Training Group President Han: “I am grateful to our friends from the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party for continuing to deepen Taiwan-Japan friendship”
On the evening of August 22, Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han, accompanied by Vice Chairperson of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association Chiu Yi-Ying, Legislators Hsu Chiao-Hsin, Huang Chien-Pin, Chuang Jui-Hsiung, Chen Kuan-Ting, Chen Gau-Tzu, Deputy Secretary-General Chang Yu-Jung, Director of the Department of International Affairs Kevin C.F. Lin, Representative Katayama Kazuyuki of the Taipei Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, and Assistant Director General Lin Yu-Hui from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, met with and hosted a dinner for the 69 members of the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party Youth Division Overseas Training Group.
President Han first warmly welcomed the visiting guests to Taiwan and, together with the attending committee members and Representative Katayama, took a group photo with the visiting delegation. In the President’s speech, he mentioned that this was the second time this year he has met with Director Suzuki of the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party in Taipei, and that he was particularly happy to see a familiar face again. He was especially impressed by the vigor and spirit of the Youth Division members, who all seemed eager to work for a brighter future for the Japanese government and people. As such, he expressed his best wishes to the distinguished guests present. The President recalled his first visit to Japan in 1986 as a passionate university student, and although he is older now, his enthusiasm for welcoming guests who have traveled great distances to visit Taiwan remains as strong as ever.
President Han continued by stating that Taiwan and Japan have had a long history of close exchanges and deep friendship. According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, 4.2 million Taiwanese tourists visited Japan last year (2023), ranking second among all foreign visitors to Japan. Additionally, Taiwanese tourists spent a staggering JP¥778.6 billion (approximately NT$163.5 billion), a record high and also the highest amount spent among foreign tourists to Japan. This shows that the Taiwan-Japan friendship is built on a solid foundation of face-to-face exchanges and interactions between the peoples of the two countries.
President Han added that statistics alone do not paint the whole picture. While his impression of the Japanese people is that they are outwardly serious, he hopes that each Japanese guest can enjoy the authentic Taiwanese cuisine and beverages prepared today with a light heart. He wished for everyone to deepen their understanding of Taiwan through the flavors they experience today and awaken their inner child so as to foster a more relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere for deeper exchanges and friendship.
Director Suzuki Takako of the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party thanked President Han and the attending legislators for their enthusiastic reception. She mentioned that she was very happy to meet with everyone again on the last night of their visit to Taiwan after receiving President Han’s warm hospitality during their first meeting in April this year. She also thanked President Han for his thoughtful consideration in selecting the restaurant, as the many photos of Taiwanese political figures on the walls were surely an indication of its being renowned. Notably, seeing a picture of former President Lee Teng-hui, who had deep ties with Japan, among the pictures of the visitors added to that special atmosphere. She remarked that the year President Han first visited Japan in 1986 was also the same year she was born, making it a unique coincidence. In her opinion, the President’s passionate spirit has not only endured but has become even more vibrant over the years. She believed that everyone would have a wonderful evening and that the visit would end on a perfect note.
After Director Suzuki's speech and the exchange of commemorative gifts, President Han invited the distinguished guests to enjoy the meal. During the dinner, President Han and the attending committee members had extensive discussions with the visiting delegation on topics including cross-strait stability, Indo-Pacific regional security, democratic freedom, political and economic development, and enhancing bilateral parliamentary interactions. The dinner lasted about two hours, featuring a performance by a band playing familiar songs from Taiwan and Japan. The guests also wore traditional Japanese clothing and performed local Japanese dances on the spot, interacting warmly with Legislative Yuan members. The atmosphere was lively, with continuous laughter and applause, bringing the Taiwan-Japan friendly exchange to a delightful conclusion.
List of Visitors
1. Suzuki Takako, House of Representatives member, Director of the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
2. Fuji Kazuhiro, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
3. Kaneko Shunpei, House of Representatives member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
4. Yamamoto Sakon, House of Representatives member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
5. Doi Rio, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
6. Ochi Toshiyuki, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
7. Kamiya Masayuki, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
President Han first warmly welcomed the visiting guests to Taiwan and, together with the attending committee members and Representative Katayama, took a group photo with the visiting delegation. In the President’s speech, he mentioned that this was the second time this year he has met with Director Suzuki of the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party in Taipei, and that he was particularly happy to see a familiar face again. He was especially impressed by the vigor and spirit of the Youth Division members, who all seemed eager to work for a brighter future for the Japanese government and people. As such, he expressed his best wishes to the distinguished guests present. The President recalled his first visit to Japan in 1986 as a passionate university student, and although he is older now, his enthusiasm for welcoming guests who have traveled great distances to visit Taiwan remains as strong as ever.
President Han continued by stating that Taiwan and Japan have had a long history of close exchanges and deep friendship. According to statistics from the Japan National Tourism Organization, 4.2 million Taiwanese tourists visited Japan last year (2023), ranking second among all foreign visitors to Japan. Additionally, Taiwanese tourists spent a staggering JP¥778.6 billion (approximately NT$163.5 billion), a record high and also the highest amount spent among foreign tourists to Japan. This shows that the Taiwan-Japan friendship is built on a solid foundation of face-to-face exchanges and interactions between the peoples of the two countries.
President Han added that statistics alone do not paint the whole picture. While his impression of the Japanese people is that they are outwardly serious, he hopes that each Japanese guest can enjoy the authentic Taiwanese cuisine and beverages prepared today with a light heart. He wished for everyone to deepen their understanding of Taiwan through the flavors they experience today and awaken their inner child so as to foster a more relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere for deeper exchanges and friendship.
Director Suzuki Takako of the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party thanked President Han and the attending legislators for their enthusiastic reception. She mentioned that she was very happy to meet with everyone again on the last night of their visit to Taiwan after receiving President Han’s warm hospitality during their first meeting in April this year. She also thanked President Han for his thoughtful consideration in selecting the restaurant, as the many photos of Taiwanese political figures on the walls were surely an indication of its being renowned. Notably, seeing a picture of former President Lee Teng-hui, who had deep ties with Japan, among the pictures of the visitors added to that special atmosphere. She remarked that the year President Han first visited Japan in 1986 was also the same year she was born, making it a unique coincidence. In her opinion, the President’s passionate spirit has not only endured but has become even more vibrant over the years. She believed that everyone would have a wonderful evening and that the visit would end on a perfect note.
After Director Suzuki's speech and the exchange of commemorative gifts, President Han invited the distinguished guests to enjoy the meal. During the dinner, President Han and the attending committee members had extensive discussions with the visiting delegation on topics including cross-strait stability, Indo-Pacific regional security, democratic freedom, political and economic development, and enhancing bilateral parliamentary interactions. The dinner lasted about two hours, featuring a performance by a band playing familiar songs from Taiwan and Japan. The guests also wore traditional Japanese clothing and performed local Japanese dances on the spot, interacting warmly with Legislative Yuan members. The atmosphere was lively, with continuous laughter and applause, bringing the Taiwan-Japan friendly exchange to a delightful conclusion.
List of Visitors
1. Suzuki Takako, House of Representatives member, Director of the Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
2. Fuji Kazuhiro, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
3. Kaneko Shunpei, House of Representatives member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
4. Yamamoto Sakon, House of Representatives member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
5. Doi Rio, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
6. Ochi Toshiyuki, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
7. Kamiya Masayuki, House of Councillors member, Youth Division of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan