At 2 p.m. on November 20, 2024, Vice President of the Legislative Yuan, Johnny C. Chiang, accompanied by Vice Chairs of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association Legislators Hung Mong-Kai and Huang Shan-Shan; Director Kevin C.F. Lin of the International Affairs Department; and Senior Specialist Lin Yu-Hui of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received an 18-member delegation from the Iwate Prefectural Assembly’s Taiwan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association.

Vice President Chiang first extended a warm welcome to the guests on behalf of Legislative Yuan President Daniel K.Y. Han and later joined the attending legislators and the delegation for a group photo. During his remarks, Vice President Chiang noted that the visit coincided with the WBSC Premier 12 baseball tournament’s semifinals taking place in Tokyo, where both Taiwan and Japan had advanced to the top four. He expressed that it would have been wonderful if the meeting were held in Tokyo, allowing them to cheer for the players together. While games inherently involve winners and losers, the friendship between Taiwan and Japan is undoubtedly a win-win. The Vice President noted that Iwate Prefecture ranks second in land area among Japan’s administrative regions. It is abundant in natural resources, and is internationally renowned for cultural landmarks such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Chūson-ji Temple in Hiraizumi. The renowned baseball star Shohei Ohtani, currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, achieved an unprecedented milestone this season with "50 home runs and 50 stolen bases" in regular play. A commemorative ball marking this historic record was acquired by a Taiwanese enterprise and is now on display at Taipei 101. Vice President Chiang invited the legislators to visit the exhibition.

He further noted that, according to statistics as of the end of July this year, Taiwan recorded 3.55 million visits to Japan. In terms of the proportion of travelers to Japan relative to total population, Taiwan ranks first at 15%. Additionally, an impressive 76.6% of the Japanese public holds a favorable view of Taiwan. In early April this year (2024), Taiwan experienced its strongest earthquake in 25 years, causing severe damage to the Hualien region. Japan generously contributed over 226 million yen (approximately NT$51 million) in donations. This heartfelt gesture once again underscored the precious friendship between Taiwan and Japan, exemplifying the saying, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Furthermore, Japan is Taiwan's third-largest trading partner, while Taiwan ranks as Japan's fourth-largest. These figures demonstrate the close ties between the two nations in areas such as people-to-people exchanges, regional political collaboration, and economic cooperation. In particular, local assemblies, which represent grassroots public opinion, serve as a crucial foundation for the stability of Taiwan-Japan relations. He expressed his hope that the Taiwan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association will continue to play a key role in deepening substantive ties between Taiwan and Japan.

Vice President Chiang concluded by highlighting that the 11th Legislative Yuan’s Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association is chaired by President Daniel K.Y. Han and comprises 85 members, making it the largest parliamentary friendship group in the Legislative Yuan. With membership exceeding two-thirds of all legislators, it underscores the cross-party commitment of lawmakers to strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations. Vice President Chiang expressed his gratitude to the Iwate Prefectural Assembly’s Taiwan-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Association for its longstanding support of Taiwan. He emphasized that legislators from all political parties in the Legislative Yuan are eager to engage in exchanges and cooperation with Japan, and he looks forward to continuing joint efforts to strengthen the bilateral friendship between Taiwan and Japan.

        Chairperson Nakatai Hitoshi, the head of the delegation, began by expressing his heartfelt appreciation to Vice President Chiang for the warm reception. He recalled the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, noting that many of the legislators present were among those affected. He conveyed deep gratitude for Taiwan's generous donations and support in the immediate aftermath, spanning both public and private sectors. Chairperson Nakatai also took the opportunity to extend his sympathies regarding the earthquake in Hualien this April, expressing hope for the swift completion of recovery and reconstruction efforts in the region. He continued by noting that in the past, Taiwan's pineapple exports faced boycotts from China. In response, Iwate Prefecture extended its support by importing a significant quantity of Taiwanese pineapples. He added that he is particularly fond of pineapple cakes. Furthermore, the Iwate Prefectural Assembly passed a resolution during the COVID-19 pandemic supporting Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA). In 2023, direct flights between Taoyuan Airport and Hanamaki Airport officially resumed, paving the way for more frequent bilateral exchanges. The delegation expressed gratitude for the warm reception during their visit to Taiwan and pledged to promote the beauty of experiencing Taiwan through tourism upon their return.

Vice Chair of the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association, Legislator Huang Shan-Shan, remarked that she felt a particular affinity for the assembly members from Iwate Prefecture. She shared that she previously served six terms as a Taipei City Councilor and as Deputy Mayor of Taipei, during which she engaged in close exchanges with Japan. Notably, she collaborated with Matsuyama City in Ehime Prefecture to co-host the Matsuyama Grand Mikoshi – Dogo Hachimachi Shrine-clashing and Blessing Ceremony in Taipei and also welcomed Matsuyama City Council members during their visits. She emphasized that Taiwan and Japan share a deep familiarity as partners, rooted in similar lifestyles and cultural traditions. Legislator Huang Shan-Shan responded to the topic of the WBSC Premier 12 baseball tournament, noting that although Taiwan lost to Japan in the preliminary round last week, Taiwanese fans at the game continued to cheer for the Japanese team. She stated that this exemplified the deep friendship and goodwill between Taiwan and Japan.

The two sides engaged in extensive discussions on topics including Taiwan-Japan city exchanges, tourism and mutual visits, and the WBSC Premier 12 baseball tournament, in a warm and cordial atmosphere. Toward the end of the meeting, President Daniel K.Y. Han made a special appearance to greet the delegation and joined them for a group photo. The meeting lasted approximately one hour and concluded with an exchange of commemorative gifts, marking a successful end to the visit.