Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang of the Legislative Yuan meets with delegation from the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly’s Japan-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association; Vice President Chiang: We aim to expand Taiwan-Japan cooperation across multiple sectors and continuously deepen the substantive friendly relations between the two sides
On the afternoon of February 13, Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang of the Legislative Yuan, accompanied by KMT Legislator Chang Chih-Lun, DPP Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu, TPP Legislator Chang Chi-Kai, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Department Yang Fang-Ling, and Deputy Secretary-General Lin Yu-Hui of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, met with a 15-member delegation from the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly’s Japan-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association.
Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang first warmly welcomed Speaker Morita Hiroshi and the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly delegation on behalf of President Han of the Legislative Yuan. After posing for a group photo with the attending legislators and the visiting guests, he expressed his deep gratitude to Speaker Morita for Japan's prompt response following the powerful earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan, in April 2024. The Japanese government immediately donated 1 million USD, and Speaker Morita, representing the Japan-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, personally visited Taiwan's representative office in Japan to make a donation, demonstrating his commitment to Taiwan's well-being and support. Speaker Morita also facilitated a resolution in the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly in 2020, supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), demonstrating his strong support for Taiwan. Vice President Chiang took this opportunity to extend his deepest respect and gratitude to the friends from the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly.
Vice President Chiang continued, stating that Yamagata Prefecture is no stranger to the people of Taiwan, as Yamagata has established sister-city relationships with three cities in Taiwan: Yilan County, Kaohsiung City, and his hometown, Taichung City. Last year, the Mayor of Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, also led a delegation to Taichung, where the two sides signed an Agreement to Promote Friendly Tourism Exchange, further deepening the Taiwan-Japan friendship through city-to-city exchanges. Vice President Chiang remarked that Yamagata Prefecture’s unique natural tourism resources, such as hot springs and high-quality fruits, are deeply loved by the people of Taiwan. In recent years, Japan has consistently been the top destination for Taiwanese tourists traveling abroad. Last year, people from Taiwan made a total of 6.04 million visits to Japan. With the upcoming 2025 World Expo to be held in Osaka, along with the continued increase in direct flight routes, it is believed that the number of Taiwanese visitors to Japan will reach a new high this year. In contrast, last year, travelers from Japan visited Taiwan approximately 1.18 million times. Based on Japan's population ratio, there is still significant potential for growth. Vice President Chiang expressed his hope that the members of the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly will assist in promoting tourism to Taiwan among the Japanese public, thereby contributing to the growth of Taiwan's tourism industry.
Vice President Chiang further mentioned that not only are there frequent grassroots exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, the bilateral friendly relationship is also reflected in the Legislative Yuan. In the current 11th Legislature, the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association is chaired by President Han, and it boasts the largest number of members among all the parliamentary friendship associations in the Legislative Yuan, with 85 members to date—more than two-thirds of the legislators have joined. This demonstrates the high level of attention and support from legislators of all parties toward Taiwan-Japan relations. The vibrant interactions and exchanges between Taiwan and Japan have laid a solid foundation for the friendly relationship between the two countries, expanding from grassroots initiatives to official cooperation. This collaboration extends beyond economic, trade, cultural, and social sectors, encompassing the continued deepening of cooperation in areas such as information security and high-tech industries. Vice President Chiang concluded by specially mentioning that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) opened its first fab in Kumamoto Prefecture last February. This was the company’s first overseas factory completed after the pandemic, marking an important milestone in Taiwan-Japan technological cooperation. The fab’s specialized process technology wafers officially began mass production at the end of last year. A second fab is planned to begin construction in the first quarter of this year. It is hoped that in the future, Taiwan’s high-tech industries will also establish fabs in more Japanese cities, further deepening bilateral supply chain cooperation and building a more resilient global industrial chain. It is believed that Taiwan-Japan relations will inevitably grow even closer and more amicable in the future.
During his speech, Speaker Morita Hiroshi especially thanked Vice President Chiang and the cross-party legislators for taking the time to warmly welcome the delegation. He introduced Yamagata Prefecture as the filming location for the classic Japanese drama Ashin. The drama, which aired on NHK for over 40 years, is a touching series beloved by people of all ages, and it remains a topic of conversation for both Taiwanese and Japanese audiences. It has been broadcast in over 70 countries worldwide and holds the record for the highest viewership in the history of Japanese television dramas. Perhaps influenced by the popularity of Ashin, this year during Taiwan's Lunar New Year, Taiwanese tourists were seen at famous tourist destinations in Yamagata, such as hotels, ski resorts, and Ginzan Onsen. Speaker Morita responded to Vice President Chiang’s hopes of promoting travel to Taiwan for Japanese tourists, stating that he would encourage local schools in Yamagata, including high schools and universities, as well as the prefecture's residents, to visit Taiwan for educational trips and tourism. Speaker Morita concluded by mentioning that Yamagata Prefecture is a major agricultural region, renowned for its high-quality fruits, sake, rice, pickled products, and other agricultural specialties. He expressed that the purpose of the delegation’s visit was also to promote and publicize these local products. However, upon learning of the gas explosion accident that occurred this morning at a department store in Taichung, he and the delegation members sincerely expressed their condolences and concerns.
During the bilateral exchanges, Legislator Chang Chih-Lun mentioned that in recent years, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Japan has significantly increased. He expressed his pleasure at the frequent exchanges and interactions between the two sides. He noted that during his past visits to Japan, he often found the immigration process to be time-consuming due to large crowds. However, on his most recent visit, he noticed a substantial improvement in the speed of immigration processing, reflecting Japan’s efforts to enhance the experience for travelers. Taiwan is fortunate to be included as one of the countries eligible for Japan’s newly established pre-clearance system. It is hoped that this system will be expanded to more cities, making exchanges between Taiwan and Japan even more convenient.
Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu mentioned that there are direct flights between Yamagata Prefecture and major cities in Taiwan, making transportation convenient. He also highlighted that Yamagata is known for its abundant agricultural products, such as cherries and the internationally renowned Shijodai sake, which are greatly appreciated by the people of Taiwan. The legislator further pointed out that, as a professional cancer treatment physician, he deeply admires Yamagata Prefecture’s leading techniques in cancer treatment and commends the ongoing developments in the field of healthcare. He specifically highlighted the 2025 Health and Medical Center urban development plan, noting that it aligns perfectly with President Lai Ching-Te’s commitment to building a “Healthy Taiwan.” He expressed hope for deeper cooperation between the two sides in healthcare and urban governance, with the aim of advancing mutual exchanges and progress in their medical systems.
Legislator Chang Chi-Kai shared his love for Japanese culture, mentioning that he is an avid fan of the TV drama Ashin. He humorously noted that he was born in the same year as Yamagata Prefecture’s legislators, Komatsu Shinya and Sato Masatsugu, and that, back in the day, both in Taiwan and Japan, everyone was deeply moved by the storyline of Ashin. Legislator Chang Chi-Kai expressed that the inspiring story of Ashin, a tale of overcoming challenges and growth, has had a profound impact on Taiwanese audiences. These shared memories have deepened the emotional connection between Taiwan and Japan. He also mentioned that last year, he and Vice President Chiang participated in the "Taiwan-Japan Parliamentary Members Friendly Soccer Match" in Kyushu, highlighting his commitment to Taiwan-Japan friendship. He hopes that, in addition to the sister city ties between Yilan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, efforts can also be made to establish a sister city relationship between Yamagata Prefecture and Chiayi County, further promoting city-to-city exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. He sincerely invited the friends from Yamagata to visit Chiayi and personally experience the magnificent scenery of Alishan.
The two sides continued to exchange views extensively on topics such as Taiwan-Japan city exchanges, regional revitalization, and tourism visits. The atmosphere was friendly and lively, with the meeting lasting approximately 70 minutes. The visit concluded successfully after both sides exchanged commemorative gifts.
Vice President Dr. Johnny C. Chiang first warmly welcomed Speaker Morita Hiroshi and the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly delegation on behalf of President Han of the Legislative Yuan. After posing for a group photo with the attending legislators and the visiting guests, he expressed his deep gratitude to Speaker Morita for Japan's prompt response following the powerful earthquake in Hualien, Taiwan, in April 2024. The Japanese government immediately donated 1 million USD, and Speaker Morita, representing the Japan-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Association, personally visited Taiwan's representative office in Japan to make a donation, demonstrating his commitment to Taiwan's well-being and support. Speaker Morita also facilitated a resolution in the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly in 2020, supporting Taiwan’s participation in the World Health Assembly (WHA), demonstrating his strong support for Taiwan. Vice President Chiang took this opportunity to extend his deepest respect and gratitude to the friends from the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly.
Vice President Chiang continued, stating that Yamagata Prefecture is no stranger to the people of Taiwan, as Yamagata has established sister-city relationships with three cities in Taiwan: Yilan County, Kaohsiung City, and his hometown, Taichung City. Last year, the Mayor of Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture, also led a delegation to Taichung, where the two sides signed an Agreement to Promote Friendly Tourism Exchange, further deepening the Taiwan-Japan friendship through city-to-city exchanges. Vice President Chiang remarked that Yamagata Prefecture’s unique natural tourism resources, such as hot springs and high-quality fruits, are deeply loved by the people of Taiwan. In recent years, Japan has consistently been the top destination for Taiwanese tourists traveling abroad. Last year, people from Taiwan made a total of 6.04 million visits to Japan. With the upcoming 2025 World Expo to be held in Osaka, along with the continued increase in direct flight routes, it is believed that the number of Taiwanese visitors to Japan will reach a new high this year. In contrast, last year, travelers from Japan visited Taiwan approximately 1.18 million times. Based on Japan's population ratio, there is still significant potential for growth. Vice President Chiang expressed his hope that the members of the Yamagata Prefectural Assembly will assist in promoting tourism to Taiwan among the Japanese public, thereby contributing to the growth of Taiwan's tourism industry.
Vice President Chiang further mentioned that not only are there frequent grassroots exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, the bilateral friendly relationship is also reflected in the Legislative Yuan. In the current 11th Legislature, the Taiwan-Japan Friendship Association is chaired by President Han, and it boasts the largest number of members among all the parliamentary friendship associations in the Legislative Yuan, with 85 members to date—more than two-thirds of the legislators have joined. This demonstrates the high level of attention and support from legislators of all parties toward Taiwan-Japan relations. The vibrant interactions and exchanges between Taiwan and Japan have laid a solid foundation for the friendly relationship between the two countries, expanding from grassroots initiatives to official cooperation. This collaboration extends beyond economic, trade, cultural, and social sectors, encompassing the continued deepening of cooperation in areas such as information security and high-tech industries. Vice President Chiang concluded by specially mentioning that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) opened its first fab in Kumamoto Prefecture last February. This was the company’s first overseas factory completed after the pandemic, marking an important milestone in Taiwan-Japan technological cooperation. The fab’s specialized process technology wafers officially began mass production at the end of last year. A second fab is planned to begin construction in the first quarter of this year. It is hoped that in the future, Taiwan’s high-tech industries will also establish fabs in more Japanese cities, further deepening bilateral supply chain cooperation and building a more resilient global industrial chain. It is believed that Taiwan-Japan relations will inevitably grow even closer and more amicable in the future.
During his speech, Speaker Morita Hiroshi especially thanked Vice President Chiang and the cross-party legislators for taking the time to warmly welcome the delegation. He introduced Yamagata Prefecture as the filming location for the classic Japanese drama Ashin. The drama, which aired on NHK for over 40 years, is a touching series beloved by people of all ages, and it remains a topic of conversation for both Taiwanese and Japanese audiences. It has been broadcast in over 70 countries worldwide and holds the record for the highest viewership in the history of Japanese television dramas. Perhaps influenced by the popularity of Ashin, this year during Taiwan's Lunar New Year, Taiwanese tourists were seen at famous tourist destinations in Yamagata, such as hotels, ski resorts, and Ginzan Onsen. Speaker Morita responded to Vice President Chiang’s hopes of promoting travel to Taiwan for Japanese tourists, stating that he would encourage local schools in Yamagata, including high schools and universities, as well as the prefecture's residents, to visit Taiwan for educational trips and tourism. Speaker Morita concluded by mentioning that Yamagata Prefecture is a major agricultural region, renowned for its high-quality fruits, sake, rice, pickled products, and other agricultural specialties. He expressed that the purpose of the delegation’s visit was also to promote and publicize these local products. However, upon learning of the gas explosion accident that occurred this morning at a department store in Taichung, he and the delegation members sincerely expressed their condolences and concerns.
During the bilateral exchanges, Legislator Chang Chih-Lun mentioned that in recent years, the number of Taiwanese tourists visiting Japan has significantly increased. He expressed his pleasure at the frequent exchanges and interactions between the two sides. He noted that during his past visits to Japan, he often found the immigration process to be time-consuming due to large crowds. However, on his most recent visit, he noticed a substantial improvement in the speed of immigration processing, reflecting Japan’s efforts to enhance the experience for travelers. Taiwan is fortunate to be included as one of the countries eligible for Japan’s newly established pre-clearance system. It is hoped that this system will be expanded to more cities, making exchanges between Taiwan and Japan even more convenient.
Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu mentioned that there are direct flights between Yamagata Prefecture and major cities in Taiwan, making transportation convenient. He also highlighted that Yamagata is known for its abundant agricultural products, such as cherries and the internationally renowned Shijodai sake, which are greatly appreciated by the people of Taiwan. The legislator further pointed out that, as a professional cancer treatment physician, he deeply admires Yamagata Prefecture’s leading techniques in cancer treatment and commends the ongoing developments in the field of healthcare. He specifically highlighted the 2025 Health and Medical Center urban development plan, noting that it aligns perfectly with President Lai Ching-Te’s commitment to building a “Healthy Taiwan.” He expressed hope for deeper cooperation between the two sides in healthcare and urban governance, with the aim of advancing mutual exchanges and progress in their medical systems.
Legislator Chang Chi-Kai shared his love for Japanese culture, mentioning that he is an avid fan of the TV drama Ashin. He humorously noted that he was born in the same year as Yamagata Prefecture’s legislators, Komatsu Shinya and Sato Masatsugu, and that, back in the day, both in Taiwan and Japan, everyone was deeply moved by the storyline of Ashin. Legislator Chang Chi-Kai expressed that the inspiring story of Ashin, a tale of overcoming challenges and growth, has had a profound impact on Taiwanese audiences. These shared memories have deepened the emotional connection between Taiwan and Japan. He also mentioned that last year, he and Vice President Chiang participated in the "Taiwan-Japan Parliamentary Members Friendly Soccer Match" in Kyushu, highlighting his commitment to Taiwan-Japan friendship. He hopes that, in addition to the sister city ties between Yilan, Taichung, and Kaohsiung, efforts can also be made to establish a sister city relationship between Yamagata Prefecture and Chiayi County, further promoting city-to-city exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. He sincerely invited the friends from Yamagata to visit Chiayi and personally experience the magnificent scenery of Alishan.
The two sides continued to exchange views extensively on topics such as Taiwan-Japan city exchanges, regional revitalization, and tourism visits. The atmosphere was friendly and lively, with the meeting lasting approximately 70 minutes. The visit concluded successfully after both sides exchanged commemorative gifts.