President Daniel K.Y. Han of the Legislative Yuan and his delegation meet with Representative Tamaki Yuichiro of Japan’s Democratic Party for the People (DPFP); President Han: The Legislative Yuan highly values parliamentary exchanges with the Japanese Diet and looks forward to closer cooperation.
At 3:30 p.m. on September 26 (Japan time), President Daniel K.Y. Han (韓國瑜) of the Legislative Yuan led an eleven-member cross-party delegation of legislators, accompanied by Taiwan’s Representative to Japan Lee Yi-Yang, to visit the House of Representatives and meet with Representative Tamaki Yuichiro of Japan’s Democratic Party for the People (DPFP). Eleven Diet members from the DPFP, representing both the House of Councillors and the House of Representatives, were present to warmly receive the delegation. The two sides first exchanged commemorative gifts and subsequently delivered remarks, showcasing the friendly atmosphere of Taiwan–Japan parliamentary exchanges.
Representative Tamaki began his remarks by thanking President Han and the cross-party legislators for the warm reception when Representative Asano Satoshi, Director of the Youth Division of the DPFP, led a delegation to visit the Legislative Yuan in July. He also noted that four Diet members from his party are currently visiting Taiwan. Representative Tamaki also mentioned his visit to Taiwan in February this year, during which he engaged in in-depth exchanges with President Lai Ching-Te and friends from various sectors, which left a deep impression on him. He stressed that deepening Taiwan-Japan relations is an important mission, and he expressed his great satisfaction at having this opportunity to exchange views with Taiwan’s legislators. He expressed his hope that both sides will work hand in hand to strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to regional peace.
Representative Tamaki also conveyed his sincere concern and condolences for the recent flooding in Guangfu Township, Hualien, which caused severe casualties. He noted that both Taiwan and Japan are countries frequently affected by natural disasters and expressed hope that the two sides would enhance exchanges and cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, jointly strengthen bilateral disaster resilience, and further deepen substantive friendly relations between the two countries.
President Han then delivered his remarks, first thanking Representative Tamaki for his kind condolences regarding the disaster in Hualien, and promised to convey the Japanese Diet’s concern and blessings to the local residents. President Han continued, explaining that the Legislative Yuan is a unicameral legislature with 113 seats, and the representativeness and influence of every legislator are critically important. He highlighted that this visiting delegation was composed of members from all three major party caucuses: the Kuomintang (KMT) sent Legislators Hung Mong-Kai, Hsu Yu-Chen, Wang Hung-Wei, Dr. Weng Hsiao-Ling, and Dr. Lin Chien-Chi (five in total);the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sent Legislators Ho Hsin-Chun, Wang Mei-Hui, Kuo Yu-Ching, and Dr. Chuang Jui-Hsiung (four in total);and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) was represented by Legislator Huang Shan-Shan. This composition, added President Han, underscored the Legislative Yuan's high cross-party value placed on this exchange visit to Japan.
Continuing his remarks, President Han noted that the DPFP Diet members appeared vibrant and spirited, reflecting the energetic spirit of the party. He then congratulated Representative Tamaki, noting that the DPFP’ s seats in the House of Representatives grew from 7 to 28 in last year’s (2024) general election, a fourfold expansion. Seats in the House of Councillors also rose from 9 to 22 in this year’s election. Such growth, President Han said, demonstrates the party’s impressive progress in just five years since its founding in 2020.
Regarding public opinion, President Han highlighted the latest poll released by the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association in April, which found that 77 percent of Taiwanese respondents named Japan as their favorite country among all nations, while an equally high 77 percent of Japanese respondents reported a sense of affinity for Taiwan. President Han reminded that as parliamentarians, we should deeply recognize the profound significance these figures represent for promoting the friendly relationship between Taiwan and Japan.
President Han concluded by sharing his view that legislators must never forget the trust placed in them by their constituents, emphasizing that serving the people is both a great honor and responsibility. He encouraged the parliamentarians to continue performing excellently in their political roles by adhering to the principle of "handling matters with integrity and treating people with grace," and expressed his hope for even closer exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the Japanese Diet.
Parliamentarians from both sides engaged in lively exchanges and took a group photo, concluding the cordial and pleasant meeting after approximately 40 minutes.
Representative Tamaki began his remarks by thanking President Han and the cross-party legislators for the warm reception when Representative Asano Satoshi, Director of the Youth Division of the DPFP, led a delegation to visit the Legislative Yuan in July. He also noted that four Diet members from his party are currently visiting Taiwan. Representative Tamaki also mentioned his visit to Taiwan in February this year, during which he engaged in in-depth exchanges with President Lai Ching-Te and friends from various sectors, which left a deep impression on him. He stressed that deepening Taiwan-Japan relations is an important mission, and he expressed his great satisfaction at having this opportunity to exchange views with Taiwan’s legislators. He expressed his hope that both sides will work hand in hand to strengthen bilateral ties and contribute to regional peace.
Representative Tamaki also conveyed his sincere concern and condolences for the recent flooding in Guangfu Township, Hualien, which caused severe casualties. He noted that both Taiwan and Japan are countries frequently affected by natural disasters and expressed hope that the two sides would enhance exchanges and cooperation in disaster prevention and relief, jointly strengthen bilateral disaster resilience, and further deepen substantive friendly relations between the two countries.
President Han then delivered his remarks, first thanking Representative Tamaki for his kind condolences regarding the disaster in Hualien, and promised to convey the Japanese Diet’s concern and blessings to the local residents. President Han continued, explaining that the Legislative Yuan is a unicameral legislature with 113 seats, and the representativeness and influence of every legislator are critically important. He highlighted that this visiting delegation was composed of members from all three major party caucuses: the Kuomintang (KMT) sent Legislators Hung Mong-Kai, Hsu Yu-Chen, Wang Hung-Wei, Dr. Weng Hsiao-Ling, and Dr. Lin Chien-Chi (five in total);the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) sent Legislators Ho Hsin-Chun, Wang Mei-Hui, Kuo Yu-Ching, and Dr. Chuang Jui-Hsiung (four in total);and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) was represented by Legislator Huang Shan-Shan. This composition, added President Han, underscored the Legislative Yuan's high cross-party value placed on this exchange visit to Japan.
Continuing his remarks, President Han noted that the DPFP Diet members appeared vibrant and spirited, reflecting the energetic spirit of the party. He then congratulated Representative Tamaki, noting that the DPFP’ s seats in the House of Representatives grew from 7 to 28 in last year’s (2024) general election, a fourfold expansion. Seats in the House of Councillors also rose from 9 to 22 in this year’s election. Such growth, President Han said, demonstrates the party’s impressive progress in just five years since its founding in 2020.
Regarding public opinion, President Han highlighted the latest poll released by the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association in April, which found that 77 percent of Taiwanese respondents named Japan as their favorite country among all nations, while an equally high 77 percent of Japanese respondents reported a sense of affinity for Taiwan. President Han reminded that as parliamentarians, we should deeply recognize the profound significance these figures represent for promoting the friendly relationship between Taiwan and Japan.
President Han concluded by sharing his view that legislators must never forget the trust placed in them by their constituents, emphasizing that serving the people is both a great honor and responsibility. He encouraged the parliamentarians to continue performing excellently in their political roles by adhering to the principle of "handling matters with integrity and treating people with grace," and expressed his hope for even closer exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan and the Japanese Diet.
Parliamentarians from both sides engaged in lively exchanges and took a group photo, concluding the cordial and pleasant meeting after approximately 40 minutes.