Toru Hoshihara, Chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Members Alliance of the Miyazaki County Council, and his team visited the Taichung City Government today (18). Deputy Mayor Yu-Min Wang received them on behalf of Mayor Shiow-Yen Lu and expressed her gratitude to Chairman Hoshihara for his continuous efforts to advance exchanges between Miyazaki County, Taiwan, and Taichung. Also, it has actively supported and participated in various activities in Taichung. She looks forward to a long-lasting friendship between the two places in the future, both in the public and private fields. The Deputy Mayor believes that future cooperation will be even closer and more diverse!

Deputy Mayor Wang indicated that Chairman Hoshihara had organized multiple groups to come to Taichung for exchanges. During the 2018 Taichung World Flora Exposition, he led nearly 200 people to visit. In November 2019, he guided the Miyazaki Prefectural Fukushima High School to conduct international educational exchanges with Taichung Municipal Hui-Wen Senior High School. In addition, in July 2018, Chairman Hoshihara was also awarded the "Friends of Diplomacy Commemorative Medal" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, making him one of the best friends of which indeed deserves his name in Taiwan and Taichung.

According to Deputy Mayor Wang, Chairman Hoshihara has been actively promoting a sister station between "Rinan (Nichinan) Railway Station" in the two places, which the city government is happy to see success. Taichung City pays attention to low-carbon policies, and sightseeing by railway is the best low-carbon travel, and the two sides can help each other to promote marketing. She believes it will be beneficial to the tourism and economic development of the two places. If two Rinan stations can successfully establish sister stations in the future, it will be the first sister station with Japan in Taichung City, which will be significant for the friendly relationship between the two places She also welcomes the Miyazaki Prefecture delegation to stay for a few more days to taste the local delicacies.

Chairman Hoshihara said he is about to step down as a county councilor. During this trip, he visited Rinan (Nichinan) Station in Dajia District with the members of the Miyazaki County Government and Mayor Takahashi of Nichinan. Hoshihara hopes to establish a sister station successfully, but also that Miyazaki County and Taichung City will become sister cities to deepen the friendship between the two places. The two sides can further communicate in various aspects, such as economy, culture, and sports. In the future, he also looks forward to Taichung officials chartering a flight to visit Miyazaki County.

Nichinan Mayor Toru Takahashi said that Nichinan City has many historical and cultural buildings, and Rinan (Nichinan) station in Dajia has a history of over 100 years. If the two stations can successfully establish sister ones, Nichinan City is willing to provide high-quality Obi cedar and do its part in the restoration project. Besides, Nichinan City has a beautiful coastline and is actively promoting coastal bicycle tours. Nichinan Mayor heard that the world-renowned bicycle company Giant started its business in Taichung and has a branch in Miyazaki County. This kind of origin makes him feel very close.

The Secretariat stated that after the visit to the city government, the delegation also went to the city council to meet with Deputy Speaker Li-Min Yan. On behalf of the City Council, Deputy Speaker Yan presented the famous late calligrapher in Taichung and the founder of the Taiwan Calligraphy Education Association, Mr. An-De Su, with a masterpiece of "wisdom, benevolence, and courage" to the people of Miyazaki County, representing the profound friendship between the two places.

After visiting the city hall today, Chairman Hoshihara presented the local specialties of Miyazaki Prefecture to the city hall, and Mayor Takahashi gave the city hall a wooden plate made of Obi cedar. Deputy Mayor Wang also presented blue-dyed ties and special egg rolls in return, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious. At the Japanese part meeting today, there is the Chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Friendship Members Alliance of the Miyazaki County Councilor Toru Hoshihara, County Councilors Tadao Tokushige, County Councilors Yujiro Maruyama, Director of Miyazaki Prefecture General Transportation Department Shinichi Tamura, Section Manager of Tourism Promotion Department Naoya Kawamura, Section Manager of International and Economic Exchange Department Shuichi Yamadai, and Mayor of Nichinan of Miyazaki County Toru Takahashi. In addition, the President of the International Women's Exchange Association Shu-Qin Lan, the Consultant Gao-Lin Ma, the Director of the Taiwan Calligraphy Association Heng-Xian Su, the Director of the Taichung Transportation Branch of Taiwan Railways Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Zhen-Lin Su, the Deputy Director of the Secretariat Zheng-Feng Lee, the Deputy Director of the Civil Affairs Bureau Zhao-Shan Xu, the Deputy Director of the Cultural Affairs Bureau Neng-Ting Zeng, the Secretary General of the Transportation Bureau Zhi-Wen Guo, Senior Executive Officer of the Tourism and Travel Bureau Jin Bao-Liang, and Chief of Dajia District Jin-Yuan Yan all attended to exchange.