Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen led a team to Japan on February 24 and immediately kicked off a packed six-day itinerary spanning Sapporo, Nagoya, and Tokyo. Before heading back to Taiwan, she met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on February 28. Mayor Lu sincerely thanked Governor Koike for making time to meet despite her demanding schedule and hoped to strengthen exchanges with Tokyo in areas such as disaster prevention, sports, and tourism. Governor Koike warmly welcomed her, gifting a Tokyo Deaflympics 2025 pin and personally putting it on Mayor Lu’s lapel. She expressed her hopes for mutual progress between the two cities.
Even though yesterday was packed with meetings, Governor Yuriko Koike took the time to welcome Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen. She personally put a commemorative pin for the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics on Mayor Lu’s lapel and gave her a gentle pat on the arm, warmly saying, “Ganbatte!” (Do your best!). Though meeting for the first time, the two quickly formed a warm rapport, sharing a genuine and lively exchange.
It’s worth mentioning that Mayor Lu and Governor Koike have much in common. Both started as news anchors and journalists before entering politics and made history as the first female mayors of their cities. They also share experience in national defense policy—Mayor Lu served six terms as a legislator, with her first three terms spanning 13 legislative sessions on the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, while Governor Koike once served as Japan’s Minister of Defense.
The Secretariat noted that Tokyo and Taichung are both happy, livable cities with a shared focus on sustainable development, child welfare policies, and smart city initiatives. Mayor Lu’s visit to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government this time marks her first official delegation to Japan, establishing a foundation for future cooperation. By engaging in policy dialogue and implementing practical initiatives, the two cities hope to drive forward-looking urban governance strategies.
After meeting with Governor Koike, Mayor Lu proceeded to visit the Tokyo Dome, where she was warmly welcomed by Tokyo Dome Corporation Chairman Yoshikazu Kitahara, who also gave a briefing. Tokyo Dome holds special meaning for Taiwan as it was the site of the Chinese Taipei team’s victory in last year’s WBSC Premier12 tournament. Next year, it will once again host the team for the World Baseball Classic.
During her visit, Mayor Lu not only learned about the stadium’s history and operations but also closely examined the advantages and drawbacks of Japan’s only air-supported dome roof. She also explored how the surrounding developments, such as Tokyo Dome City and the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, have contributed to its success.
Tokyo Dome City is not just a baseball venue—it integrates an amusement park, shopping center, museum, and hotel, making it a premier destination for sports, concerts, entertainment, and tourism. Its operating model offers valuable inspiration for Taichung Arena in the future.
Later in the afternoon, Mayor Lu visited Kengo Kuma & Associates, where she met with world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma. She thanked him for his contribution to Taichung Arena, a project that represents a new milestone for the city’s infrastructure. From a distance, they also admired the new National Stadium, the main venue of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, designed by Kengo Kuma. Both expressed their hopes for the smooth completion of Taichung Arena, bringing a shared dream to life for central Taiwan’s residents.