TAIPEI (TVBS News) — In a diplomatic gesture aimed at bolstering cross-cultural relations, Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) met with Miyagi Prefecture Governor Yoshihiro Murai (村井嘉浩) on Monday (June 30) during his official visit to northeastern Japan. The Taiwanese mayor presented specially cultivated orchids emblazoned with the Miyagi prefectural emblem, a thoughtful gift that symbolized the deepening bonds between the southern Taiwanese city and the Japanese prefecture.
The Taiwanese mayor's visit to Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture's capital city, coincided with celebrations marking two decades of the formal sister-city relationship between Tainan and Sendai. During the high-level meeting, Mayor Huang extended reciprocal invitations to Governor Murai and the Miyagi Prefecture Assembly Chairperson to make official visits to Tainan. Reflecting on the longstanding partnership, Huang referenced his previous diplomatic mission to Japan in 2023, when he advocated for establishing direct charter flights between the two cities and first met with Governor Murai to discuss bilateral cooperation.
In a significant development for regional transportation links, Mayor Huang announced the imminent launch of direct flights connecting Kaohsiung, Taiwan's southern port city, to Sendai beginning July 16. The mayor emphasized the importance of educational exchanges, extending a warm invitation for Japanese students to visit Tainan's rich cultural heritage sites. His suggested itinerary highlighted iconic locations including the historic Wushantou Reservoir (烏山頭水庫), built during the Japanese colonial period, the Former Tainan Magistrate Residence (知事官邸), which once housed Japanese officials, and the architecturally significant Shan-Shang Garden and Waterway Museum (山上花園水道博物館).
Governor Murai responded with marked enthusiasm for the upcoming Kaohsiung-Sendai air route, citing impressive tourism statistics that showed 370,000 Taiwanese travelers had visited Miyagi Prefecture in the previous year. The Japanese official outlined his administration's commitment to fostering deeper educational connections between the regions, specifically mentioning plans to leverage the prefecture's Education Travel Support Center as a platform for expanding student exchange programs. This institutional support underscores the economic and cultural significance both regions place on their growing partnership. ◼