[NOWnews今日新聞] Akio Yaita, president of the Sankei Shimbun Taipei Branch, led a delegation to visit Japan. The five-day and five-night trip ended yesterday (23rd). He said that what was impressive was that when he attended a dinner party, he saw many people handing money to a member. After asking about it, he found out that they were donating money for the Hualien earthquake. And this time, donation boxes for the Taiwan earthquake were all seen in the hotels where we stayed, the supermarkets where we shopped, the restaurants where we ate, and the public facilities where events were held. Many members were very moved.
Akio Yaita said that this “Taiwan-Japan Friendship Delegation” totaled 160 people. Under the leadership of the honorary leader Chen Tangshan, they visited Fukuoka Prefecture and Yamaguchi Prefecture, the hometown of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Conducted extensive and in-depth exchanges with Taiwanese overseas Chinese in Japan, as well as many Japanese congressmen, local councilors, and the general public.
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He pointed out that there are many details that are memorable. For example, the second day after arriving in Japan is Saturday. When I visited Akiyoshi Cave in Mimi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, there were actually 4 or 5 civil servants from Mimi City who came all the way during the holidays to hold banners to welcome them and gave each member an exquisite souvenir. He also took the trouble to accompany the group members to take photos and explain. As they left, they stood by the roadside waving Japanese and Taiwanese flags to see everyone off. The scene is touching.
In addition, on the third day, when everyone went to pay their respects to former Prime Minister Abe’s cemetery, two Abe-affiliated members of Congress and several former assistants to Prime Minister Abe were in charge of receiving everyone. Abe’s office has now been dissolved, and most of his former assistants have found new jobs. But they used Sunday to rush to the remote Abe Cemetery to help. Afraid that everyone would get lost, road signs were placed at every intersection starting a few kilometers away from the cemetery.
Akio Yaita said that Abe was the longest-serving prime minister in history. After his assassination, the Japanese government held a state funeral. But Abe’s tomb is built on the land of the Abe family. Just like ordinary civilian tombs, it is simple and chic. There is no military police guard, and no application is required to sweep the tomb. Not a penny of public money was spent. This is in sharp contrast to Cihu in Taiwan. At the banquet that night, Mrs. Abe barely ate, and kept taking photos with everyone. When the meeting ended, she stood at the door, shook hands with everyone, and watched all the group members leave the venue.
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Akio Yaita pointed out that during the period, he attended the welcome reception held by the Japan-Taiwan friendship group “Taiwan Aid Team” in Fukuoka. More than 60 team members participated. During the banquet, I saw many people taking money and handing it to a member. At first I thought they were collecting meal money, but I saw that each person’s amount was different. After asking about it, I found out that they were donating money for the Hualien earthquake.
He also said that this time, donation boxes for Taiwan’s earthquake were all seen in the hotels where they stayed, the supermarkets where they shopped, the restaurants where they ate, and the public facilities where events were held. Many members were very moved. Through this visit, the members personally experienced and felt the profound friendship between Taiwan and Japan. “It’s different from traveling to Japan normally.” The group members were so happy that they all asked him when he would join the group again. Stay tuned.
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