[New Taipei City News] New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih led a delegation today (April 14) to meet with Governor Yuji Kuroiwa of Kanagawa Prefecture, accompanied by Director Chang Shu-ling of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan Yokohama branch. During the meeting, Mayor Hou extended a warm invitation for the governor to visit Taiwan, with the aim of strengthening collaboration and mutual learning between the two regions. Hou noted that New Taipei City and Kanagawa Prefecture have forged close ties in disaster prevention and education over the years. He invited Kanagawa to take part in the 2025 International Conference on Disaster Management, set to take place in New Taipei this September. He also welcomed Kanagawa to once again send a team to compete in the U18 Baseball Tournament, encouraging both sides to share in the joy of baseball and cultural exchange.
Governor Kuroiwa remarked that both Taiwan and Japan face frequent earthquake threats and thus share similar environmental and disaster challenges. Reflecting on his previous experience as a journalist, he recalled covering Taiwan’s devastating 1999 Jiji Earthquake, a moment that left a lasting impression on him.
“Taiwan and Japan enjoy a strong friendship! New Taipei and Kanagawa will continue to deepen our ties,” he said. Governor Kuroiwa emphasized that the two governments signed a disaster prevention and education agreement back in 2016. Following the recent earthquakes in Japan’s Noto Peninsula and Taiwan’s Hualien County, he expressed admiration for Taiwan’s efficient shelter systems, particularly the tent structures used in evacuation centers. Inspired by Taiwan’s example, Kanagawa has since allocated a budget to acquire similar emergency equipment and resources.
Mayor Hou shared that this meeting was a reunion between old friends. In 2016, while serving as deputy mayor, he joined Governor Kuroiwa in witnessing the signing of the bilateral agreement. Over the past nine years, cooperation between the two sides has remained steady. Moving forward, Hou hopes to expand collaboration in innovative areas such as disaster response and sports development, empowering both cities to face future challenges with resilience.
New Taipei Fire Department Commissioner Chen Tsung-yueh added that Governor Kuroiwa has consistently shown solidarity with New Taipei during times of natural disaster, often directing Kanagawa’s Safety and Disaster Prevention Bureau to send letters of concern. This visit was not only an opportunity to express New Taipei’s gratitude, but also to extend a formal invitation to the 2025 International Conference on Disaster Management, further enhancing bilateral cooperation and knowledge exchange in disaster preparedness.
