Taiwanese gourmet and writer Lucille Han (韓良露) died of a rare cancer on Tuesday, aged 57.
Han was diagnosed with uterine sarcoma, which affects the muscle and supporting tissues of the uterus, about two months ago, after a trip to France with her husband in January, one of her friends said.
Despite treatment at Taipei Veterans General Hospital after returning to Taiwan, Han died early on Tuesday morning at the hospital.
Photo courtesy of WebGene
Han, who began publishing poetry at 16, is known for writing about topics including food, music, movies and travel inspired by her stays in the UK and trips to about 60 other countries.
She also wrote prose and scripts for TV and movies, which won her prizes including the Taipei Literature Award and the Golden Bell Award — Taiwan’s highest honors for radio and TV.
In 2007, the Kaohsiung native cofounded “South Village” near National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei, a social enterprise that offers food as well as creative and cultural events in support of the “slow food movement.”
Han has also been active in other food crusades including the campaign for healthier food, as well as the protest against the poor-quality yet high-price food sold at the nation’s airports.
Han is the second high-profile local food writer to die this year. In mid-February, Wang Hsuan-yi (王宣一), mother of London-based Taiwanese fashion designer Apu Jan (詹朴), died of heart failure during a trip to Italy.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore