Japan’s Yomiuri Telecasting Corp has produced a special feature in one of its variety shows introducing some of the tourist attractions in Taiwan to thank the nation for its generous donations after the powerful earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan in March.
The special feature, titled Thank You, Taiwan, will be hosted by Yuki Tomochica and Yomiuri News anchorwoman Naomi Uemura.
In a scheduled stop at a branch of Din Tai Fung in Taipei yesterday, both spoke highly of their visits to the country.
Tomochica said Jioufen (九份) in New Taipei City (新北市) and Longshan Temple in Taipei were her favorite places in Taiwan.
Jioufen reminds people of the old days in Taiwan, whereas Longshan Temple allows people to find out more about their destiny because of all the fortune-tellers around the temple, she said.
Stone hot pot was her favorite Taiwanese food, she said, adding that Taiwanese food was better than she had imagined.
Uemura focused more on modern Taiwan.
“Before I came, I thought only old [Taiwanese] people could speak Japanese,” Uemura said. “I visited Ximending (西門町) on Wednesday and found that young people can talk to me in Japanese. I was amazed and felt the warmth of the people.”
Uemura said her favorite Taiwanese food was xiaolongbao, or steamed pork dumplings.
The Tourism Bureau said a prompt Taiwanese donation of ¥16 billion (US$198 million) after the March 11 earthquake was widely reported on several Japanese TV stations and in magazines, adding that many Japanese travel agents had sold package tours to express their gratitude to Taiwan.
The bureau said the variety show’s main audience are women aged 20 to 40 residing in Osaka, Kyoto and nearby prefectures, with the number of viewers estimated at more than 2.92 million.
The special feature is to be aired on the Yomiuri network in the middle of next month, the bureau said.
People in Taiwan will also be able to view the feature on the Videoland Japan Channel, the station said.
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
The US Department of State on Monday reaffirmed that US policy on Taiwan remains unchanged, following US President Donald Trump’s use of the term “unification” while commenting on recent trade talks with China. Speaking at a wide-ranging press conference, Trump described what he viewed as progress in trade negotiations with China held in Geneva, Switzerland, over the weekend. “They’ve agreed to open China — fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China. I think it’s going to be fantastic for us,” Trump said. “I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace.” Trump’s use of the