The Taipei Culture Center, dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, opened in Tokyo April 21.
“Boosting cultural exchanges through the center is a priority for the ROC government on Taiwan,” John Chi-tai Feng, ROC representative to Japan, said at the opening ceremony.
The center, which is located in the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office’s Tokyo site, is the first of its kind in Asia and modeled after similar facilities in New York and Paris.
Addressing guests and media representatives at the ceremony, Feng said the center was one of ROC President Ma Ying-jeou’s campaign promises.
“President Ma vowed to create this center and use it as a stepping-stone for promoting Taiwan’s cultural sector in Japan,” he said. “To this end, an exhibition from Taipei’s National Palace Museum will be organized to increase mutual understanding between the people of Taiwan and Japan.”
In a welcome show of support, a local lawmaker announced plans at the event to introduce legislation into the Diet next month guaranteeing the safety of all overseas artwork touring Japan.
Takeo Hiranuma, chairman of the Japan-Taiwan bipartisan lawmakers’ conference and leader of the Sunrise Party, said Japan’s art lovers should not be deprived of quality exhibitions due to political squabbles.
“I can assure our Taiwan friends that the NPM’s treasures will not fall into mainland Chinese hands. They will be sent back to Taipei safe and sound after the Tokyo exhibition.”
Prominent guests in attendance included Cabinet-level Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Emile Chih-jen Sheng, Japan’s Interchange Association President Reijiro Hattori and professional “go” player Cho U. (CYH-JSM)