TAICHUNG (TVBS News)—Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) announced on Friday (Feb. 21) her upcoming visit to Japan. She aims to strengthen Taiwan-Japan ties, gain insights from Japanese domes, and express gratitude to Japanese partners. The visit marks Lu's first visit since taking office in 2018, which was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lu plans to visit Tokyo, Nagoya, and other cities from the following Monday to Saturday.
She emphasized Japan's historical partnership with Taichung and appreciated Japanese investments in the city, highlighting projects like Lalaport and MITSUI OUTLET PARK. Lu also praised architects Kuma Kengo (隈研吾) and Kazuyo Sejima (妹島和世) for their collaboration.
The mayor aims to expedite the construction of a baseball-capable dome in Taichung, drawing inspiration from three Japanese domes. Despite receiving numerous invitations from Japan's political and business sectors, Lu noted her schedule constraints and extended her gratitude for their understanding.
The delegation includes eight members, including the secretary-general, deputy secretary-general, and directors from the Sports Bureau (運動局), Health Bureau (衛生局), and Budget, Accounting, and Statistics Office (主計處). Throughout the six-day visit, they will engage in city diplomacy.
