Taiwan-Japan City Collaboration for Disaster Relief! Kaohsiung and Kitakyushu Jointly Deliver 132 Boxes of Aid to Yatsushiro, Kumamoto

Following the devastating earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan, the Kaohsiung City Government has partnered with Kitakyushu City, Japan, in a groundbreaking transnational collaboration to deliver 132 boxes of essential relief supplies—drinking water, wet wipes, and towels—to Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture. This initiative sets a historic precedent as the first case of twin-city cooperation between Taiwan and Japan to support a third affected city, showcasing a new model of city-level diplomacy applied to international disaster relief.

Mayor Chen Chi-mai of Kaohsiung and Mayor Takeuchi Kazuhisa of Kitakyushu coordinated across borders to establish this innovative aid framework. After Yatsushiro City suffered disruptions in water, power, and supply chains due to the quakes, Mayor Ono Yasusuke reached out to Kitakyushu for assistance. Mayor Takeuchi immediately contacted Kaohsiung, initiating close coordination between the two municipal teams. On August 1, Mayor Chen and Mayor Takeuchi held a video conference to swiftly finalize roles and relief content.

Under the agreed division: Kaohsiung took charge of procuring urgently needed supplies, while Kitakyushu served as the local liaison—assessing on-the-ground needs, coordinating with Yatsushiro and local social welfare organizations, and managing logistics. Within just a few days, the entire process—from need assessment to procurement and cross-border delivery—was completed. On August 3, the 132 boxes of essential goods arrived safely in Yatsushiro, providing immediate humanitarian support.

Mayor Chen emphasized that Kaohsiung and Kumamoto have built deep mutual trust over years of friendship, consistently supporting each other during crises. Following the quake, Kaohsiung promptly expressed condolences and worked closely with Kitakyushu to transform public compassion into targeted, effective action. He stated, "We wanted to ensure the care from the people of Taiwan and Kaohsiung reaches exactly where it’s most needed."

Mayor Takeuchi expressed gratitude for Kaohsiung’s swift solidarity, noting that Kitakyushu had already dispatched staff to assist in Kumamoto. As a key partner of Kaohsiung, he said Kitakyushu was honored to serve as a bridge, ensuring the love and support from Kaohsiung citizens reached the disaster zone effectively. "Together, we can help Kumamoto overcome this hardship," he added.

Beyond material aid, the Kaohsiung government announced a donation of 15 million JPY for Kumamoto’s recovery. Mayor Chen also personally contributed 500,000 JPY to encourage broader participation. To date, approximately 5,000 donations have been received through Kaohsiung’s Social Relief Fund account, reflecting strong public engagement across Taiwan.

The Kaohsiung government highlighted that its long-standing exchange with Kumamoto has fostered enduring bonds. In 2014, when Kaohsiung suffered a gas explosion, Kumamoto was among the first to offer aid. In 2016, after the Kumamoto earthquakes, Kaohsiung launched relief campaigns in return. In recent years, both cities have deepened cooperation in education, culture, semiconductor industries, and talent development. This joint effort by Kaohsiung and Kitakyushu to support Kumamoto not only demonstrates the disaster response capacity of local governments but also reaffirms the strength of city-to-city partnerships—where sustained peacetime exchanges translate into resilient mutual support during emergencies.