First-Ever Cross-Regional Rescue Between Taiwan and Japan! Kaohsiung and Kitakyushu Join Hands to Deliver 132 Boxes of Relief Supplies to Yatsushiro, Kumamoto

After a strong earthquake struck Kumamoto, Japan, leaving some areas without water or electricity and facing severe shortages of daily necessities, the Kaohsiung City Government joined forces with Kitakyushu City, Japan, to deliver 132 boxes of drinking water and hygiene supplies to Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture—the hardest-hit area—on August 3. This initiative marks the first-ever example of cities from Taiwan and Japan collaborating to assist a third-party city.

Yatsushiro City in Kumamoto Prefecture was one of the most severely affected areas, with parts of the region experiencing prolonged water and power outages and extreme shortages of basic living supplies. After Kitakyushu Mayor Takeuchi Kazuhisa contacted Yatsushiro Mayor Ono and confirmed urgent external assistance was needed, he immediately reached out to the Kaohsiung City Government. Over several days, both teams conducted intensive cross-border coordination, culminating in a video conference on August 1 between Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai and Kitakyushu Mayor Takeuchi Kazuhisa, quickly reaching a consensus on cooperation.

During the meeting, it was agreed that Kitakyushu would serve as the local liaison, coordinating with Yatsushiro City and local social welfare organizations to assess needs, while also assisting Kaohsiung in procuring and delivering supplies locally. After several days of coordination, 132 boxes of drinking water, wet wipes, towels, and other essential items successfully arrived in Yatsushiro on August 3, providing immediate relief to disaster victims.

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai stated that Kaohsiung and Kumamoto have maintained a deep friendship over the years, always supporting each other during major disasters. After the earthquake, Kaohsiung not only expressed concern immediately but also worked closely with Kitakyushu to transform the goodwill of Taiwan and Kaohsiung citizens into concrete actions tailored to the disaster zone's needs.

Kitakyushu Mayor Takeuchi Kazuhisa noted that his city had dispatched personnel into the disaster zones right after the quake and expressed heartfelt gratitude for the warm solidarity shown by Kaohsiung citizens. As a friendly partner of Kaohsiung, Kitakyushu was honored to act as a bridge, delivering Kaohsiung’s compassion directly to the affected communities and helping Kumamoto overcome this difficult time.

In addition to material aid coordinated with Kitakyushu, the Kaohsiung City Government has announced a donation of 15 million yen to support Kumamoto’s post-disaster recovery. Mayor Chen also personally donated 500,000 yen. To date, approximately 5,000 donations from individuals and organizations across Taiwan have been received through Kaohsiung’s Social Assistance Fund account. The Kaohsiung City Government emphasized that the bond between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto has been built on long-term mutual support—from the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosion to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, both sides extended help immediately. In recent years, cooperation has further deepened in sectors such as the semiconductor industry, education, culture, and talent development.