New Taipei Participates in Japan’s Oi Town "Wakasa Oi Great Fire Festival" and Invites Japanese Delegation to Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
New Taipei City Government Press Release | Sept. 17, 2024
New Taipei Participates in Japan’s Oi Town "Wakasa Oi Great Fire Festival" and Invites Japanese Delegation to Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
[New Taipei News] At the invitation of Oi Town in Fukui Prefecture, Japan, New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Chen Chun-jing led a delegation from the Tourism and Travel Department and the Tamsui District Office to participate in the "Wakasa Oi Great Fire Festival" on the 15th. On the 16th, they held discussions with Fukui Prefecture officials to continue promoting Taiwan-Japan cultural exchange. Deputy Mayor Chen Chun-jing also extended a sincere invitation to Fukui Prefecture to participate in the "2024 New Taipei Christmasland" and the "2025 Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival" in New Taipei City.
The cultural exchange between New Taipei City and Oi Town dates back to 2009, when a traditional Japanese house from Oi Town was relocated to Heping Park in Tamsui District, New Taipei City, now known as the "One Drop of Water Memorial Hall." This building, originally built in 1915 by Mizukami Satoru, the father of the late Japanese literary master Mizukami Tsutomu, found its home in Taiwan due to the friendship between Japan and Taiwan, strengthened by the Hanshin and 921 earthquakes. In 2019, Oi Town sent a delegation to participate in the Tamsui Environmental Art Festival, and the Tamsui District Office was invited to Japan for the centennial commemoration of Mizukami Tsutomu’s birth. In 2023, the two sides signed a "Friendship City Memorandum," and this participation in the 300-year-old Wakasa Oi Great Fire Festival further deepened their cultural exchange and strengthened Taiwan-Japan relations.
During this visit, the New Taipei City Government was invited to participate in the traditional festival and held a meeting with Fukui Prefecture Deputy Governor Nakamura Yasuhiro. Deputy Mayor Chen Chun-jing and Deputy Governor Nakamura exchanged cultural insights, particularly discussing the organization of New Taipei’s Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival. A brief exchange of opinions was also held with Oi Town Mayor Nakatsuka Hiroshi and Oi Town Council Chairman Hosokawa Masahiro, promoting New Taipei’s landmarks and internationally renowned events, such as New Taipei Christmasland, Jiufen Red Lantern Festival, and the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival, inviting Fukui Prefecture and Oi Town to attend. As a token of appreciation for the warm invitation, Deputy Mayor Chen presented gifts, including Yingge ceramic plates, Pinglin tea, and Tamsui pineapple cakes, hoping to continue mutual visits and promote bilateral tourism and cultural exchanges. For more information on New Taipei travel, please visit the relevant links.
【This news release has been translated by ChatGPT.】
