Secretariat, Taipei City Government

With World Masters Games 2025 Taipei & New Taipei City in full swing, Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa of Nagoya City made his first visit to Taipei City since assuming office. Responding to an invitation from Mayor Wan-An Chiang, Mayor Hirosawa joined the opening ceremony and related activities along with Deputy Mayor Midori Sugino of Nagoya City, Chairperson Kenjiro Kori of Nagoya City University, and Councilor Kazuhide Fujita, the chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Friendly Parliamentarians Association. Mayor Chiang received the delegation at the Taipei City Hall on May 17, where he and Mayor Hirosawa exchanged views on youth and sport exchanges. During the meeting, Mayor Hirosawa warmly invited Mayor Chiang to attend the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.

Mayor Chiang first welcomed Mayor Hirosawa for personally attending the opening ceremony of the World Masters Games. Mayor Chiang noted that a visit by former commissioner of the Department for Youth of Taipei City Government, Wei Yin, to Nagoya this past February signaled an opportunity for bilateral exchanges and cooperation between the two cities. On May 16, the Department for Youth and Nagoya City University signed a memorandum of understanding at the Taipei City Hall, paving the way for an international internship program with Nagoya City University starting next year. Mayor Chiang expressed his hope for further collaboration between the two cities in youth exchanges. He also congratulated Nagoya on hosting the upcoming 2026 Asian Games and looked forward to deepening cooperation in the areas of sport promotion, event experience exchanges, and cultural tourism.

Mayor Hirosawa thanked Mayor Chiang for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with the delegation. Having just been elected Mayor of Nagoya in November last year, this marked his first visit to Taiwan in his new role. He expressed his best wishes for the success of the World Masters Games opening on May 17 and warmly invited Mayor Chiang to visit Nagoya next year to attend the 2026 Asian Games. Mayor Hirosawa humorously added that he enjoys brewing pour-over coffee and looks forward to welcoming Mayor Chiang to his home. Chairman Kori expressed his gratitude for the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the Department for Youth. Councilor Fujita also warmly invited Mayor Chiang to visit Nagoya, expressing his wishes for continued and deepening friendship between the two cities.