Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Visits Chen Chu: Striving to Establish Regular Flights

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Governor Ikuo Kabashima of Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan visited Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu on the 27th. During the meeting, Chen Chu stated that the currently planned "regular charter flights" between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto Prefecture are scheduled for six months, with efforts being made to transition to regular scheduled flights. She also expressed a welcome to Japanese senior citizens to visit Kaohsiung, hoping for closer cooperation between the two sides in tourism and agricultural products.


▲ Governor Ikuo Kabashima of Kumamoto Prefecture visits Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu. Chen Chu stated efforts will be made to establish regular flights. (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government)

Chen Chu mentioned that Kaohsiung’s mascot “Gao Tong Tong” won the overseas group championship in the 2014 Japan Healing Mascot Ranking. The Agriculture Bureau will head to Nagoya from November 1st to 3rd to participate in the competition, hoping to engage in deeper and closer agricultural exchanges with Kumamoto Prefecture in the future. They also aim to learn from the professional marketing experience of Kumamoto’s mascot Kumamon, allowing “Gao Tong Tong” to gain popularity overseas. Governor Kabashima took the inaugural charter flight to visit Mayor Chen Chu in Kaohsiung, expressing hope for more exchanges and cooperation in tourism and culture, promoting the establishment of regular air routes between the two sides, and expanding the tourism market. Chen Chu also presented local specialties such as Gao Tong Tong, dried mullet roe, and high mountain oolong tea as a gesture of welcome.


▲ The mascot of Kumamoto Prefecture, “Kumamon.” (Photo / Taken by reporter Yu □ Ru)