“Taiwan Dar” Talks About Taiwan Impressions: Loves Fried Chicken Leg Bento

▲Taiwan Dar cheered on runners at the plaza in front of the Presidential Office early on the 14th. (Photo / From Taiwan Support Association’s official Facebook

Reporter Tsai Wen-jun / Taipei reporting

The mascot "Taiwan Da," popular in both Taiwan and Japan, had a packed schedule on his first trip back to his roots. On the 12th, he arrived in his hometown and immediately attended the pre-event party for a fun run. On the 13th morning, he rushed to three fan meet-and-greets via taxis, and on the 14th, he performed his theme song for the first time in his hometown early in the morning. His favorite thing about this visit to Taiwan was the fried chicken leg bento, though he unfortunately hasn’t had a chance to try bubble tea yet.

Speaking about his feelings upon returning to his homeland for the first time, Taiwan Da said that as soon as he got off the plane, he felt the strong sense of warmth and friendliness. Everywhere he went, enthusiastic locals competed to take photos with him, and after taking the pictures, they would gently pat him and say, “You’ve worked hard!” Some fans, sympathizing with the fact that he had to perform under the scorching heat, even bought him iced water. Others noticed that he and his staff had too much luggage and kindly helped them load it into the car, which touched him deeply. Additionally, because of the fun run’s pre-event party, he was finally able to see Taipei 101 in person. Taiwan Da was amazed by its height: “As expected, it’s the tallest building in Taiwan.”

%The overwhelming warmth and friendliness of the locals made him feel especially welcomed (Photo / Reporter Tsai Wen-jun)

Aside from the overwhelming warmth and kindness of the local people, another highlight he couldn’t miss was the taste of his long-missed hometown cuisine. Although his busy schedule hasn’t allowed him to try the bubble tea he’s been looking forward to, he mentioned that,among the delicious foods he’s tried during this homecoming, his favorite has been“the fried chicken leg bento”—the crispy fried chicken leg and steaming hot meal gave him an instant energy boost, especially since he often couldn’t eat properly until after his schedule ended.

Due to time constraints, Taiwan Da wasn’t able to visit other cities or counties to meet fans. Besides expressing his regret, he also said that as long as there are events in Taiwan that invite him, he will return to his hometown again, and he hopes to see more of the beautiful sights around the country.