Culture Minister Li Yuan is undertaking a four-day visit to Japan starting from Sept. 4, marking his first oversea visit since he took office for 100 days. In addition to taking the national treasure “Water of Immortality (甘露水),” a sculpture by Huang Tu-shui (黃土水), to Tokyo University of the Arts for an upcoming exhibition, the Minister has met with representatives of the cultural and arts sectors in Japan.
Minister Li’s first stop was at the National Art Center, Tokyo, where he met with the Center’s Director General, Osaka Eriko (逢坂恵理子), and Japan’s first politician who is also a manga artist, Ken Akamatsu (赤松健). Minister Li noted that in contrast to Japan’s robust comic scene, Taiwan’s comic industry, although experienced a decline in the 1980s, has been developing gradually in recent years thanks to the government’s support.
Minister Li’s next stop was the Japan-ROC Diet Members’ Consultative Council (日華議員懇談會), where he met with Council Head Keiji Furuya (古屋圭司). Li thanked Furuya for his ongoing support in promoting Taiwanese cultural activities in Japan.