On June 1, 2024, Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang Wen-ke led a county delegation to Japan to celebrate the 61st anniversary of the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association of Tokyo and participate in the 54th Members Convention. At the event, members of the Hsinchu County government exchanged ideas with Japanese overseas Chinese and Hakka people. Minister Chou Shyue-yow, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, also attended the event. The Hsinchu County delegation presented a wonderful Hakka music performance, and County Magistrate Yang presented a gift of Oriental Beauty Tea to Mr. Liu Nan-chiang, President of the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association of Tokyo, in the hope that Hakka culture in Japan will showcase its unique flavor and characteristics—just like Oriental Beauty Tea. Popular YouTuber Little JUN from Sanyuan_JAPAN was also invited to participate in the event. He sought out Magistrate Yang to learn a few words in the Hakka language, and the pair made a promise to meet up again in Hsinchu County!
Magistrate Yang explained that the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association of Tokyo was established 61 years ago, and has witnessed a full sexagenarian cycle. During that time, the Association has united Hakka people in Tokyo, throughout Japan, and even globally, helping to pass on the spirit of Hakka. Wherever there is sunshine, there are Hakka people, and Hakka people worldwide are connected by their hearts. Hakka people are hardworking, dedicated, and united, and they shine in all walks of life, all over the world.
“The first aspect of the Hakka spirit is that ‘loyalty and filial piety are passed down through the family; loyalty and filial piety are taught’. Therefore, Hakka people will dedicate themselves to their country and its people in times of need. In Hsinchu County, Taiwan, the Hakka spirit is the spirit of righteousness, self-sacrifice, and dedication that drives Hakka people to stand up for the sake of justice. Second, the Hakka people ‘plow on sunny days and study on rainy days’, which means that Hakka people attach great importance to education. Third, the Hakka people have a ‘spirit of persistence and toughness’, which demonstrates their willingness to work, fight, and persevere, without fear of hardships,” said Magistrate Yang.
The Hakka people in Hsinchu County account for 70% of the population, which is the highest ratio in Taiwan. However, Hakka people both in Taiwan and overseas are facing the challenge of passing on the Hakka language, and the number of speakers is dwindling among younger generations. “With language loss comes cultural extinction and the death of an ethnicity,” said Magistrate Yang. Language is the soul, symbol, and sign of an ethnic group, and it is also the medium of cultural inheritance. Without the Hakka language, there would be no Hakka culture and no Hakka people. Therefore, the Hsinchu County Government has made every effort to promote the Hakka language, encouraging county residents to take Hakka language tests, children to learn Hakka from an early age, and communities to speak the Hakka language. Hakka culture, such as Hakka opera and folk songs, are also vigorously promoted by the Hsinchu County Government.
Minister Chou Shyue-yow, Deputy Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, said that the expectations for the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association are to unite, pass on, and carry forward. “We are very grateful to the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association for fully supporting various national policies throughout its long history, and we hope that the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association will continue to strive for the country in the future.”
The Civil Affairs Department of the Hsinchu County Government describes the Hakka Tsung Tsin Association of Tokyo as an overseas Chinese organization with a long history and a large presence in Japan. It serves as an important bridge for international communication between the Japanese government, the overseas Chinese community, and the Hakka community. The Association is devoted to maintaining friendships among the Hakka people living in Japan and working hand in hand with Hakka people at home and abroad to promote Hakka culture. This makes it an invaluable vehicle for the inheritance of Hakka language and culture in Japan.
The Hsinchu County Government also invited Lin Chieh-hsiung and Chiu Chun-fen, who won third place in the male-female duet category of the 57th Zhudong Tian-Chuan Day Taiwan Hakka Folk Song Competition this year, to perform at the event, adding a rich feast of Hakka arts and culture to the occasion. The beautiful lingering sound of their songs symbolized the long history of Hakka culture.
The YouTube channel Sanyuan_JAPAN was founded by Japanese internet celebrity Mihara Keigo and his good friend Little Jun. The channel has become popular for its in-depth introduction of Taiwanese and Japanese cultures and has many fans in both Taiwan and Japan. This year, Little Jun was also invited to attend the Members Convention of the Hakka Tsung-Tsin Association of Tokyo. When he learned that Hsinchu County Magistrate Yang was also in Japan, he sought out the magistrate to learn a few words of Hakka and also filmed a video about the experience. The pair had a great time interacting with each other, and they made plans to meet up again in Hsinchu County, Taiwan.