A delegation from Kochi Prefecture signed an MOU regarding educational and cultural exchange with Hsinchu County Government in Hsinchu County Hall. Hsinchu County Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun said that the two cities have forged a close bond since the 2013 Taiwan Lantern Festival. Both sides are looking forward to further exchange and promotion of comics, education, festivities and tourism.
Kochi Prefecture has held the National High School Manga Championship, known as Manga Koshien, for 26 years, which cultivates many manga artists. According to Kochi Prefecture’s Department of Culture, Community and Sports, this year’s competition was open to overseas competitors for the first time. The only qualifier in Taiwan was the team from Yi-ming Senior High School in Hsinchu County. In addition to the manga competition, Yosakoi Festival is also a grand cultural event taking place in Kochi Prefecture every August. A group of performers from Hsinchu County will join in the celebration kicking off next month. With increasing cultural and economic interactions, a deep and lasting friendship between the two regions is expected to be cemented.
Magistrate Chiu, as the witness of the signing ceremony, stated that one out of every hundred thousand people is a professional manga artist in Kochi Prefecture. Nowadays, Hsinchu County has been promoting comic lessons in schools, and Kochi Prefecture is undoubtedly a role model to emulate. At the end of the signing ceremony, both sides presented each other with distinctive local souvenirs. The Japanese delegation presented bamboo business card holders and Furoshiki, a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. In return, Hsinchu County Government gave painted pigs, which represent the coming Yimin Festival, and picture books created by students in Nei-wan Elementary School.