Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura and the prefecture's beloved mascot Kumamon thanked Taiwan on Tuesday for its support in helping the southwestern Japanese prefecture recover from the major earthquake that struck in July, according to Kyodo News.
The gesture came during an event promoting Kumamoto's specialty products, held at a convenience store in Taipei.
Speaking at the event, Governor Kimura offered his sincere thanks to the people of Taiwan for their valuable support for the prefecture after the disaster, and underscored the close ties between Kumamoto and Taiwan.
Kumamon, the popular symbol of Kumamoto Prefecture, also appeared at the event, helping to draw the attention of Taiwanese residents and boost the region's tourism, culture and local products.
The event was one of several efforts aimed at strengthening exchanges and cooperation between Kumamoto and Taiwan, while expressing gratitude for the support Taiwan extended to the prefecture following the July earthquake.
Specific details about the July earthquake and the scale of Taiwan's support were not included in the initial information from Kyodo News.
