2022 "Meet Our Friendship Cities in Taoyuan" Exhibition: Chiba, Japan

Over the past seven years, Taoyuan City has continued to strengthen its international exchanges, raise its international visibility, and gradually enhance the international perspective of the public and private sectors to create business opportunities. To date, it has forged alliances with 33 cities around the world, laying a solid foundation for city diplomacy. In addition to sharing governance expertise, it also maintains ties through various exchange activities.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, international cities have only been able to communicate with each other online through video conferencing. The "Meet Our Friendship Cities in Taoyuan" Exhibition had participation from 14 sister cities and friendly cities from five countries in Asia, the Americas and Europe. Commemorative gifts and wonderful products from various countries were on display, enabling visitors to the Taoyuan exhibition to enjoy a taste of cities overseas and feel the glow of warmth and friendship from afar.

Chiba Prefecture, part of Japan's Greater Tokyo area, is surrounded on three sides by sea and on the fourth by mountains. The region contributes an abundance of produce, including the finest pears and peanuts in Japan. The city of Chōshi, bordering the Pacific Ocean on the eastern side of Chiba Prefecture, has one of the largest fishing catches in the world. Makuhari Messe Event Hall was the venue for the Tokyo Olympics and the Paralympic Games, while the Kominato Line that runs along the Boso Peninsula and Tateyama Castle are essential destinations for seeing flowers blooming in spring.

Mokuzougan is a traditional Japanese craft that uses wood inlays to create exquisite designs. This work shows Mount Fuji, the highest mountain in Japan, which is a traditional symbol for the country, while the cranes are symbols of longevity and marital bliss.

This Maiwai hanten jacket is from the city of Choshi at the northeastern coastal tip of Chiba Prefecture and home to one of the three biggest fishing ports in Japan. The jacket was traditionally worn by fishermen to pray for abundant catch.

This lucky flag from Choshi City in Chiba Prefecture is a small version of the Tairyo-bata auspicious banners flown by fishermen to pray for an abundant catch. Choshi is a sea town and has a thriving fishing industry and maritime culture.

The Inubosaki Lighthouse in Choshi City in Chiba Prefecture, a well-known tourist sight, still guides fishing vessels to safety. Registered as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, the design layout of the lighthouse can be seen printed on the plastic folder.

This Boshu uchiwa fan from Tateyama City in Chiba Prefecture is one of the three most renowned uchiwa fans in Japan. Making the Boshu uchiwa fan is a celebrated traditional craft in Chiba Prefecture that has been handed down from generation to generation in the southern Boso region.