[TheEpochTimesOctober192024](The Epoch Times reporter Li Xieying reported in Chiayi, Taiwan) Chiayi University held a grand signing ceremony with the Ehime Prefectural Government of Japan on the morning of the 19th. President Lin Hanqian and the Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, Tokihiro Nakamura (Nakamura Tokihiro) officially signed a memorandum of friendly cooperation at Lantan Campus, opening a new chapter in academic exchanges between Taiwan and Japan.
Thirteen distinguished guests from Ehime Prefecture, Japan, including Governor Nakamura Tokihiro, Ehime Prefectural Assembly Speaker Miyake Hiromasa, and Ehime Prefecture Minister of Culture Kubota Aki, attended; Kaida University was attended by President Lin Hanqian and Vice President Zhang Junxian , Vice President Chen Ruixiang, Dean of Students Tang Rongchang, International Dean Yang Zhengcheng, Director Hsieh Jiawen and other teachers attended the meeting. This cooperation not only deepens the friendship between the two parties, but also uses the legendary “KANO Baseball Team” as a bridge to push the friendship between Taiwan and Japan to its peak.
Lin Hanqian, President of Jiada University, delivered a speech (2nd from left). (Provided by Chiayi University)
Tokihiro Nakamura (left), Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, delivers a speech. (Provided by Chiayi University)
President Lin Hanqian said in his speech that Jiada University actively promotes internationalization and has established sister school relationships with 124 universities in 24 countries around the world. This cooperation with Ehime Prefecture will further deepen exchanges between the two parties in the fields of sports, culture and tourism, and jointly strive to cultivate the next generation of youth.
Tokihiro Nakamura (3rd from right), Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, takes a group photo with Mr. Jiabao in front of the Administrative Center of Lantan Campus. (Provided by Chiayi University)
Chiayi Agricultural and Forestry School, the predecessor of Chiayi University, represented Taiwan in the 1931 expedition to Koshien, Japan, and won a quasi-winner (runner-up), earning the reputation of “the heroic battlefield and the world’s best farmers”. This legendary story not only inspired countless Taiwanese, but also inspired countless people in Taiwan. There is a baseball craze in Japan. Mr. Hyotaro Kondo, who was the coach of the KANO baseball team at the time, was from Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture.
Tokihiro Nakamura, Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, visited the “KANO” baseball special exhibition (permanent exhibition) on the second floor of the cooperative on the Lantan Campus of Kaida. (Provided by Chiayi University)
In order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Taiwan-Japan baseball exchanges and the induction of coach Kondo Hyotaro into the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024, the Kaida baseball team visited in early August and played two exchange games with the Shikoku University Baseball League. Ehime Prefectural Government The musical “KANO” performed by Young Master Theater was also specially moved to the Concert Hall of the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Chiayi City Government, so that Chiayi citizens, teachers and students in Chiayi can relive this touching history in their hometown. It is also an honor to have the opportunity to meet with representatives from Ehime County The group watched and participated in the grand event together.
Zhu Shuling, manager of Kaida Cooperative, introduced the “KANO” baseball special exhibition (permanent exhibition) to Ehime Prefecture Governor Nakamura Tokihiro and other distinguished guests. (Provided by Chiayi University)
Ehime Prefecture Governor Nakamura Tokihiro said that he was very happy to sign a memorandum of friendly cooperation with Kaida. It was the first time I visited Jiada 10 years ago. Jiada is planning to build a KANO cultural relics museum. This time I had the opportunity to see the “KANO” baseball special exhibition (permanent exhibition) on the second floor of Jiada Cooperative. I appreciate Jiada’s carefulness and complete preservation of KANO. cultural relics and vigorously promote them to the outside world to express admiration.
Zhu Shuling of Ka-Da Cooperative has specially prepared delicacies with local characteristics of Ka-Da to entertain distinguished guests from Ehime Prefecture. (Provided by Chiayi University)
During this period, Ehime Prefecture had close exchanges with Taiwan, including: opening a direct flight between Japan’s Songshan Airport and Taipei Songshan Airport, Taiwan-Japan bicycle tourism exchanges, and signing a memorandum of understanding on ceramic culture exchanges with Yingge, New Taipei City. Among them, the most impressive thing was the exchange activities with the Chiayi City Government and Chiayi University. Because of KANO baseball, we have formed a great relationship that is irreplaceable!
Jiada University President Lin Hanqian signed a memorandum of cooperation with Tokihiro Nakamura (left), Governor of Ehime Prefecture, Japan. (Provided by Chiayi University)
In December last year (2023), Ehime County formed a team to participate in the 26th Zhurashan Cup International Soft Baseball Invitational Tournament in Chiayi City. In August this year, the Chiada Baseball Team visited Ehime County and conducted two exchange games. Very good experience next generation. This time, it is because of the fate of coach Kondo Hyoutarou that we signed a memorandum of cooperation with Kaida. We hope that through a substantial cooperative relationship, Kaida and Ehime Prefecture will have closer exchanges.
The KANO spirit is not just about baseball, but also represents the Kada spirit of “perseverance and never giving up”. We hope that the exchanges with Ehime Prefecture will continue to deepen and expand in the future, and based on the KANO spirit, we will continue to expand in education, culture and sports. There will be more oriented cooperation and exchanges on the Internet, and we hope that the friendship between the two parties will become warmer and closer because of baseball.
Editor in charge: Yuzhen
