Mayor of Nomi City, Japan, Visits Tainan Mayor Huang to Foster Bilateral Exchange

(Central News Agency reporter Chang Jung-hsiang, Tainan, July 16) Mayor Toshio Ide of Nomi City, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, and Council Chairman Satoru Yamamoto led a delegation from the Nomi Chamber of Commerce to pay a courtesy call on Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che today. Both sides held in-depth discussions on cooperation in sports, industry, tourism, and education, expressing hopes to initiate friendly exchanges between the two cities.

The Tainan City Government released a press statement today, noting that Mayor Ide and Chairman Yamamoto led the Nomi Chamber of Commerce delegation on the visit. Mayor Huang expressed his hope that this meeting would serve as an opportunity to launch substantive interactions between the two cities, enhance mutual understanding, and build a bridge of friendship.

Mayor Huang stated that Tainan City and Ishikawa Prefecture share deep historical connections and close interactions. He highlighted that Norihiro Sasaki, Japan's Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, who hails from Nomi City, has long been committed to promoting friendly exchanges between the two regions. He also noted that Kanazawa City and Kaga City in Ishikawa Prefecture are sister cities of Tainan, while Komatsu City and Hakusan City continue to engage in sports exchanges with Tainan.

Mayor Ide remarked that this was his third visit to Tainan within nine years, aimed at promoting Nomi City's tourism appeal and local specialty products, as well as seeking opportunities for sports exchanges and industrial collaboration to further strengthen the friendly relationship between Nomi City and Tainan.

According to the city government, Nomi City is located in the southern Kaga region of Ishikawa Prefecture, neighboring Komatsu City. It is the hometown of former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and renowned professional baseball player Hideki Matsui. The city is home to the nationally designated historic site 'Nomi Kofun Group' and the 'Hideki Matsui Baseball Museum,' and is famous for its traditional craft 'Kutani-yaki' porcelain. (Edited by Chang Ming-kun) 1150716