A photo exhibition remembering former Japanese PM is held in Taipei

A photo exhibition remembering former Japanese PM is held in Taipei

2023-03-27

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was a staunch ally of Taiwan’s, and his assassination last year left many Taiwanese saddened. A photo exhibition recalling Abe’s numerous exchanges with Taiwan is being held in his memory, and is the first such memorial for a former Japanese prime minister to be held outside of Japan. President Tsai Ing-wen showed up for the exhibition’s opening day, to express her thoughts on the former PM, who she called a good friend.

Pictures of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s past exchanges with Taiwan adorn the walls of a memorial exhibition in Taipei. President Tsai Ing-wen attended the exhibition’s opening day Monday to make a speech.

Tsai Ing-wen
President
Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was a good friend of Taiwan, and a good friend of mine. Abe once shared a photo of himself holding a Taiwanese pineapple and smiling warmly. He had repeatedly called on the international community to pay attention to the stability of the Taiwan Strait. His friendship and contributions to Taiwan laid an important foundation for the development of Taiwan-Japan relations.

Frank Hsieh
Representative to Japan
The reason Taiwanese fondly remember Abe is because he supported us, and he was very considerate and attentive. He is historically the most Taiwan-friendly Japanese prime minister.

Abe was assassinated in July last year. To remember him, Japan held three photo exhibitions, with a fourth one held outside Japan – in Taiwan.

Izumi Hiroyasu
Japanese representative to Taiwan
For such a grand memorial exhibition for a former Japanese prime minister to be held outside of Japan is historically unprecedented. This demonstrates how much love and respect our Taiwanese friends have for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.

The exhibition opened just one day after Taiwan and Honduras broke diplomatic ties. Commenting on the matter, Japan’s representative to Taiwan had posted to Facebook saying that Japan would always stand with Taiwan, and would continue to strive for Taiwan.

Izumi Hiroyasu
Japanese representative to Taiwan
We always support Taiwan, which our good friend. When Taiwan faces problems, we are concerned. Just as when we face problems, Taiwan also is concerned.

His words of support are a comforting reminder for many in Taiwan, who are still reeling from the loss of another diplomatic ally.

安倍影像展蔡總統:台宏斷交讓台日關係受矚目

2023-03-27

安倍晉三紀念影像展今天開幕，展出許多日本產經新聞30年來拍攝的安倍攝影集，當中還有安倍夫人珍藏的生活照，總統蔡英文親自出席開幕式，表示感觸很深，但就在開展前一天，台宏斷交，也讓台日關係受到矚目。

一張張照片，記錄下日本前首相安倍晉三與台灣交往的點點滴滴，紀念影像展在台北開幕，總統蔡英文也親自來致意。

[[總統蔡英文]]
“安倍晉三前首相是台灣的好朋友，也是我的好朋友，安倍前首相曾經分享，他手拿台灣的鳳梨露出溫暖的笑容的照片，多次公開呼籲國際社會，重視台海穩定的重要性，他對台灣的友誼以及付出，都為台日關係的發展，奠定了重要的基礎”

[[駐日代表謝長廷]]
“為什麼台灣人緬懷安倍，他不但支持我們，而且非常地體貼跟細心，所以他是歷史上對台灣最友善的首相”

安倍晉三去年七月遇刺身亡，為了懷念他，日本舉辦三場紀念影像展，第四場首度在國外舉辦，就是在台灣。

[[日本駐台代表泉裕泰]]
“在日本的國外舉行如此盛大的紀念日本前首相的影像展，應該是史無前例的，這說明安倍前首相是多麼受到台灣朋友愛戴”

不過就在影像展開幕前一天，台宏斷交，泉裕泰隨即透過臉書發文，強調日本一直在台灣身邊，會繼續鬥陣打拚，為台灣加油。

[[日本駐台代表泉裕泰]]
“我們一直總是支持台灣，我們是很好的朋友，你們有問題我們很關心，我們有問題你們就很關心”

誰是真朋友？就在宏都拉斯與台斷交投向中國懷抱的此時，更顯安倍晉三對台的真摯情誼。

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