Taiwanese idol becomes first international cheerleader for Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks

2024-02-01

A Taiwanese idol performer has become the first international hire at one of Japan’s top cheerleading teams. Chiu Pin-han has just started at the Honeys, the cheerleading crew for baseball team Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. The young performer is one in a long line of idols who have switched to cheerleading. Chiu first won widespread fame as a member of the idol group AKB48 Team TP.

With her big eyes and youthful look, Chiu Pin-han is the latest member of the SoftBank Hawks’ cheerleading team, the Honeys, and she’s from Taiwan.

The 24-year-old came out on top of a rigorous selection process in which 217 candidates competed. She is the Honeys’ first non-Japanese member.

At the age of 16, Chiu became a Taiwanese trainee of the Japanese idol group AKB48. In 2017, she featured on Kohaku Uta Gassen, a Japanese music show. The next year, she debuted as an idol in AKB48 Team TP, taking center stage in their third single.

In August she officially left the group, and has switched to a new career track – cheerleading. The transition from idol to cheerleader is a well-trodden path. Yuhi of Rakuten Girls debuted in Japan with the Weather Girls idol group. There are also many other graduates of AKB48 Team TP. While idol life and cheerleading are different on the surface, their performing styles are very similar. Both jobs require a high capacity to create close connection with an audience.

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海外第一人! 台灣女孩邱品涵加入軟銀啦啦隊

2024-02-01

台灣職業運動的啦啦隊現在越來越受到歡迎，甚至還吹起一股外援風潮，現在也有台灣女孩要加入國外球隊的啦啦隊了。前AKB48 TeamTP的成員邱品涵，成為日本職棒軟銀鷹啦啦隊「Honeys」的新成員之一，除了是隊史首位海外成員，曾經參加過紅白歌唱大賽的資歷也受到關注。

圓圓大眼、清純外型，她是軟銀鷹啦啦隊「Honeys」的新成員之一，而且來自台灣。

24歲的邱品涵，透過甄選從217人中脫穎而出到海外發展，也成為「Honeys」首位外國成員。

邱品涵16歲時就成為日本偶像團體AKB48的台灣研究生，還曾經登上過2017年的NHK紅白歌唱大賽，隔年作為AKB48 Team TP的成員正式出道，也曾經在第三張單曲擔任C位。

去年8月正式從團體畢業，邱品涵現在轉換跑道，加入啦啦隊。事實上從偶像轉型啦啦隊女孩的前例還不少，像是Rakuten Girls的筠熹，過去就曾以「天氣女孩」名義在日本出道，現在許多女孩也都曾待過AKB48 Team TP。雖然身分不同，但表演性質相近，與觀眾互動密切，也成為偶像與啦啦隊之間的巧妙連結。

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KMT’s Han Kuo-yu elected Legislative Yuan speaker in runoff vote

2024-02-01

Lawmakers display values on red carpet on first day of new Legislative Yuan

The newly elected members of the Legislative Yuan stepped up to their posts on Thursday. The first day back at work was a veritable parade of each lawmaker’s values, with some choosing to enter the Legislative Yuan accompanied by family members or dressed in traditional Indigenous attire. In particular, the KMT’s Hsieh Lung-chieh seemed to be itching to get down to business. The lawmaker brought with him an umbrella with a message promising to keep an eye on President-elect Lai Ching-te at all times.

Outside the Legislative Yuan a banner reads, “Letting Han Kuo-yu be speaker is letting the CCP in.” Despite the shouts from protesters, Han seemed at ease stepping on the red carpet into the Legislative Yuan.

Supporters greeted him as “Speaker Han.” After several years away from the legislature, Han is back, and as popular as ever. Another new KMT lawmaker with a big supporter base is Hsieh Lung-chieh.

Hsieh Lung-chieh
KMT lawmaker
I still believe in Lai Ching-te’s wisdom. But I will still be here scrutinizing him.

Hsieh had previously traded barbs with President-elect Lai Ching-te back in the Tainan City Council. On Thursday he showed up with a pink umbrella featuring both their portraits and a message saying, “I will always be watching you.”

Of course the king of props and backhanded gifts was also present, DPP lawmaker Wang Shih-chien.

Wang Shih-chien
DPP lawmaker
I was very happy and excited walking on the red carpet. It is a huge responsibility.

The DPP and KMT have their stars, and so does the TPP with Huang Kuo-chang. The legal scholar is back in the legislature, after four years out. He walked in leading the party caucus.

The youngest legislator elected is Huang Chieh from the DPP, who posed for photos with lawmaker Wu Pei-yi and lawmaker-at-large Puma Shen.

DPP lawmaker Tiunn Ngalim, who specializes in children’s issues, brought 15 children with her to the Legislative Yuan.

Ngalim Tiunn
DPP lawmaker
I hope to bring the opinions of parents and children into the legislature. As lawmaker, I hope to promote amendments related to children and young people, and to secure more spaces where young people can rest.

DPP lawmakers Chung Chia-pin, Kuo Kuo-wen and Chang Hong-lu showed up with a humorous banner presenting themselves as an alliance of uncles.

Chung Chia-pin
DPP lawmaker
We uncles aren’t old, but our kids are definitely not young. We do get up really early in the morning. I heard our responsibility is to engage in conversations with new generations.

KMT lawmwker Yen Kuan-heng was accompanied by family, with his father former lawmaker Yen Ching-piao, and his sister Yen Li-min. The DPP’s Lai Jui-lung from Kaohsiung, the DPP’s Su Chiao-hui from New Taipei and the KMT’s Hung Meng-kai from New Taipei also showed up with their families.

Wearing Indigenous garb is DPP policy head Wang Yi-chuan, singing and dancing with elected lawmakers Asenay Daliyalrep and Lin Tai-hua. Meanwhile, DPP lawmaker Saidhai Tahovecahe displayed her Indigenous heritage with a custom-made Rukai garment.

Just as eye-catching was the ensemble that walked in with Loh Meei-ling, who was joined by immigrants in traditional costume and playing musical instruments. With the legislature opening for another session, the first day back at work was a parade of everyone’s values and aspirations.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-02-01

US politicians condemn China’s alteration of civilian flight path in Taiwan Strait

2024-02-01

Work on new office for southern corps of the National Immigration Agency

Work has begun on a new office space for the southern corps of the National Immigration Agency. This branch of the Immigration Agency has, since its founding in 2015, shared inadequate office space with other public bodies. But with a huge scope, covering services for immigrants everywhere from Yunlin to Pingtung and Kinmen, officials say it’s high time the team got a better workspace. The building is expected to be ready to use in three years from now.

Exciting drumming and a stirring lion dance performance mark the start of this groundbreaking ceremony.

With golden spades, officials make a symbolic dig to bring fortune to the project. This is a new construction project for the Southern Administration Corps of the National Immigration Agency. The agency primarily oversees the immigrant population, and the southern corps has a large jurisdiction.

Hsieh Wen-chung
National Immigration Agency
The Southern Administration Corps oversees Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Pingtung, Taitung, and Kinmen – eight cities and counties in all. As public agencies go, it has an extremely wide scope. It has jurisdiction over its own police force, service stations and detention centers, and responds to law enforcement tasks and services, and the human rights needs of immigrants. So, we need a better office environment.

The agency has a large workforce and a complex mandate. The immigration police work round the clock. Since its formation in 2015, it has shared an office space with other agencies, in a 50-year-old building with no elevator. Now, it’s finally getting started on an office block of its own. The project is slated to take three years to complete.

Huang Chun-yi
Ministry of the Interior
It will provide a more convenient and welcoming environment in which to offer new immigrants official services. It will also provide a better office environment for our colleagues in the immigration police.

The new office is in the core of Kaohsiung City. It is hoped the space will improve the agency’s work, as well as provide a more welcoming environment for immigrants to make enquiries at, and strengthen the efficiency of the service.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-02-01

President-elect Lai Ching-te receives delegation from Eswatini

2024-02-01

Taoyuan International Airport launches preclearance program for 10 Japan destinations

Travelers heading to 10 destinations in Japan this Spring Festival will be able to take advantage of a new preclearance program at Taoyuan International Airport. The program started on Feb. 1 and will last until the end of the month, allowing passengers to cut immigration queues after landing in Japan. All key procedures such as passport checks and fingerprint scans will be conducted before departure at the waiting lounge.

It’s time to board, and passengers line up at the gate with their carry-on luggage. At the other side of the waiting lounge, another queue has formed. These are the first batch of travelers that are taking advantage of a new preclearance program.

Traveler
It’s very smooth. It can cut down waits by 15 to 20 minutes.

Traveler
You can get your fingerprints taken and all arrival forms completed before departure. That way you don’t have to wait in line again later.

With a large number of travelers expected to visit Japan during the Lunar New Year, Taoyuan International Airport has teamed up with 10 Japanese airports, including the airports at Hakodate, Asahikawa, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima to offer preclearance services from Feb. 1 to Feb. 29, for passengers who will be in Japan for 90 days or less. Staff will be stationed at waiting lounges in Taoyuan International Airport checking passports, taking photos of travelers and scanning fingerprints. That way, upon arrival at the destinations, passengers need just confirm their identity, saving time at immigration. About 6,000 travelers are expected to benefit from the program.

Hsiu Chieh-lin
Taoyuan International Airport Corporation
Passengers who are going to Japan for a short time of 90 days or less can apply for preclearance at Taoyuan International Airport. Children need just to have a boarding pass and their passport, and they can complete the procedures at the waiting lounge.

Eligible passengers can apply for preclearance before departure, which is available on 12 flight routes operated by China Airlines, Tiger Air Taiwan and Starlux Airlines. Registration desks close 30 minutes before departure so be sure to arrive early to avoid a long wait after landing.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-02-01

Romanian artists display artworks in Taipei

Today we take you to see the works of two Romanian artists: Andreea Medar and Oana Farcas. They’re featured together at a Taipei art gallery. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the curator to learn more about their life and works.

Andreea Medar is an artist from Romania. Her works are now on display in Taipei. By employing embroidery techniques and using materials such as metal, glass beads, transparent glass, and sequins, she recreated the works of former residents of a village she grew up in Romania. Many women would hand-sew tablecloths and clothes using cheap plastic to make a living.

Queena Chu
Curator
She was born in 1990s. She is a post-communist baby, which means just one year after her birth the country from communist to democracy. All the diagrams changes. She was sent to her parent’s village. Her grandparents raised her up because at that time no one had the money to have a nanny. You can see, this is the grandmother. This village is in the southern part of Romania. A lot of people make their money with making household items.

The work is inspired by Medar’s grandmother, who would spend hours a day sewing. Medar hopes to reignite her childhood memories, preserve and tell the stories of her hometown.

Queena Chu
Curator
Before, it was not plastic, it is actually fabric and all hand-sewn. But as time goes by, all of this was replaced by platic goods. Modern plastics. These people they lost their works and a lot of people moved out of the village. The artist just feels a bit sad about this because she witnessed the changes in the village. Also, she wants to preserve the traditions and the connections of the economy and also the traditions of the people makers. She collected all the plastic things herself and make it as a painting style. She sewed this in different colors to bring us to revisit the actual times. The prosperous times of the village it used to be. She also wants to reimagine how the future of the village will be like.

Another exhibition at the same venue features Romanian artist Oana Farcas. A total of eight oil works explore the theme of chemistry and love.

Queena Chu
Curator
The subject matter is love. You can see a lot of couples. The girls has a lot of different processes. Their psychological process in their mind. The artist trying to explore use her paintings to tell the audience how our sensations have been built and how you perceive the visual appearance.

The two exhibitions aim to give a glimpse into Romanian art and culture.

Queena Chu
Curator
We know a lot of good Romanian artists. We happened to have the chance to visit Romania physically last year in March. We visited a lot of artist studios and realized there are a lot of amazing artists out there. We wanted to bring them to Taiwan and introduce Taiwan’s audience because their culture is different and we can use this as an opportunity to do the cultural exchange. Also, to share different ideas with the local audience here.

The exhibitions will take place till March 2 at the Mind Set Art Center.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-02-01

New business model gives renters the chance to rent their furniture

A new business model is offering home-renters the chance to rent their furniture. Companies are moving into the furniture industry with an option to rent items for a monthly fee. For those who rent their homes, it can save hassle when moving into a new place, and sometimes save money too. We met a couple in Taichung who are attracted to the idea.

The Liangs are on a waiting list for social housing in Taichung. They feel very fortunate. Today they’re looking round a house, and they love the layout. But the rooms are unfurnished and – before they’ve even moved in – they’re worrying about how they’ll move out.

Mrs. Liang
Renter
When you move out, you have to sort out furniture for the new place – it’s quite a big problem. Big furniture is very heavy, after all.

Mr. Liang
Renter
We’ll probably have to buy some new furniture to start with, and after you’ve used it for a while, it will get worn and you might have to throw some of it away, or find some other way to deal with it.

A rental apartment isn’t yours forever, but once you’ve bought furniture, sooner or later, you’ll have to face moving again. The cost of buying a sofa, dining table, wardrobes and beds can really spiral. But now this common renter’s headache has become a commercial opportunity.

A set of solid wood furniture, customizable according to the renter’s wishes. It’s atmospheric and available to rent.

Tu Hao-lin
Furniture rental company
We are a real estate company, a rental agency. We realized that many landlords do not provide furniture. They think, “What kind of furniture should I buy for a tenant, anyway?” Then I realized that there was a business opportunity there.

Tu Hao-lin has applied the model of car rental to furniture, offering solid wood furniture sets for one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The furniture is delivered to your door, and when you move out, so long as there’s no obvious wear on the items, the company will take them back for you with no questions asked. The main draw is that monthly rental fees are just 2% of the value of the items.

Mrs. Liang
Renter
I think I’m part of what people call the “lazy economy.” I just want to move in with one suitcase, and not have to bother with all this furniture stuff.

Tu Hao-lin
Furniture rental company
We’ve set up some show rooms with the items in, which anyone can view.

By renting instead of purchasing furniture, landlords and renters can both get a good deal. For renters, it’s a way to potentially take part in a circular economy and skip some of the worst hassle of moving house.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2024-02-01