Japanese cyclist experiences warmth of Taiwanese people after tire bursts

Japanese cyclist experiences warmth of Taiwanese people after tire bursts

2025-03-05

A Japanese cyclist recently got a taste of Taiwanese hospitality after finding himself in a tough spot during a round-the-island bike trip. The traveler was riding on Provincial Highway No. 17 in Yunlin when a punctured tire left him stranded on the side of the road. Fortunately, a police officer found him shortly after and got him sorted thanks in part to the officer’s son, who speaks Japanese.

Three cyclists stand at the side holding their bikes somewhere along Provincial Highway 17 in Yunlin. Fortunately, the group was found by a police officer, who hopped off his car to offer help.

After a quick conversation, it turned out that two of the cyclists had simply happened onto a visitor from Japan who came to Taiwan to go on a round-the-island bike trip. Not speaking each other’s language, the officer and the Japanese cyclist first communicated through gestures, until they realized they could use translation software.

The Japanese traveler had gotten injured falling off his bike after one of the tires burst. He’d just been waiting at the side of the road for help. And help eventually came.

Despite the language barrier, the two managed to communicate through the online translation tool. To be extra sure, the police officer called up his son, who can speak Japanese. Another successful rescue mission.

Lin Yu-chia
Police officer
The officer called his son, who’s learning Japanese, to speak with him and tell him not to worry. After making sure the bicycle was fine, the traveler was able to continue on his journey, to fulfill his dream to cycle around the island.

The Japanese visitor says he is very happy to have visited Taiwan and experienced first-hand the most beautiful scenery of the island: its people.

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

台灣最美風景! 日籍男子單車環島"爆胎自摔" 警熱心救援

2025-03-05

雲林警方在台17線下方巡邏時，發現了一名從日本來台環島的單車客，因為在半路爆胎，只能在路邊等待救援，不過語言不通一度造成救援困難，所幸員警使用翻譯軟體，還打給自己學習日文的兒子，成功完成救援，也讓這名男子，體會到"台灣最美的風景"。

路邊站著三名男子，一人牽著一台單車，這是在台17線雲林段，巡邏員警執勤時，發現他們站在路邊，便下車關心。

員警上前詢問後才發現，其中兩位是路過單車客，真正需要幫助的是名從日本到台灣圓單車環島夢的單車客，不過雙方語言不通，只能比手畫腳，員警就想到可以使用翻譯軟體溝通。

原來這名日本男子是因為單車爆胎而且摔傷，只能在路邊等待幫助，警方也立刻幫他想到辦法。

雖然一開始溝通遇到困難，但警方使用翻譯軟體，還隔空打給自己會說日文的兒子幫忙，成功完成這次救援。

[[雲林警橋頭所林鈺家]]
“亦請學日文的兒子與該民聊天，告知該民不用擔心，直到確認自行車安全狀況無虞後，該男子又能繼續上路，圓一個環島夢”

後續日籍男子也表示，很慶幸自己是來台灣旅遊，更是親自體會到"台灣最美麗的風景是人"。

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Artist turns Taiwanese street scenes into miniature models

Miniatures have gotten popular in recent years. In this art form, artists make1:64 to-scale models of real scenes. One such artist, Ko Ta-tung, worked as an advertiser for over 20 years. In 2008, he threw himself into making miniature models. A lover of Taiwan’s unique night market culture, Ko creates miniatures from his imagination that are quintessentially Taiwanese. Ko makes sure that every market stall is not just tiny but precise. Let’s take a look at his work...

People bustle around night market stalls, making for a lively scene.

Lee Kuan-kuan
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It looks like drone footage of a typical Taiwanese street scene. But it’s actually an entirely handmade, 1:64 scale model.

If you look closely, even the food on the tables is realistic. Every ingredient of the pan-seared steak is essential. Not a single one is missing. At the stall next door, to make the surface of the pan-fried buns look crispy, the artist has to use different colors.

Ko Ta-tung
Miniature artist
It’s a little difficult to make it so small while also being extremely realistic. I believe that when making something like a steak, you need to have a steak as well as the egg. All the accoutrements of a food stall.

Ko Ta-tung used to work as an advertiser for over 20 years. In 2008, he started posting his artwork online of miniature versions of Taiwanese night markets. He’s loved visiting night markets since he was a kid, and dreamed of creating his own quintessentially Taiwanese art.

Ko Ta-tung
Miniature artist
For this mirror, I thought for two months about how to make it reflective. I tried out so many things. It had to be small and curved, as well as reflective.

It’s not enough to just draw a sketch, print out a 3D model and paint it. In order for a piece to be this realistic and possess a soul of its own, you have to try all kinds of paints and materials, in addition to having a delicate hand.

Wearing a magnifier, he paints on every detail on one by one. This food cart is now complete. To make an entire night market, the next step is for Ko to try making a “boss” of this little fiefdom.

Ko Ta-tung
Miniature artist
I’ll first photograph a few examples. Yeah, like the apron and some hand gestures. Then I can make the feel I want of the people and stall owners.

From visualizing the scene to the finished product, Ko does everything himself to make his imagination concrete. His small workshop is packed with his artwork. One day, he hopes to hold an exhibition to show more people his miniature versions of Taiwanese life.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Master calligrapher Shih Chun-mao shares experience exhibiting in Paris

Today we catch up with veteran calligrapher Shih Chun-mao, who has been practicing calligraphy for over 40 years. After exhibiting in Paris at the end of last year, he recently returned to Taiwan to showcase his works to those who could not make it to France. FTV reporter Stephany Yang sat down with Shih, who shared insights from his overseas trip.

On one side of the script, Shih wrote the Chinese character Hua or flowers in cursive letters. On the other side, he wrote another Hua in black ink. He added color, transforming the assembled characters into a painting.

Shih Chun-mao
Calligrapher
This is the character for flower in cursive script. And here, the flower written in black ink is upside down. This is upright and this is upside down. They are intertwined like this, so I call it a leopard. One color is the color of cinnabar. The other is black ink. I wanted the two characters to look like they are connected. Lastly, I used light blue dots to embellish the whole picture.

Shih has been practicing calligraphy for over 40 years, and teaches classes in his studio and the Presidential Office. After displaying his works Impressions in Paris last November and December, he recently held an exhibition in Taipei that paid tribute to the tradition of calligraphy art while seeking innovation and breakthroughs. Shih is renowned for combining calligraphy and painting, showcasing the infinite possibilities and contemporary value of the art. He says visiting Paris gave him a lot of new inspiration for his future works.

Shih Chun-mao
Calligrapher
There are about 30 to 40 pieces on display in this exhibition, including 40 small pieces. French artists tend to express more using abstract art. My works all break away from tradition and create more abstract or semi-abstract works. After I went to France, I felt that in France I was not just going to exhibitions, but absorbing the new concepts of artistic pursuits by French artists. The path I want to take in the future is different now. I want to use the concept of abstract paintings I saw in France. I took a lot of photos of France.

At 83 years old, Shih is still very passionate about calligraphy and hopes to continue pushing boundaries in this ancient art form.

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Pingtung postie stays calm with dedicated tai chi practice

A Pingtung postal worker has attracted attention with his tai chi prowess. The Pingtung postman has been practicing the traditional Chinese martial art since fifth grade. Now he teaches it during his free time. Shen Hsin-hung has even won a gold medal at the Citizens Sports Games, Taiwan’s prestigious amateur athletics contest. We met up with Shen to learn how this gentle martial art fits into his life.

Postal worker Shen Hsin-hung sets off on his scooter, in a green uniform, with a wad of mail to deliver.

Shen Hsin-hung
Postal worker
I used to work as a substitute teacher in schools. It wasn’t very stable. So, up came this exam for the post office, and I’ve been doing this ever since, 13 years.

He winds his way through the streets of Gaoshu Township in Pingtung, deftly stuffing each letter into its recipient’s mailbox. But it’s a tiring job. How do you imagine he manages the exhaustion? He has a special practice.

Shen Hsin-hung
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I relieve some of the exhaustion through tai chi. It’s an exercise that’s about preserving and nurturing energy. So I actually feel great and very energetic after I’ve been practicing.

He changes into a tai chi uniform. He’s been practicing the martial art since the fifth grade. After he entered the post office in 2011, he eventually began teaching tai chi in Fulun Temple in his hometown, Changzhi Township, and promoting the practice.

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Martial arts films used to be very popular, so that was a motivation for me. On a physical level, of course, it does make the body basically a bit stronger. But the main thing is that it can help to calm your heart and mind.

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Shen Hsin-hung
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I’ve taken part in the Citizens Sports Games six or seven times. My highest achievement was a gold medal, yeah. A further achievement would of course be if I can win gold three years in a row.

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Thomas Demand’s touring exhibition comes to Taipei

A worldwide tour to exhibit the works of German conceptual artist Thomas Demand is now in Taipei. Nearly 70 large-scale photographic works, wallpaper installations, and moving image pieces aim to challenge viewers to reflect on the nature of visual imagery. FTV reporter Stephany Yang takes us in for a look!

This is a photo from a press conference held by US President Donald Trump in 2017. Or, is it? German artist Thomas Demand recreated the scene from paper before he captured it on camera.

Sung Yu-mei
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He went to recreate the scene of the press conference held by Donald Trump before he took office in 2017. At this press conference, he placed a lot of folders to prove that he had handed over the management of his company, that there would be no business interests involved when he then took office in the future. But the interesting thing is that when reporters wanted to go up and read these documents, he didn’t allow them to do so. Although these papers were a type of evidence, however, they may also be just props and there may be nothing in them.

Another work by Demand was created using 270,000 paper leaves to create a forest.

Sung Yu-mei
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He was curious about the difference between the man-made and the natural world. He used 270,000 paper leaves, paper cut into the shape of leaves, to make this work. For him, the lighting was also very important. He tried a lot of lighting from different directions, and finally adjusted it to one that he felt was very consistent with the feeling of the dreamy forest that everyone imagined.

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The paper models are destroyed after Demand gets the shot he wants. The object thus fades but the image remains. The exhibition will be held at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum until May 11.

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