Taiwan has handed over NT$300 million — roughly $9.4 million — in public donations to help communities in Kumamoto Prefecture rebuild after the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck southwestern Japan in late July. The money was raised through a dedicated government bank account opened in August, with individuals, companies and organisations across Taiwan chipping in.
At a ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung framed the gift as part of a long-running exchange: the two sides have repeatedly helped each other through major disasters, including the 2011 quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan, the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes and recent tremors in eastern Taiwan. He described the relationship as closer to family than friendship, and said Taiwan wants to work more closely with Japan on disaster preparedness, risk reduction and recovery.
Japan was represented by Kazuyuki Katayama of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, effectively Tokyo's envoy in Taipei, and Tomoaki Motoshima, chairman of a Taiwan-based Kumamoto association. Motoshima's message went beyond thanks: he invited Taiwanese travellers to visit Kumamoto and see the reconstruction progress firsthand. The support, he said, has been a source of courage and hope for residents still working through recovery.
For travellers, the takeaway is simple: Kumamoto is open for business and actively welcoming visitors. The prefecture on Kyushu is famous for Kumamoto Castle — painstakingly restored after the 2016 quakes — the volcanic landscapes of Mount Aso, and clean, mineral-rich onsen towns. Tourism is one of the most direct ways visitors can support a region rebuilding after a natural disaster, and local businesses from ryokan to restaurants feel the difference when international travellers return.
If you're planning a Kyushu trip, Kumamoto pairs naturally with nearby Fukuoka, Nagasaki or the hot-spring towns of Oita. And given how warmly Taiwan and Japan regard each other, expect a genuine welcome whichever direction you're flying from.