TAIPEI - Kumamoto Gov. Takashi Kimura and the southwestern Japanese prefecture's popular mascot Kumamon on Tuesday thanked Taiwan for its support following a major quake in July during an event to promote Kumamoto products at a Taipei convenience store.
Kimura helped hand out free bread made with flour and milk from the prefecture to Kumamon fans and customers lining up outside the FamilyMart store.
Some got the chance to high-five with the mascot, creating a lively scene during the morning rush hour.
As Kumamon posed for photos, Kimura pledged to promote ties between Kumamoto and Taiwan including more business opportunities.
Last month, the island's Foreign Ministry presented more than NT$300 million ($9.4 million) in donations raised in Taiwan to help people affected by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto in late July.
"Although the earthquake caused tremendous damage, I am very pleased that it has also become an opportunity to further strengthen the bond between Taiwan and Kumamoto," Kimura said.
About 4,500 FamilyMart outlets in Taiwan launched a Kumamoto promotional campaign in late September, selling six items made of local foodstuffs including bread, rice balls and buckwheat noodles.
Since Sunday, Kimura and his delegation have visited Kaohsiung, Tainan and Taichung, thanking local mayors and others for their donations and other forms of assistance for the disaster-hit prefecture.
Kumamoto hosts a factory of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world's largest contract chipmaker.
The Kumamon mascot was created in 2010 to promote Kumamoto ahead of the launch of the Kyushu shinkansen bullet train service the following year.
