Department for Youth, Taipei City Government(青年局英文網)

Today (21st), Takako Suzuki, Director of the Youth Division of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), led a delegation of Japanese national and local legislators to the Taipei City Government, where they were warmly received by Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, Department for Youth Commissioner Yin Wei, and Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission Chairman Yu Zhenhua. Mayor Chiang Wan-an noted that many members of this delegation are old friends of Taipei City. He mentioned that during the Taipei City Government's visit to Tokyo in May, the newly established Department for Youth was introduced to Director Suzuki. Now, three months after its establishment, the department is actively promoting youth-related policies and international exchanges. He hopes that this event will become an important milestone for deeper cooperation between the youth divisions of both cities, quoting a classic line from the protagonist Luffy in One Piece: "We are comrades!" (俺たちは仲間だ), to describe the friendly relationship between Taipei and Japan.

Commissioner Yin Wei of the Department for Youth also greeted the guests in Japanese. In his speech, he mentioned that the LDP Youth Division has a long history, with much that Taipei's Department for Youth could learn and emulate. He pointed out that the Department for Youth would continue to support young people's growth through the "Four Understandings": understanding the workplace, understanding society, understanding the world, and understanding oneself. He expressed his gratitude to the LDP Youth Division for their support of this event and hoped that this exchange would deepen interaction and understanding between young people in Taiwan and Japan.

In her speech, Director Suzuki expressed her delight in seeing so many young friends, especially the many women participating in the exchange. She emphasized that politicians are not there to define happiness but to help people pursue it. She stated that politicians often face various challenges and tough choices, but she believes Mayor Chiang is a charismatic leader who can effectively communicate messages and opinions. She looks forward to future cooperation between the LDP Youth Division, Mayor Chiang, and Commissioner Yin to create more opportunities for young people.

After the meeting, Director Suzuki engaged in discussions with the young attendees, sharing her views on the younger generation. She believes that the greatest strength of the youth lies in their imperfection, which drives them to constantly challenge themselves and stay energetic. She noted that Japan's voter turnout is low, and its legislators are relatively old, while Taiwan has performed well in these aspects and is worth learning from. She also shared her personal experiences of being elected as a legislator at 27, getting married at 30, and raising two daughters, emphasizing the importance of gender balance in democracy and calling for a more comprehensive maternal and maternity protection system.

Director Suzuki's advice to young people is to "experience a deeply impactful heartbreak before turning 20!" She believes that growing through happiness and pain can broaden one's life perspective and teach resilience, even in the face of unchangeable circumstances. When asked about the challenges faced by female politicians in Japan, she acknowledged that criticism and attacks are inevitable, but having a father who is also a politician taught her many coping strategies, making her relatively more resilient. Regarding advice for young people considering working or studying in Japan, she emphasized the importance of language skills, believing that improving language proficiency helps in understanding various cultures more deeply and performing better in the workplace.