Dentist Pan Yu-min and the Taiwan Dental Association recently donated 200,000 face masks to Japan, to thank the country for giving Taiwan COVID vaccines. The masks were collected in a public donation drive, and sent to Tokyo and Minamisoma City.

Monma Kazuo
Mayor of Minamisoma City
For the sake of protecting the people of Minamisoma City and ensuring that their lives are safe and secure, Taiwan made a great contribution to our city’s epidemic prevention measures. We express our deep gratitude.

Pan Yu-min
Initiator of donation drive
Minamisoma City is part of the Fukushima Prefecture. Fukushima Prefecture was affected most by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. That was the starting point of a friendship between Taiwan and Japan. The Japanese people are still extremely grateful for the disaster relief provided by Taiwan following the tragic event. And now, we Taiwanese are extremely grateful to Japan. We can provide a small token of our appreciation in return.

At a ceremony in Japan on Thursday, the mayor of Minamisoma City presented a certificate of appreciation to the Taiwanese people. It was accepted by Dr. Seei Hirouchi, a friend of Pan''s, who helped to deliver the masks. Peter Tsai, deputy representative of Taiwan to Japan, delivered a speech on behalf of the Taiwanese government, hailing the friendship between the two nations.