Taipei: A Japanese cycling team is set to embark on a tour around Taiwan in March to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and to express gratitude for the support received from Taiwan following the disaster.

According to Focus Taiwan, about 30 cyclists, led by Japanese writer Tae Hitoto, will participate in this event, scheduled from March 7-15, as a gesture of appreciation for the donations and assistance provided by Taiwan after the earthquake.

The journey will commence from the Presidential Office in Taipei, with the team traveling through various cities, including Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Pingtung, Kaohsiung, Chiayi, Taichung, and Hsinchu. Along the route, the cyclists will engage with local communities, sharing specially prepared thank-you stickers as tokens of appreciation.

Tourism Administration Director-General Chen Yu-hsiu highlighted that the event serves to not only express thanks but also to showcase Taiwan's scenery and hospitality to Japanese travelers, thereby promoting cycling tourism. Japan remains a significant source market for Taiwan, with 1.48 million Japanese visitors recorded last year. The goal is to increase this number to 1.7 million this year.

Event organizer Tsuyoshi Nojima, a former Taiwan correspondent for the Asahi Shimbun, emphasized that the tour aims to transform Japan's gratitude into tangible action. Additionally, the Tourism Administration announced that a "Thank You, Taiwan--Japan-Taiwan Friendship Night" event will be held in Kaohsiung during the tour.

The devastating earthquake on March 11, 2011, triggered a massive tsunami and a nuclear plant crisis in northeastern Japan, resulting in the loss of an estimated 15,000 to 18,000 lives. The disaster prompted a global outpouring of aid, with Taiwan making significant contributions to the relief efforts.