Mayor Chen's visit to Hachioji City / 陳菊市長訪問八王子市
◎Text by Ya-Ting Hou ◎Photos by Siou-Ying Liou & Cing-Siang Lin
Ever since Kaohsiung City forged an alliance with Hachioji City, these two cities have successfully established a close relationship. On August 3rd, Chu Chen, Mayor of Kaohsiung City, led the delegation to visit Hachioji City in Japan, in the hope of exchanging views on Hachioji City's port development plans, its landscaping and the ecology protection measures to be taken in the future. However, to strengthen the diplomatic ties between these two cities was the main goal for this visit.
Mayor Chen and the delegation were invited by Ryuichi Kurosu, Mayor of Hachioji City, to take part in the Hachioji Festival, the most prominent festival in the city. Mayor Chen presented photos of Taiwan during the 2007 Photography Exhibition to the residents of Hachioji. She indicated that through this exhibition, the people of Hachioji City could beome acquainted with the City of Kaohsiung. Mayor Chen, extended a sincere welcome everyone to come, visit and invest in Kaohsiung.
On August 4 th, Mayor Chen and the delegation visited the Yamanishi Electronic Company and delivered a 
speech at the 2007 Photography Exhibition, held in Hachioji City; on the August 5th, the delegation visited the Yakuoin Temple on Takao Mountain, and participated in the Hachioji Festival; on August 7th, the delegation visited Mr. Shigefumi Matsuzawa, the Governor of Kanagawa Prefectures, and Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama.
Mayor Chen stated that the Hachioji Festival demonstrated the participation and capabilities of the whole community, which was involved in these activities. Residents worked closely together because of the festival, which also established community awareness. Hachioji Festival set a fine example to Kaohsiung for hosting alike event, such as the Zuoying Wan Nian Festival.
Mayor Chen was impressed by how Japan has become dedicated the practices of energy saving, which beautifying its landscaping. Mayor Chen also noticed that despite the hot weather, all the government departments are able to regularize the indoor temperature at 28 degrees. Such approaches have shown their resolve to save energy on the planet. Besides, Hachioji City and devotees from the Yakuoin Temple, would donate saplings instead of money in order to help create the Ginkgo Boulevard together. Indeed, Japanese devotion to the protection of the natural environment and its resources, should be a lesson to Taiwan, where increasing mudflows in various areas are a constant problem, especially during a particularly heavy rainy period.
As for the development of Yokohama's port area, the government works with the private sectors, and together they offer overall plans and tax incentives. Such a policy could serve as an example when conducting plans for the development of the 1-22 wharves in Kaohsiung.
◎文／王御風 ◎圖／劉秀英、林慶祥
甫於去年與高雄市締結友好城市的日本八王子市，陳菊市長8月3日率團前往訪問，考察當地港灣開發、道路景觀綠美化、生態保育等，並積極行銷高雄，成功拓展兩市情誼及城市外交。
陳菊市長應八王子市市長黑須隆一的邀請前往八王子市訪問，除參加當地重要的慶典「八王子祭」外，並出席當地展出的「2007台灣寫真展」，陳菊市長表示，藉由該展讓八王子市民更瞭解高雄市，同時熱烈歡迎他們能到高雄市來觀光、投資。
陳菊市長率領市府團隊，於八月四日前往位於八王子市的Yamanishi電子公司參觀，並蒞臨台灣寫真展儀式致詞、五日則參訪高尾山藥王院、參觀「八王子祭」慶典。七日則轉往神奈川縣，拜會神奈川縣知事松澤成文，並參訪「橫濱港灣未來21世紀」。
陳市長表示，八王子市祭典結合社區展現民間動員的力量，樹立「社區總體營造」典範。透過祭典，人與人的關係變得緊密，無形中凝聚社區意識，很值得我們未來舉辦「左營萬年祭」學習。
她同時對於日本落實節約能源及生態美綠化工作也留下深刻印象。她說，即使天氣炎熱，日本公部門室內空調固定為攝氏28度，八王子市公所更強制落實隨手關燈政策，處處顯現出愛護地球資源從小處著手的節約措施，八王子市由市民共同栽植的「銀杏大道」及藥王院信眾以捐贈樹苗取代金錢捐獻的方式，也可作為本市日後規劃道路路樹植栽的參考。另外，日本對於自然環境的尊重及水土保持的積極落實，更是土石流威脅日益嚴重的台灣應該學習的。
除此之外，陳市長對於橫濱港灣的開發，由公部門與民間公司聯手合作開發，再搭配整體規劃及租稅減免等優惠措施的成功模式，認為其開發經驗可作為本市「港灣開發推動小組」規劃１─22號碼頭港埠區的參考借鏡。