Taiwan Hands Japan More Than ¥1.4 Billion in Public Donations for Kumamoto Earthquake Recovery

Taiwan has handed Japan more than NT$300 million, equivalent to about ¥1.4 billion or US$9.4 million, in donations raised from the public to support recovery and reconstruction efforts following a powerful earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung presented the funds to Kazuyuki Katayama, head of the Taipei Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, during a ceremony at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Taipei on September 17.

The money was raised following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that struck Kumamoto on July 28, killing 38 people and damaging nearly 43,000 homes. The donations are intended to help communities affected by the disaster with recovery and reconstruction.

More Than ¥1.4 Billion Raised Within a Month

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry commissioned the International Cooperation and Development Fund, known as TaiwanICDF, to establish and administer a public donation account on August 1. It was the first time Taiwan's Foreign Ministry had asked the organization to manage a public disaster-relief fundraising campaign.

The response from the Taiwanese public was substantial. More than NT$300 million was collected within approximately one month, with the entire amount designated for recovery and reconstruction work in the areas affected by the earthquake.

The funds were formally handed over during the September 17 ceremony, marking the completion of the public fundraising campaign and the transfer of the money for use in Japan's earthquake recovery efforts.

The scale of the fundraising response reflects the attention the disaster received in Taiwan, where people have previously organised donations and assistance for major disasters in Japan and other parts of the region.

Kumamoto Earthquake Killed 38 People

The earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan on July 28. The magnitude 7.1 tremor caused extensive damage across affected communities and left tens of thousands of homes damaged.

A total of 38 people were killed in the disaster, while damage was recorded at nearly 43,000 homes. The scale of the damage created a substantial need for assistance as local communities moved from immediate emergency response toward longer-term recovery and reconstruction.

For residents whose homes and communities were damaged, reconstruction can involve considerably more than the initial emergency response. Restoring buildings, infrastructure and local facilities can continue long after the earthquake itself has passed.

The Taiwanese donations are therefore being provided specifically for recovery and reconstruction rather than being limited to the immediate emergency response that followed the earthquake.

Taiwan's Government Also Contributed

The public fundraising campaign was separate from an earlier contribution made directly by the Taiwanese government. Taiwan's government donated NT$5 million for disaster relief.

Senior Taiwanese officials also made personal donations. President Lai Ching-te, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim and Premier Cho Jung-tai each donated NT$200,000 in their personal capacities.

The government contribution and personal donations were made alongside the much larger public fundraising campaign. Businesses, civic organisations and Taiwanese communities overseas also contributed to the overall response.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister thanked those organisations and individuals who participated, saying the response demonstrated the close relationship between Taiwan and Japan.

TSMC Pledges Additional Reconstruction Support

The support for Kumamoto has also come from the business community. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TSMC, separately pledged ¥250 million for reconstruction in the prefecture.

TSMC has a significant connection with Kumamoto because it operates a semiconductor plant in Kikuyo, a town in the prefecture. The company and members of its supply chain have established operations in the area, bringing Taiwanese employees and other workers to Kumamoto.

Lin referred to this connection when explaining why the earthquake had particular significance for Taiwan. The growing presence of Taiwanese businesses and workers in Kumamoto has created closer links between the prefecture and Taiwan.

The earthquake therefore affected a Japanese region that has become increasingly connected with Taiwan through investment, manufacturing and the movement of people between the two sides.

Taiwan and Japan Have Helped Each Other After Disasters

Taiwan's foreign minister also highlighted the history of disaster assistance between Taiwan and Japan. Both sides have experienced major earthquakes and other natural disasters and have repeatedly provided assistance to each other.

Lin referred to Taiwan's 1999 Jiji earthquake, also known as the 921 earthquake, and Japan's 2011 Tohoku earthquake as examples of major disasters during which assistance was provided between the two sides.

He also mentioned the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in Japan and the 2025 Hualien earthquake in Taiwan, pointing to the repeated occasions on which the two sides have responded to each other's disasters.

The latest fundraising campaign follows that pattern of assistance. Taiwan's government and public have now provided support to communities in Kumamoto following the July 2026 earthquake.

Lin said Taiwan and Japan should continue strengthening cooperation in disaster prevention, disaster mitigation, emergency relief and post-disaster reconstruction.

Kumamoto Officials Thank Taiwanese Donors

Kazuyuki Katayama, who heads the Taipei Office of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, accepted the donations on behalf of Japan and thanked Taiwan's government and people for their support.

Katayama said the speed and scale of the response demonstrated the close relationship between Taiwan and Japan. The donations were raised relatively quickly after the disaster and came from a broad section of the Taiwanese public.

Tomoaki Motojima, who heads a Taiwan-based association representing people from Kumamoto, also expressed gratitude to Taiwanese donors during the ceremony.

Motojima spoke about the impact of the earthquake and the work that remains necessary to rebuild affected communities. The donations will provide additional financial resources as the recovery process continues.

Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura had also previously thanked people in Taiwan for their assistance. Taiwanese organisations began fundraising and relief activities soon after the earthquake, while some groups also provided supplies and hot meals at evacuation shelters.

Donations Reflect Growing Connections With Kumamoto

The relationship between Taiwan and Kumamoto has grown in recent years through economic and community ties. TSMC's investment in the prefecture has been particularly significant, with its semiconductor manufacturing operation in Kikuyo creating a direct connection between Taiwan's technology industry and the region.

The presence of Taiwanese workers and businesses in Kumamoto means that the prefecture is now home to a growing Taiwanese community. This has added another dimension to the response following the earthquake.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said the relationship was one reason for the strong response to the disaster. Lin noted that the safety of Kumamoto is a shared concern because of the increasing number of Taiwanese people living and working there.

The fundraising campaign also demonstrates how disaster assistance can extend beyond government-to-government support. The majority of the ¥1.4 billion raised came from public donations, with businesses, civic organisations and Taiwanese communities overseas among those contributing.

Focus Now Shifts to Reconstruction

With the emergency phase of the earthquake response giving way to longer-term recovery, the focus is increasingly on rebuilding damaged communities and restoring normal life for residents.

The NT$300 million-plus raised in Taiwan has been designated for this recovery and reconstruction work. The funds are separate from TSMC's ¥250 million pledge and the earlier direct government contribution from Taiwan.

The combined support provides additional resources for communities dealing with the consequences of the July earthquake. The eventual reconstruction process is expected to involve the restoration of damaged homes and other local facilities as authorities assess what is required.

For Taiwan, the campaign also represents another example of public involvement in supporting Japan after a major natural disaster. For Kumamoto, the money provides assistance as affected communities continue the difficult transition from emergency relief to rebuilding.

Both Sides Face Similar Natural Disasters

Taiwan and Japan are both frequently affected by earthquakes and typhoons, making disaster preparedness and response an important area for cooperation between the two sides.

Lin said Taiwan and Japan should deepen cooperation not only after disasters occur but also in preparation for future emergencies. Areas of potential cooperation include disaster prevention, mitigation, relief operations and reconstruction.

The experience of the Kumamoto earthquake provides another opportunity for the two sides to share experience and strengthen their disaster-response links. Both have extensive experience dealing with earthquakes, typhoons and other natural hazards.

The latest donation campaign is therefore about more than the money transferred to Japan. It is also part of a longer history of assistance between Taiwan and Japan following major disasters.

A Large Public Response to Kumamoto's Recovery

More than NT$300 million raised from the Taiwanese public has now been formally handed to Japan for the recovery and reconstruction of communities affected by the Kumamoto earthquake.

The ¥1.4 billion-plus donation was raised within about a month after Taiwan opened its public fundraising account, while additional assistance has come from Taiwan's government, individual political leaders, businesses and community organisations.

The earthquake killed 38 people and damaged nearly 43,000 homes, leaving affected communities with a lengthy reconstruction process. The Taiwanese contribution will add to the resources available for that work.

Officials on both sides have described the response as another example of the close ties between Taiwan and Japan. As Kumamoto moves further into its reconstruction phase, the donations raised in Taiwan will form part of the broader effort to rebuild communities affected by the July disaster.