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Saitama Governor Ueda Pledges Charitable Support for Kawauchi's Appearance at Taiwan's Wanjinshi Marathon

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20160227-00000015-san-l11

translated by Brett Larner

Following the major earthquake that struck southern Taiwan on Feb. 6, Kuki H.S. employee and civil servant runner Yuki Kawauchi, 28, will run the Mar. 20 Wanjinshi Marathon in New Taipei City, Taiwan to show his support for recovery and reconstruction efforts.  Saitama Governor Kiyoshi Ueda announced Kawauchi's participation during a session at the prefectural assembly.

In an interview with the Sankei Newspaper Kawauchi had spoken strongly of the considerable assistance and support Japan received from Taiwan at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.  "I have not forgotten the kindness Japan received, and I wanted to tell the people of Taiwan that we in Japan support them too.  That's why I have decided to run," he said.  Governor Ueda proudly told the assembly, "He is an outstanding representative of our prefectural government."

Governor Ueda announced that he has also "called for donations from Saitama Prefectural Government employees."  So far the prefecture's civil servants have donated 1,300,000 yen [~$11,500 USD] which will be sent to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Ambassador Representative Office in Minato, Tokyo in early March to be used for relief efforts in affected areas.
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