The Kumamoto Shanghai Office was jointly established by Kumamoto Prefecture, Kumamoto City, and Kumamoto University on the 15th floor of the Westgate Mall (Shanghai Isetan Building), Shanghai, China.
The Kumamoto Shanghai Office Opening Ceremony was held at 11am on January 11th. The opening ribbon was cut by President Taniguchi along with the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, the Mayor of Kumamoto City, the President of the Kumamoto Prefectural Assembly, the President of the Kumamoto Municipal Assembly, and the President of the Kumamoto Prefecture Foreign Trade Association.
A reception was also held at the Shanghai International Airport Hotel from 6:30 pm on the same day, attended by approximately 200 participants including the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture, the Mayor of Kumamoto City, the president of Kumamoto University, delegates of the Kumamoto Prefectural and Municipal Assemblies, Shanghai City officials, and officials from the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai as well as from the Association of People from Kumamoto in Shanghai. The Kumamoto Shanghai Office staff consists of a Kumamoto Prefectural officer, a Kumamoto City officer, and three local employees. The office provides services such as developing exchanges between academic and research institutions in China and Kumamoto University, providing information to students who wish to join exchange programs in Japan, and strengthening the network of Kumamoto University graduates living in China. In addition, the office supports local Kumamoto companies that wish to enter into the Chinese market. Finally, the office works to further attract tourists from China to Kumamoto.
