Department of Sports, Taipei City Government

The Department for Youth, Taipei City Government, led by Commissioner Yi-Hsi Chou, visited Tokyo, Japan in February of 2026 and was invited to participate again in the Second Tokyo Global Forum on Children, hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Together with representatives from cities across 20 countries, the delegation exchanged views on how cities can support youth development and establish diverse, sustainable empowerment mechanisms for young people. In addition to attending the forum, the delegation visited Waseda University to finalize this year’s agreement for the International Student Internship Program. Furthermore, the delegation traveled to Yokohama to view works by artist Luise Ono commissioned under Department for Youth, Taipei City Government in the 2025 International Young Artist Residency Program. The visit highlights the department’s achievements in youth policy, international cooperation, and cultural exchange.

The theme of this year’s forum was “Initiatives that support adolescents,” bringing together representatives from 20 cities and countries across Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific region, including Auckland, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, London, New York, Singapore, Vienna, and Toronto. The discussions focused on practical experiences from different cities in responding to the challenges of youth development, particularly in areas such as understanding mental health, building a sense of belonging, and providing opportunities for real-world experiences and career exploration. The forum also served as a platform to help open policy dialogue and strengthen cooperation among cities.

At the forum, Commissioner Yi-Hsi Chou of Department for Youth, Taipei City Government delivered a speech titled “Lighting Up the Future: Taipei’s Career Pathway for Adolescents” in which she introduced Taipei’s long-term career development framework. She outlined how the city introduces career exploration and industry exposure at elementary and junior high school levels. In senior high schools, students are provided with one-stop career guidance and internship opportunities. Through the connected pathway, young people can gradually transform their interests into future careers.

She also shared a case from the Youth Fashion Design Competition, where a girl who initially saw drawing and design as a personal interest was able, through structured training and professional mentorship, to turn her hobby into tangible creative work. She ultimately went on to receive recognition for her achievements. Commissioner Yi-Hsi Chou noted that Taipei City values not only outcomes, but also the city’s ability, at every key stage, to ensure that young people have opportunities to be understood, supported, and seen.

During the meeting, Commissioner Yi-Hsi Chou also discussed issues with representatives from different countries, including Tokyo’s concerns over rising youth loneliness and academic pressure, Vienna’s challenges in allocating resources for mental health prevention, and Copenhagen’s focus on cyberbullying.

Commissioner Yi-Hsi Chou exchanged views on how cities can provide support within both education systems and out-of-school environments. She also introduced Taipei’s Youth Overseas Internship Program, explaining that the city collaborates with multiple international partners to offer young people cross-border practical experiences. These opportunities allow students to explore their interests in diverse workplace settings, build competencies, and broaden their global perspectives. She expressed hope that future exchanges with participating cities can be further deepened, leading to more sustained and concrete forms of cooperation.

During the visit to Japan, the delegation also returned to Waseda University to build upon the existing cooperation in youth internships and talent exchange. The two sides reviewed the achievements of the two Waseda University interns who completed placements at Department for Youth, Taipei City Government last year, highlighting their learning experiences and practical contributions. Additionally, the delegation and Waseda University signed an agreement to continue collaboration under this year’s International Student Internship Program. Furthermore, the delegation traveled to Yokohama to reconnect with artist Luise Ono, who participated in the International Young Artist Residency Program in 2025. During the visit, members toured the artist’s latest work, a collaborative art project created with students at Yokohama Seya Elementary School, to promote the 2027 GREEN×EXPO in Yokohama. Through ongoing exchanges and dialogue, Taipei City continues to deepen partnerships with international counterparts across youth education, internship, and cross-cultural artistic collaboration. These efforts aim to transform youth exchange from a series of standalone initiatives into enduring networks that span years and cities, creating more opportunities for young people to engage with the world while also bringing the world closer to Taipei.

According to Department for Youth, Taipei City Government, this visit to Tokyo not only strengthened policy dialogue with cities worldwide on issues related to youth development, but also further advanced meaningful cooperation in areas including youth internships and cultural and artistic exchange. Moving forward, Taipei City will continue to use itself as a platform for international collaboration, expanding upon existing initiatives and strengthening partnerships with overseas counterparts. By doing so, the city aims to create more opportunities for young people to actively engage, gain practical experience, and broaden their global perspectives.