Taiwanese illustrator Tonn Hsu (許彤) was invited by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in Japan to design this year’s promotional pamphlet.
Last year’s promotional pamphlet illustrated by Taiwanese comic artist Zuo Hsuan (左萱) received positive acclaim and were used as posters by many Japanese people, thus TECRO in Japan decided to invite Tonn Hsu this time to introduce Taiwan through her illustrations.
The illustrations in Hsu’s promotional pamphlet designed for TECRO in Japan revolves around Alishan, coupled with Taiwanese cultural elements such as the tea ceremony, traditional tiles, aboriginal tribes, temples and the Alishan Forest Railway.
Like last year’s pamphlet, the illustrations contain beautiful Taiwanese imageries. Some Japanese people commented on TECRO in Japan’s social media site that they have set the pamphlet as their phones’ wallpaper, and voiced their desire to visit Taiwan after the pandemic subsides. Others said that seeing the illustrations on screen is not satisfying enough and are keen on getting the paper pamphlet.
Hsu expressed that it is a great honor to draw illustrations for this year’s pamphlet. She noted that she has a great love for Alishan as it contains many precious cultural and natural landscapes, such as the renowned train, temples, and sacred trees, in addition to being a multicultural center where the tea ceremony, ceramic tiles, and the indigenous Tsou people can be found.
TECRO in Japan noted that the pamphlet also promotes cultural institutions such as the National Human Rights Museum, Taiwan Creative Content Agency, Taiwan Film and Audiovisual Institute, and the Taiwan Literature Base in hopes of providing the Japanese people with insights into Taiwan’s cultural institutions.
By inviting Tonn Hsu to design and illustrate this year’s promotional postcards and folders and other such promotional items, TECRO in Japan hopes to introduce Taiwan’s soft power to Japan, and at the same time foster cultural collaborations between Taiwanese illustrators and Japan.