Taiwan's outgoing top Japanese envoy is stepping down after a three-year term marked by deepening ties between the two countries, a neutral but notable diplomatic transition.

• Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu met with Mikio Katayama, head of Japan's de facto embassy in Taipei, ahead of his departure, thanking him for strengthening Taiwan-Japan relations over the past three years.
• Tourism and public goodwill between the two sides are strong, with Taiwanese visits to Japan climbing toward 8 million this year and favorability ratings above 75% on both sides.
• TSMC's continued investment in Japan's Kumamoto region was cited as a sign of growing economic cooperation between the two countries.
• Katayama said he leaves after 43 years in Japan's foreign service, calling Taiwan's close, trust-based relationship with Japan irreplaceable, including mutual disaster aid.

Outlook: Katayama returns to Japan, and both sides expect a successor to keep building on economic, cultural, and diplomatic cooperation.