Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori on Saturday helped plant cherry trees in Taiwan at a memorial park dedicated to engineer Yoichi Hatta, to express Japan's gratitude for the country's assistance following the March 2011 disasters.
Taiwan has been the most generous contributor to postdisaster recovery efforts in Tohoku, donating 6.6 billion New Taiwan dollars (¥18 trillion) for rebuilding projects in the devastated region, President Ma Ying-jeou said.
Ma and first lady Chow Mei-ching joined a TV fundraiser soon after the twin disasters struck and fielded telephone enquiries from donors. The fundraiser raked in ¥2.1 billion in just four hours.