Ferry service between Taiwan and Japan's Okinawa resumes after 18 years

A ceremony was held on Thursday (28 May) to launch the ferry route between Taiwan and Okinawa, Japan, marking the resumption of direct service between Keelung and Ishigaki Island after an 18-year hiatus. The ceremony in Keelung, northern Taiwan, was attended by officials including members of parliament and city government representatives, and featured lion dance performances. Keelung Deputy Mayor Chiu Pei-lin said the new service aims to attract more Japanese tourists to Taiwan. “We have prepared numerous appealing destinations and look forward to welcoming tourists,” Chiu told reporters. Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama said the new route is not merely a transport link but a bridge for broader development in tourism, logistics, culture, and education. “I also hope the ties between Taiwan, Ishigaki, and the Yaeyama region—which includes Ishigaki and other islands—will endure forever,” Nakayama said at the ceremony. The Yaima Line ferry is expected to connect Keelung and Ishigaki in approximately eight hours. During the first month of operations starting Thursday, the ferry operator will provide one round-trip journey per week. According to Keelung Port operators, regular ferry service between Keelung and Ishigaki operated for over 50 years before being suspended in 2008.