A treasure trove of Asian youth culture
Even before I was appointed as one of asianbeat's Asian Youth Cultural Ambassadors in 2006, I had travelled to Japan many times; however, my trip to Fukuoka in the summer of 2004 was just a flying visit, as I had made the trip in order to see Yuzu's(Japanese musicians) "Map of Dreams" concert. The only impression that stayed with me was that Fukuoka was a city with clean streets and clear skies that is only 2 hours away from Taipei, at that time I could not have imagined that I was about to embark on a dreamlike journey.

2 years later, as if by fate I was appointed an asianbeat "Asian Youth Cultural Ambassador" for Taipei. I asked the head of the center at the time why I had been appointed and he replied that through the appointment of Youth Cultural Ambassadors, they wanted to facilitate and promote cultural exchange between young people in various different Asian cities and regions, and for Fukuoka to become a hub of Asian youth cultural exchange.

At that time I was in charge of business planning for UFO Networks ("飛碟聯播網": A Taiwanese radio station) and had published a few travel books and novels, but I was unsure what I could offer asianbeat, and whilst not entirely certain on this point, given that this was a rare opportunity that seemed interesting, I decided to take up the offer.

I received a letter of appointment from the then governor of Fukuoka, Wataru Aso, and together with the ambassadors of Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Busan, and Bangkok became a member of asianbeat. Then, at the invitation of asianbeat, I participated in a number of music-related events, was interviewed by LOVE FM, and shared information about the music and youth culture of various cities. The experience I had at that time is so valuable to me.

The event that left the greatest impression on me was "MUSIC CITY TENJIN." The organizers, as a means of flooding the streets of Tenjin with music, provided an opportunity for young amateur musicians to perform with professionals, and through this the locals were able to enjoy the musical collaborations they produced. Stages were set up in various locations throughout Fukuoka city, from parks and department store plazas to bars and street corners people could enjoy performances of all different types of musical genres, including rock, jazz, classical and hip-hop. Also, by inviting performers from abroad, exchange took place through the music itself.

The massive live music event "SUNSET LIVE," which is held in Itoshima City, Fukuoka is like one of the many Taiwanese seaside music festivals that take place every year towards the end of the summer. At the event, which is held across 3 days, you enjoy can not only all of the bands performing live, but also appreciate pieces of art, such as the giant sand sculptures that were on display when I visited. For young people who love music, this is an event not be missed.

We were not only invited to local Fukuoka music events, but also participated in the ASIAN MUSIC MARKET festival that took place in Busan, Korea. And through exchanges between Fukuoka and Busan based musical organizations, we could share not just music, but also our dreams for the future, as well as our ways of living and ways of thinking. We came to understand youth from different places, and activities were held that were helping to cultivate a shared Asian youth culture. Fukuoka is aiming to become a place of exchange for the youth cultures of various countries and regions.

In addition to the music-related events, as a means of facilitating the exchange of information between young people throughout Asia, asianbeat's "FROM ASIA" segment features local correspondents based in various locations reporting on the latest information from their respective Asian cities. In this feature, young people from around the world can find the latest information on fashion, music, manga, food and artists translated into Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean and Thai.

Finally, the three years I had as a youth cultural ambassador, felt as if I was a traveler making my way through a map of dreams, and I think I acquired rich, colorful life experiences. Now, as asianbeat celebrates 10 years since its establishment, I would like to express my gratitude to have spent such an enjoyable time here, filled with music!

Even to this day I still remember the words of TED, the Asian Youth cultural Ambassador from Bangkok, "Youth culture never die!"

asianbeat, congratulations on your 10th year!!!