Japan-Taiwan bonds and a tariff refund boost

August 27, 2026 16:46 JSTHello, this is Kenji, presenting the latest #techAsia newsletter from Tokyo.This Friday marks a month since the M7.1 earthquake that hit the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kumamoto, taking 38 lives and affecting over 26,000 residences.Donations from around the world have been pouring in, but Taiwan -- as usual -- stands out. The International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), an arm of Taiwan's Foreign Ministry, announced on Monday that a campaign initiated on the island had raised more than 300 million New Taiwan dollars ($9.4 million) for relief efforts.Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., which operates a chip factory in Kumamoto, has separately pledged 250 million yen ($1.6 million), while its charity foundation has launched a fundraising campaig