Taiwan's Chiayi Prison Museum says it will partner with Japan's Abashiri Prison Museum to promote tourism and educate people on the prisons' histories. The two museums signed a joint agreement on Tuesday to increase cross-cultural exchanges.
The Chiayi Prison Museum opened in 1922 and is a national monument. Justice Minister Tsai Ching-hsiang (蔡清祥) says the Chiayi Prison Museum is historically significant because its entire architecture is still well-preserved. It also shares some unique design features with Japan's Abashiri Prison Museum.
Tsai says the Taiwanese museum has tourism potential and attracted 50,000 people when it was partially converted into a youth hostel for an exhibition last year. He says he hopes this partnership will allow more tourists to understand the history behind the prisons and their significance in communities.