A small but pointed gesture of warmth between Tokyo and Taipei, positive for people who want closer Taiwan-Japan ties.

• A temple from Japan's Nara region and a temple in Taichung held a joint fire ritual together.
• Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae sent a congratulatory flower basket in her role as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, wishing for world peace and Taiwan-Japan friendship.
• About 40 Japanese monks and followers travelled to Taiwan for the ceremony, led by the head of the temple's Senju-in.
• The two temples swap visits every year: Taiwan's side goes to Japan in March, Japan's side comes to Taiwan in September.
• A sitting Japanese prime minister publicly blessing a Taiwan event is the kind of signal Beijing tends to read closely.

Outlook: Expect the annual exchange to continue, with each such gesture adding to the slow warming of unofficial Taiwan-Japan relations.