222
Vestiges of Japanese Colonialism in Taiwan
Nobue Homma
（Stephen Richmond ゼミ）
religion and social customs. As Scholars such
1. Introduction
as Ito (1993) have pointed out, as a result of
As a result of the Sino-Japanese War of
prolonged expansion, the human resources of
1894-1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan, and
Japan were drained at this point, and there was
became its colony. Japan’s governance of the
a definite need for the nation to depend on the
island continued over approximately fifty years
resources of a colony.
until 1945, at the conclusion of the Pacific War. In
In terms of language reform, Japan set built
May 1895, Japan established its own Governor-
language schools in many regions and speaking
General of Taiwan. Sukenori Kabayama became
Japanese was enforced all over the country.
the first Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan,
Taiwanese, Hakkanese, and native languages
and began his colonial administration. After
were oppressed and forbidden in the process. In
Gentaro Kodama became the fourth Governor-
addition, some words of Japanese origin arrived
General of Taiwan, he appointed Shinpei
Taiwan where there remains the Japanese rule
Goto to head of civilian affairs. They created
of Taiwanese today. This is one of the reasons
industries such as sugar production, pursued
behind the linguistic differences between
projects in education, agricultural reform and
Taiwanese and the languages of the Chinese
the eradication of opium addiction, and generally
mainland. Also, many signboards written in
advanced the modernization of Taiwan. At the
Japanese are still used in Taiwan. A typical
same time, the organization of colonial rule
example of this is the hiragana character " の " (no).
was established by effectively using the "carrot
Although it is originally written as " 的 " (de) in
and stick" method of colonial administration.
Chinese, many signboards seen in Taiwan still
Although it was a golden opportunity
for
feature the Japanese hiragana "の" (no). This
Japan, Taiwan was distant from the Japanese
is widely used in the title of the signboards of
archipelago, Nevertheless, Japan had a profound
stores, brand names, and also TV programs, and
effect on Taiwanese society.
other names.
When the Sino-Japanese War broke out in
Taiwan is a geographicially isolated island
1937, the Japanese government saw Taiwan as
where conflicts had continued for many years
an important resource provision base for Japan’s war
between native Taiwanese, immigrants from
effort, and a policy of’Tennoization’
, (that is, the
Fujian and Wokou pirates. In the 17th century,
process in which Japanese culture dominates,
the Dutch people colonized Taiwan. However,
assimilates, or influences other cultures) was
they set the native people against immigrants.
promoted by the governor-general’s office. The
Because of this, it was difficult to describe an
Imperial policy was a movement to“Japanify”
original Taiwanese culture existing at this time.
the Taiwanese, which consisted of laws which
After the Sino-Japanese War in 1895, Japan
outlined language reform, name changes, a
annexed Taiwan. The Japanese people felt proud
volunteer work system and laws regarding
of the first territorial acquisitions under the
223
Vestiges of Japanese Colonialism in Taiwan
Empire of Japan, but ultimately maintenance
of Taiwan proved to be too much for Japan to
handle (Ito, 1993). At the time, Taiwan was in
future of relations between the two countries.
2.
crisis; it suffered from epidemics, and revolts
2.1Japan-TaiwanRelations
by the native Taiwanese occurred frequently.
In 1895, Taiwan was ceded to Japan by
The Sing dynasty of China gave up the idea of
the Shimonoseki Treaty. After that, Japan
directly ruling Taiwan. At this point in time,
governed Taiwan until the end of World War
Taiwan was a desolate land. The native people
II in September 1945. In 1951, Japan abandoned
spoke different languages in each area, so
all the right, authority, and claims to Taiwan
communication problems were common. This
and Penghu under The Treaty of San Francisco.
often led to hostilities or even outright conflicts
The following year, Japan concluded its peace
among the native people.
treaty with the Taiwanese government. Since
As has been pointed out by Wang (1983),
then, these two countries have maintained some
the religion and customs of Taiwan were greatly
manner of diplomatic relations. However, in
changed under the influence of Japanese culture.
1972, Japan signed a joint declaration with the
Traditional Japanese culture such as hot springs,
People’s Republic of China to establish regular
enka, sake, oden, and Bushido can still be seen
diplomatic relations. At the same time, Foreign
in contemporary Taiwanese culture. In addition,
Minister Ohira announced that in order to normalize
Japanese karaoke, J-POP, comics, anime, video
diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China,
games and fashion have been introduced to
Japan would have to pull out of the Treaty of
Taiwan anew.
Taipei, which then became void. The Taiwanese
Young people who have a liking for Japan
government immediately announced that it
and its culture came to be called 哈 日 族 (Ha ri
would break relations with Japan. As a result
zu) in the late 1990s. Moreover, since many TV
of that, diplomatic relations between Japan and
programs from Japan have been broadcast for
the Taiwanese government ended. The Japanese
many years, many people in Taiwan are familiar
government has abided by the Japan-China Joint
with Japanese people and places.
Communique of 1972. At the same time, they
There are no formal diplomatic relations
have maintained working relations on a non-
between Japan and Taiwan today. Unofficial
governmental basis with Taiwan. An example
negotiations through Interchange Association
of this is Interchange Association of Japan,
and Japan and the East Asia Relations
which is based in both countries, and Taiwan’
Commission are charged with dealing with
s establishment of both the East Asia Relations
the business issues of these two countries.
Commission based in Taiwan and the Taipei
Traditionally, Taiwanese people place great
Economic and Cultural Representative Office,
importance on information supply and flow.
which is based in Japan.
Some Japanese language internet sites have
In terms of trade between Japan and
been established and are visited regularly by
Taiwan in 2011, exports from Japan amounted to
Taiwanese. Few other countries produce as
52,200 million dollars and imports amounted to
much information in Japanese as Taiwan.
18,200 million dollars. Taiwan became the fourth-
In this essay, I would like to briefly
largest trading partner of Japan. Furthermore,
introduce the history of Japan-Taiwan relations,
the investment from Japan to Taiwan of 2011
describe some of the effects that Japan had on
reached a record 441 points (Interchange
Taiwan during this time, and comment on the
Association, Japan, 2012, 28th May).
224
In 2011, approximately 1,290,000 Japanese
partnership promotion year. Responding to
nationals visited Taiwan. It was the highest
this, Japan expanded business to Taiwan. Both
number of Japanese visitors ever and in the
countries gained great results from this step
return direction, Some 990,000 Taiwanese
such as the implementation of the working
nationals came to Japan. Such frequent traffic is
holiday system, support from Japan to disasters
reflected in the regular flights between Japan
of typhoon in Taiwan, establishing the research
and Taiwan which according to Interchange
center for Japanese studies at National Chengchi
Association statistics numbered 268 per week as
University, and the agreement to run flights
at February 2012.
between Tokyo International Airport and
With regards the relationship between
Taipei International Airport. Since then, Japan
Japan and Taiwan under the current Ma Ying-
and Taiwan have made concrete progress. On
jiu administration, National Party President
October 31st, 2010, a regular chartered flight
Ma Ying-Jiu was inaugurated as the Republic
service was launched between Tokyo and
of China President on May 20th, 2008. Most
Taipei. It has contributed to expanding of the
recently, he visited Japan in July 2006 and
traffic between countries. Japan and Taiwan
November 2007. After he was elected as
formed a strong bond in 2011. Taiwan provided
president on May 22nd, 2008, he held a press
every possible assistance to Japan when the
conference for Japanese reporters. This shows
Tohoku earthquake occurred in March 2011.
that he emphasizes relations with Japan. In
Taiwan donated more than 20 billion yen and
the same way, Japanese government sent a
dispatched 28 aid workers to affected areas. In
celebratory message to President Ma through
response to this, many politicians visited Taiwan
the Interchange Association on May 20th, 2008.
and showed their gratitude.
The Ma administration’s actions can be
seen as the promotion of a peaceful relationship
2.2Linguisticinfluence
and the economic and trade relations with
A certain percentage of Taiwanese people
Japan. In addition, they assign great value to
are able to understand and use the Japanese
security partnership of Japan and the United
language. In particular, people over 60 years of
States. In particular, this is seen in actions such
age who received their education during the
as requests to create Free Trade Agreement
period of Japanese rule speak Japanese quite
and Economic Partnership at an early stage,
fluently. In the summer of 1995, a movie titled
a demand of putting flights into operation
“ 多 桑 (Duo Sang : Father)”was released. The
between Taipei International Airport and
pronunciation of this title is from“Father (To-
Tokyo International Airport, moving into
san)”in Japanese and has the same meaning
Chinese market by coordination with Japanese
as the Japanese. Also, Japanese is frequently
companies, and expanding interaction between
spoken in this movie. For instance,“卡桑 (Ka Sang
Japanese young people and Taiwanese young
: Mother)”in Japanese“Ka-san”,“ 歐 吉 桑 (ou
people.
ji sang : Sir)”
“ 歐 巴 桑 (ou ba sang : Madam)”.
President Ma emphasized Japan’s special
Those words are entrenched in the language of
role as partner to Taiwan at a meeting with
Taiwan.
Japanese reporters on September 19th, 2008.
Private universities in Taiwan such as Tam
He openly aspired to develop strong working
Kang University, Soochow University, Chinese
relations with Japan. On January 2009, Taiwan
Culture University and Tunhai University set
announced that 2009 was Taiwan-Japan special
great store on the teaching of the Japanese
225
Vestiges of Japanese Colonialism in Taiwan
language (Xu, 1996). Many professional schools
such as the Atayal and the Ami. These two
have set up a department of Japanese Literature.
groups speak Japanese even now (Xu, 1996).
However, these facts are relatively unknown to
Each used to speak its original language before
Japanese people. An example of this ignorance
Japan governed Taiwan. Japanese became
was demonstrated on the Japanese news
a common language for them through the
program,“News Japan (FNN)”. In this program,
education of Japanese and this led to unification
Taiwanese elders who sing Japanese enka (folk
of the island. (Xu Guoxiong, 1996）
songs) were asked by a reporter if singing in
After Japan gave up its rights to Taiwan,
Japanese was easy for them. They replied that
Japanese culture was spread out over a large
they were used to speaking Japanese, and sing
area in the country. After the end of World War
not only enka but also old Japanese army songs.
II, Japanese culture diminished spontaneously
It might be puzzling to understand why they
or became limited through government policy
sing Japanese songs despite going through many
to ’de-Japanize’Taiwan, and gradually lost its
hardships under Japanese rule. One Taiwanese
former effect. However, there are still reminders
elder said that there was a world of difference
of the huge cultural influence of Japan in many
between Japan and China. In other words, the
areas of Taiwanese life. I would now like to
Empire of Japan had been much better towards
introduce a few of the most obvious ones.
the Taiwanese than the Chinese National Party.
Professor Ito Kiyoshi fills in the background as
2.3.1Architecture
follows. The Republic of China adopted a“Non-
During Japan’s rule, the architectural
Japanization”policy in education. They made
styles introduced to Taiwan had two distinct
use of educational facilities prepared by the
patterns — one was Japanese, and the other was
Japanese government and enforced the policy of
Western. The Japanese style is mainly typified
“Sinicization”
.
by Shoin-Zukuri and the architecture of temples
However, people who were born in Taiwan
and shrines. The former is a style of residence
during the period of Japanese rule, known as
which was built for Japanese officials. They are
本 省 人 (Ben sheng ren) and Chinese people who
seen throughout Taiwan even now. In addition,
moved to Taiwan after the war, known as 外省人 (Wai
Japanese style rooms are seen in apartments
sheng ren) have different lifestyles and values.
and cottages. Alcoves, hanging scrolls and
（Xu Guoxiong, 1996）These two groups clashed
paper sliding doors are used in contemporary
over these matters. Taiwanese people were
houses in Taiwan. The latter took in shrine
mentally pent up under the control of Chinese
architecture and temple architecture. According
people, who made up less than 13% of the whole
to 1942 statistics, the number of Shinto shrines
population of Taiwan at the time. Moreover, the
in whole of Taiwan reached a peak of 613 (Xu,
government officials of the Republic of China
1996). After the war, most of them were rebuilt
corrupted practices like occupation forces. In the
as National Revolutionary Martyrs Shrines.
end, people from both sides clashed on February
Taoyuan Martyrs Shrine is the only shrine
28th 1947. More than ten thousand Taiwanese
which is perfectly preserved today. However,
people were cruelly killed. The“228 Incident”,
the government could not afford to completely
as it came to be known, led to going anti-Chinese
rebuild the institution. For this reason, the
sentiment and greater pro-Japanese feelings.
appearance was preserved as a Japanese-style
The native people of Taiwan divide
shrine. In 1985, this shrine was planned to be
themselves into nine regions and ethnic groups
rebuilt for the reason that it had aged, but
226
architects and cultural heritage organizations
2.3.3JudoandKendo
opposed this proposal. At one time there were
Under Japanese rule, most junior high
more than 200 major shrines in Taiwan (Xu,
schools in Taiwan were given a judo curriculum
1996), but all of these were removed through
and students learnt this Japanese martial art.
anti-Japanese policies put in place after
Later, it became more popular as a hobby
colonization ended. For this reason, critics
amongst the poplace. There are more than thirty
insisted that such features should be preserved.
training halls in Taiwan today, and it is said that
Most Japanese-style buildings ended up being
more than 30,000 people practice judo. Kendo
preserved as shrines and old burial mounds.
(Japanese fencing) was introduced to Taiwan
during the Japanese occupation, in the same
way as judo. According to the current estimate,
approximately 10,000 people in Taiwan continue
to practice this traditional martial art.
2.3.4Japanesecuisine
According to academic Xu Guoxiong, the
features of Japanese cuisine are a sense of the
seasons, the beauty of arrangement and harmony
between dishes and foods. These features were
Taoyuan Martyr’s Shrine (Souece : Wiki Commons)
not predominant in Taiwanese food before the
Japanese Occupation. Oil and spices are the
2.3.2Religion
key ingredients in Chinese cooking, from which
The influence of Japan was not limited to
Taiwanese cuisine drew its inspiration. After the
building design. The religions Shinto, Buddhism
war, Japanese food became popular in Taiwan
and even Christianity were introduced to
for health reasons. Taiwanese envied Japanese
Taiwan from Japan. In particular, Shinto thought
peoples’comparatively long lifespans. This is
and practice excised great influence over the
part of the reason that facilitated the expansion
colony Taiwan and Japanese rulers restricted
of Japanese food in Taiwan. There are more
Taiwanese people from following their original
than sixty famous Japanese restaurants in Taipei
customs and practices. After the war, all the
alone. Furthermore, Japanese rice is served
religions which came in with Japanese quickly
widely in standard homes, rather than Chinese
faded away, with the exception of Tenrikyo.
varieties. Taiwanese people have a taste for
Tenrikyo is a monotheistic religion originating
Japanese foods such as miso soup, takuan pickles
in revelations. Japanese colonists began to
and sweet redbean paste jelly, and these can be
propagate Tenrikyo in Taiwan from 1897. After
seen in many households. In addition, sushi and
that, it gradually spread throughout the whole
udon can be seen at supermarkets. These foods
island. After the end of the war, the group
are common in Taiwan today.
applied to establish churches across Taiwan and
Starting with cuisine, Japan’s unique
local governments permitted this. In addition,
customs and culture have been passed through
this was authorised by the central government.
and for some time, prevailed in Taiwan. We can
According to 1992 statistics, there are 145
see the close ties between Japanese culture and
chapels and more than 29,000 congregations still
Taiwanese culture in a variety of areas even
active in Taiwan. (Xu, 1996）
now.
227
Vestiges of Japanese Colonialism in Taiwan
Conclusion
widespread attention from Taiwanese people. It
was reported as widely in Taiwan as if it had
Japanese culture lives on in Taiwan, almost
happened in their country. Also, Japan received
seventy years after Japanese colonists pulled
generous support from Taiwan in the aftermath
out of the island. However, official relations
of the disaster. In response to this, private
between Japan and Taiwan have not always
Japanese citizens carried out a fund drive to run
been easy. Japan does not maintain official
an advertisement in Taiwanese newspaper as
diplomatic relations with Taiwan today because
a token of gratitude, which they called the“ 謝
of the importance of its relationship with China.
謝台湾計画 (Xie xie Taiwan Keikaku)”. At that
However, these two countries maintain unofficial
time, the Japanese government did not formally
relationships in a variety of ways. Looking at
express gratitude for Taiwanese help. This is
trends in tourism, entertainment and culture, it
an example of the continuing bond between
is clear that there are many Taiwanese people
Japanese and Taiwanese people. It might be
with an interest in Japan. Also, even today
seen then, that political connections are not as
there are many people who can speak Japanese
important for these two countries as cultural
fluently and are familiar with Japan’s culture
and human exchanges.
and customs. It is possible for Japanese to feel
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The Tohoku earthquake in 2011 received