This podcast explores Taiwan's history during the 1930s under Japanese rule, including the Taiwan Exposition, the Kōminka Movement, Taiwan's role in WWII, and the surrender of Japan in Taiwan in 1945.
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Quick takeaways
The 1935 Taiwan Exposition aimed to showcase Japan's modernization efforts and power during its colonial rule over Taiwan, despite being held during a time of economic hardships caused by World War II.
The Kōminka Movement aimed to promote Japanese-ization in Taiwan by encouraging the adoption of the Japanese language, eradicating other religions, and coercing Taiwanese people into adopting Japanese names, leading to resistance and an identity crisis.
Deep dives
Taiwan History Part 7: The 1935 Taiwan Exposition
The 1935 Taiwan Exposition showcased Japan's achievements during its colonial rule over Taiwan. Held in Taipei, the expo highlighted Japanese industrial and commercial exhibits, as well as cultural and recreational activities. It emphasized Japan's modernization efforts and aimed to demonstrate its power and influence to the world. The event received extensive support from the Japanese government and featured participation from various companies, both local and international. Despite its grandeur, the expo also took place during a time of economic hardships caused by the Allied bombing of Taiwan during World War II.
The Komenka Movement: Accelerating Japanese-ization
The Komenka movement aimed to accelerate the process of Japanese-ization in Taiwan. The movement focused on promoting the adoption of the Japanese language, eradicating other religions, and encouraging Taiwanese to adopt Japanese names. It aimed to instill loyalty to Japan among the Taiwanese people and prepare them for potential conscription into the Japanese military. The movement faced resistance from those who clung to their Chinese cultural identity, and while some individuals embraced Japanese-ization to ensure their survival, many others were coerced into compliance.
Taiwanese Involvement in World War II: Soldiers, Prisoners, and Tragedies
During World War II, Taiwan played several roles, serving as a military base, a staging area for operations, and a source of conscripted soldiers for the Imperial Japanese Army. Over 200,000 Taiwanese soldiers fought in various theaters, with many missing or killed in action. Taiwanese women were also forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military. Additionally, Taiwan became a target for Allied bombing raids, causing significant damage to infrastructure and adversely impacting the economy. The end of the war brought uncertainty and change to Taiwan, as it faced the challenge of transitioning from Japanese colonial rule to the control of the Republic of China.
The Transfer of Sovereignty and the Taiwanese Identity Crisis
The transfer of sovereignty over Taiwan from Japan to the Republic of China after World War II brought about an identity crisis for the Taiwanese people. The lack of a formal international treaty provided an opportunity for those advocating for Taiwan's independence to question the legitimacy of the transfer. While Retro Session Day marked the initial transfer, the absence of a comprehensive peace treaty until 1951 left the status of Taiwan undetermined. The presence of mainland Chinese officials who spoke Mandarin but not the local languages created communication challenges, and the influx of Nationalist troops added further strain. These events set the stage for the subsequent Chinese Civil War and the mass retreat of the Nationalist government to Taiwan.
Taiwan's history continues into the 1930s during the period of Japanese rule. We pick up where we left off last time in 1930. In Part 7 we'll take the history all the way to the end of WWII and the defeat of Japan. We'll look at several of the events of the 1930s such as The Taiwan Exposition, the Kōminka Movement, Taiwan's role in the war, and what happened when it was all over.