The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

Bo Yang 柏楊 (1920-2008)  was a Chinese historian, author, dissident, provocateur, and one of Taiwan’s most controversial commentators. After arriving in Taiwan in 1949 with the fleeing KMT, he almost immediately got into trouble with the island’s new one-party regime for everything from listening to the wrong radio station to critiquing Chinese culture. His most famous work was the incendiary book, “The Ugly Chinaman.” However, surprisingly, the crime for which he was sentenced to nine years in prison on Green Island was translating a “Popeye” cartoon strip!More info, pics, and links are on our WEBSITE.

Chris Tharp, author of the novel 'The Cuttlefish' and long-time South Korea resident, dives deep into the intertwined histories of Taiwan and South Korea. He discusses their parallel journeys from colonization to democracy, touching on the differing impacts of Japanese rule. The conversation also unveils the unique paths Christianity took in both regions influenced by nationalism. Tharp further contrasts the authoritarian legacies of leaders like Chiang Kai-shek and Syngman Rhee, and highlights the distinct political landscapes shaped by female leaders Park Geun-hye and Tsai Ing-wen.

Explore the enchanting legacy of Teresa Teng, the beloved Taiwanese pop icon who transformed Asian music. Discover the story behind a newly unearthed Japanese-language recording set for release in 2025. Dive into her rise to fame in the late 1970s and how her poignant songs, like 'The Moon Represents My Heart,' served as political commentary during turbulent times. Experience her journey from humble beginnings to superstardom, and learn how her music fostered unity and resilience across cultural divides.

Some people bought Tamagotchis in the '90s. Others? They paid birds to predict their future. In this week’s episode, we take a glimpse into Taiwan’s wild obsession with fortune-telling — and what it reveals about culture, comfort, and even politics. From oracle bones to rose stones, the history of Taiwanese divination has been an unpredictable ride.  Go check out our website. And follow us on social media...LIKE, SUB, etc!

Some have called Taipei a “mini-Shanghai.” If true, the emphasis might need to be on the word “mini.” The population of the greater Shanghai area is nearly 30 million, some six million more than the number of people who live in Taiwan. Yet, there are some interesting similarities – which mostly aren’t accidental. When CKS and the Nationalists took control in 1945, and then made Taipei the "ROC Provisional Capital" on December 7th, 1949, the new rulers began to shape Taipei in an image modeled in many ways after Shanghai. John Ross (world traveler that he is) has never been to this sprawling city, but Mark Kitto (English actor and author, most recently of China Running Dog, lived and worked there for around a decade. Mark and John discuss the Shanghai-Taipei connection via talking about and reading from the book, Last Boat Out of China, a tale of a family fleeing Red China and “temporarily” seeking shelter in Taipei.  

Han Cheung, a Taiwanese-American journalist, shares his journey from writing about Wyoming's Wild West to chronicling Taiwanese history in his column for the Taipei Times. He discusses the challenges of engaging younger audiences with complex historical contexts and the importance of diverse perspectives. Cheung also digs into the balance of historical commentary, highlighting figures like Chiang Kai-shek. Plus, he explores the cultural intersections of music and identity, touching on unique genres like Cantonese sludge metal and their implications for reclaiming heritage.

In 1963, a 32-year-old American grad student in Taipei wrote a newspaper editorial complaining that Taiwanese people were great at treating friends kindly, but kind of awful in public. Within days, he had unintentionally launched a nationwide student movement for civility, morality, and self-awareness. But this student-led push for better manners would also lead to arrests, prison time, and even psychiatric detention.In this episode, we tell the strange true story of the “Self-Awareness Movement,” how it exploded from one opinion piece, and explain how it contributed (or didn’t) to Taiwan’s public behavior transformation. Listen as we go from the sharp-elbowed chaos at bank counters and bus stops of the 1960s to today’s orderly lines and the quiet pride of the MRT.SHOW NOTES, TRANSCRIPTS, pics, links, and more at formosafiles.com

Dr. Jimmy Lee, a prominent physician in Taipei, dives deep into the remarkable life of Dr. Takagi Tamoe, a pivotal figure in early Taiwan medicine. They explore Tamoe's samurai roots and his revolutionary contributions during Japan's colonial era. Hear about his determination in Meiji-era Japan and his role in modernizing public health and disease control in Taiwan. The conversation also highlights his legacy in medical education and the unique cultural bridges he built, emphasizing integrity and community in his approach to medicine.

In 1902, Dr. Takagi Tomoe arrived in newly-colonized Japanese Formosa as a seasoned Japanese medical expert sent here to battle bubonic plague – one of the many tropical sicknesses that killed thousands of local people each year. Takagi had a rare sense of empathy. Unlike many of his peers, he encouraged local students to attend his medical school (even letting them speak Taiwanese). This brilliant Japanese and German-trained doctor helped create Taiwan’s medical system – and also, in an unexpected twist, Takagi was tasked with managing the company that’s today known as Taipower. In this largely forgotten story, Taipei physician Dr. Jimmy Lee joins John Ross to tell the story of how Dr. Takagi became one of colonial Taiwan’s most influential figures.

PLEASE NOTE: Formosa Files 中文版 has a new, separate feed. Hear it HERE, or on our website. Thanks! This week, Formosa Files digs into two wild and almost totally forgotten killings from Taiwan’s Cold War years. First up: a soldier named Li Wei, a former POW, sets his army barracks on fire in the middle of the night and opens fire on his fellow soldiers. The whole thing gets swept under the rug. No local news coverage. It’s been basically erased from memory.Then there’s Taiwan’s deadliest school shooting: the Lixing High School Massacre. A fired sports coach shows up at school with a pistol and a grudge. He kills the principal, teachers, and even goes after the principal’s family. This one made the headlines at the time, but somehow, almost nobody talks about it today.Both happened in 1962, when Taiwan was still under martial law and the government kept a very tight lid on the media. With help from researcher and Formosa Files Chinese version co-host  Eric Hsu, we dug through old court records and tracked down as much truth as we could find.