The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files

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.

Your name carries history, identity, and sometimes in Taiwan, salmon? In this episode, we explore Taiwanese/Chinese naming traditions: family names, generational names, courtesy names, and how colonization, politics, and even sushi promotions have shaped them. From the chaos of post-war name changes to the viral “Salmon Naming Incident” of 2021, join Formosa Files for a fascinating and funny audio journey into what our names say about us.It's worth checking out our WEBSITE as that's where you'll find show notes, transcripts, photos, images, info, links and more.

The Chinese podcast hasn’t disappeared; it’s now got its own feed.FORMOSA FILES中文版的節目沒有消失！我們成立了新的頻道（SPOTIFY、APPLE），並將所有的中文版 podcast 章節移動過去。之後FORMOSA FILES中文版將以新的頻道繼續為各位聽眾朋友帶來有趣的臺灣歷史故事。Those who wish to keep listening to Eryk speak bad Chinese to Eric… migrate over to the new feed HERE, or find it on all major podcast platforms. Thanks!如果您喜歡我們的中文版節目，敬請繼續支持我們喔！New feed: click HERE, or visit our website.

Often called “China’s Titanic,” the 1949 sinking of the Taiping claimed over 1,000 lives as desperate refugees fled Shanghai for Taiwan. Forty-five years later, another tragedy struck: 24 Taiwanese tourists were brutally murdered during a pleasure cruise on China’s Qiandao Lake. The deaths and the clumsy, heartless Chinese cover-up caused outrage in Taiwan. In this episode, Formosa Files is revisiting two haunting shipping disasters that reveal the human cost of war, exile, and political mistrust across the Taiwan Strait.  We put a lot of effort into our WEBSITE... that's the place to go for “show notes.” Each episode page is crammed with as much extra info, pics, links, maps, and other info we can find. Make sure to check out FORMOSA FILES DOT COM !

Exploring Taiwan during the early 1900s reveals a complex tapestry of revolution and resistance. The episode highlights the audacious efforts of Luó Fúxīng, a revolutionary executed for opposing Japanese rule. Attention is also drawn to the significant and often overlooked Tapani Incident, where local grievances ignited widespread rebellion. Amid global upheaval, Taiwan's stability under Japan contrasted sharply with emerging local identities and struggles for self-determination. The historical legacies and urban transformations in Taipei add further depth to Taiwan's rich narrative.

1962年，在當時的臺北縣永和鎮發生了一件轟動全臺的連續殺人案。一位（被）退休的老師持槍進入勵行中學，造成七死三傷的慘案。然而這件案件最引人注目的，卻反而是兇手的身分以及他在案發後的詭異行徑。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast，就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊這起喧騰一時的殺人事件。主持人簡介：Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。

After the “execution-style” murder of Taoyuan Magistrate Liu Pang-yu and half a dozen others at Liu’s official residence in November 1996 by assassins deemed connected to the underworld, Taiwan’s authorities began getting serious about trying to rid its ranks of those with ties to organized crime – but it’s no easy task. A report from that same year found that at least a third of elected officials were part of a system termed “Black Gold,” or put simply: gangsters in government. Links, pics and more at formosafiles.com

過去的臺灣，似乎並不是一個非常平靜的地方。在1960年代，對外有持續發生小規模衝突的共產中國，對內則有軍隊紀律、匪諜滲透、省籍情節等問題。雖然實施了戒嚴，但社會的治安依然不甚穩定。而在1962年，民國51年，就發生了兩件駭人聽聞的連續殺人案。這集的 Formosa Files 中文版 Podcast，就讓兩位主持人來跟大家聊聊當年其中一件發生在軍營，罕為人知的殺人事件。主持人簡介：Eryk Michael Smith－ICRT南臺灣特派員，長期從事記者採編工作、聲音編輯，也會客串DJ。現居高雄，在臺灣已經居住了接近30年，認為臺灣是自己的家。Eric Hsu（徐葆權）－彰化北斗人，從大學南漂高雄以來，人生的大部分時間都在高雄渡過。關心臺灣文史與地方文化發展，尤其是自己的兩個家鄉：北斗與高雄。