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The Japanese Era of Taiwan 1895-1945 Phases of Colonial Rule in Taiwan under Japan Phase One: 1895-1918 With no experience as a colonial power, the first phase of Japan's rule consisted largely of effort to assimilate the people under its administration. Colonial policies were relatively mild for the most part. Economic Base The Governor's Office worked to establish colonial rule in Taiwan and to use the colonial economy to support Japan driving toward overseas expansion. The office conducted census, forest land and field survey, unified the monetary and measurement system, set up production monopolies, and reformed sugar production to strengthen the economic independence of Taiwan. Initiation of the Southward Policy With its occupation of South Pacific islands from Germany at the end of the First World War, Japan initiated a plan to use Taiwan as a base for developing its new possessions. Japan established the Hwa-nan Bank as tools for regulating economic activity in Southern Chinese and Southeast Asia. This may be considered the starting point for Japan's "Going South" movement. Education Aspects Assimilation education and isolationism were the outstanding feature of this period in education. The stress was on instruction in Japanese and strengthening of the public primary school, with an emphasis on primary education as well as the training of low-level technical workers. Aboriginal Policies In addition to its policy to educate the people of Taiwan, the Japanese viewed education as relatively innocuous tool for training the island's aborigines. At the same time, they also used high-pressure terrorism to maintain tight control under the police. Phase Two: 1919-1936 The end of the First World War brought on movement for self-determination throughout the world. The Japanese instituted Assimilation policies and extension of inland (Japan) to assimilate the people of Taiwan. They also worked to establish loyalty to the emperor and a sense of duty toward the nation. Industry in Taiwan; a Springboard to the Southeast Asia After trade between Taiwan and the Southeast Asia developed somewhat during this period, the Governor's Office initiated a plan for developing the Southeast Asia which keyed on Taiwan. The "Tropics Production Survey Committee" was set up in 1935 to take full advantage of Taiwan's economic development as a foundation for further exploitation of the Southeast Asia area. The "Taiwan Colonization Company" and the "Taipei Fuda Company" were set up in 1936 to oversee corporate and financial interests in South China and the Southeast Asia. Education Reform In the reinforcement of colonial control and assimilation the Governor's Office promulgated the "Taiwan Education Act" in 1919. In 1922 a desegregation program for Taiwanese and Japanese was instituted in form to reduce the differences between education of the two peoples in Taiwan. In addition, normal school and vocational school were established to meet the basic needs of Japan's colonial system. Aboriginal Policy There were few major changes in aboriginal policy during this period, up until the outbreak of violence with the Wushe incident in 1930. At this time the Governor General launched new plans to use education rather than repression, and to place more emphasis on health and medical care among the aborigines in Taiwan. Phase Three: 1937-1945 Oblation of the War Shortly after the institution of programs for "Imperial Rule," "Industrialization" and "Southward Policy" under Governor General Kobayashi Sezo, war broke out between Japan and China. The Japanese tightened their control over the island as a fulcrum for their expansion into the Southeast Asia. As fighting intensified, Taiwanese were conscripted for duty in mainland China and the South Pacific. An increasing number of these were pressed into military service. Japan suddenly had a tremendous demand for products from Taiwan's economy, and Japan's military needs became the number one priority in economic production in Taiwan, putting a considerable strain on the island's resources. Popular Education Regarding the Imperial Rule The principal emphasis in education was on maintaining a sense of humanity and developing good citizens for the empire. This was the beginning of full activity to promote the Imperial Rule. In 1937 the Governor's Office abolished instruction in Mandarin Chinese in schools and announced the "Primary Schools Act". This proclamation instituted Mandarin education and closed private institute in order to stifle the concepts of Han Chinese culture among Taiwanese. These moves were designed to steer the Taiwanese toward becoming more Japanese in their actions and outlooks. Fighting and Brainwashing The rise of the "southward policy" caused the Japanese to pay closer attention to Taiwan's aborigines, many of whom felt a close affinity for the peoples of the Southeast Asia. The Japanese also put together a military unit know as the voluntary troops of aborigines to fight in the Southeast Asia. Meanwhile the strengthening of the "Imperial Rule" movement forced more Taiwanese to adopt worship practices at Japanese shrines and to take on Japanese names. These policies continued all the way up to the conclusion of World War II.
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