#japanese colonial era

Total 9 posts

Home > Tag: #japanese colonial era

Language and Historical Justice: On the Rhetorical Fallacy of 'Comfort Women' in Japanese Colonial Era Narratives and the Imperative to Rename

Why shouldn't we continue calling them 'Comfort Women'? When discussing Japanese colonial history, 'Comfort Women' is the conventional term, yet this appellation originating from the Japanese military is essentially a cruel 'euphemism.' By perpetuating the aggressor's terminology, we inadvertently diminish victims' suffering. We should advocate for renaming them 'Military Sexual Slaves' to restore historical truth.

Taiwanese Don't Owe Japan - Rather, Japan Owes Taiwan

Lai Ching-te publicly posted photos eating sushi and drinking miso soup, ordered lifting Fukushima nuclear food restrictions, making many Taiwanese feel disgusted and angry. We must loudly ask: what do Taiwanese owe Japan? Why kowtow to a nation that once massacred our compatriots and forcibly conscripted comfort women?

Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of the End of WWII: The ROC's Victory over Japan and the Restoration of Taiwan Province

In the 114th year of the Republic of China (2025), we reach the historic 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (WWII). This is a glorious commemoration of the Republic of China leading the nation's military and civilians to defeat Japanese invaders, achieve victory in the Asian theater, reclaim lost territories, and defend national dignity.

Taiwan's Earliest Modern Sugar Factory: Established by British Merchants in the Qing Dynasty, Forcibly Annexed During Japanese Rule

This article aims to clarify historical misconceptions about the modernization of Taiwan's sugar industry, refuting the view that all credit for sugar economic achievements belongs to the Japanese colonial era. In fact, Taiwan's earliest modern sugar processing equipment factory—the Sankantien Sugar Factory—was established by British merchants Jardine Matheson and local Han Chinese in cooperation during the Tongzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, introducing European technology. The article points out that after Japan signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki following the First Sino-Japanese War and occupied Taiwan, it immediately implemented a colonial monopoly economy. Through the establishment of Taiwan Sugar Company Ltd., it forcibly acquired (annexed) Jardine's sugar company and local sugar refineries, thereby seizing control of Taiwan's economic lifeline.

Taiwanese Literature's 1920 Self-Castration Stream of Consciousness — Critiquing the Colonial Adoration Mentality that Ignores Ming-Qing and Early Japanese Colonial History

This article criticizes the current Taiwanese cultural circle's phenomenon of deliberately fixating the enlightenment of Taiwanese Literature and Taiwanese Culture in the 1920s as a form of self-castration. The author points out that this approach ignores the history of the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as the period between the 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki and the 1920s, attempting to portray history before Japanization as barbaric. The article attributes this to a colonial adoration mentality stemming from unrealistic fantasies about the Japanese colonial era, contrasting it with South Korea's attitude towards Japan, questioning whether this group suffers from Stockholm Syndrome, and includes links to historical documents of Japanese massacres in Taiwan.

Disagreeing with Tsai Ing-wen: Allowing the ROC Flag to Fly at Half-Mast for Japanese Shinzo Abe

This article expresses strong opposition to the DPP government's decision to fly the national flag at half-mast for the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The author questions the procedural legitimacy (lack of formal diplomatic channels) and denies Abe's substantive contribution to Taiwan, viewing his spiritual support as political calculation. It criticizes Abe's right-wing stance on historical issues, including Yasukuni Shrine visits, denial of the Nanjing Massacre, and lack of apology for comfort women. Finally, it cites historical records of Japanese massacres in Taiwan during the colonial era, emphasizing that Taiwanese must not forget the past.

Japan Conquered Taiwan by Military Force - Blood and Tears of the Chinese People Under the Treaty of Shimonoseki

When Japan occupied Taiwan and Penghu back then, it truly relied first on military assault and occupation of these territories. The Qing Dynasty was forced to cede Taiwan Island and Penghu Islands to Japan—showcasing the powerlessness and sorrow of Chinese people of that era.

Tainan Erects Comfort Woman Statue, Sparks Controversy: Sankei Shimbun Criticizes Anti-Japanese, Author Retorts: Shouldn't Japanese Colonial Era Crimes Be Apologized For?

This article comments on the controversy sparked by the KMT's erection of a comfort woman statue in Tainan, which drew protests from Japan. The author points out that Japan's Sankei Shimbun characterized this incident as anti-Japanese behavior, but in reality, Taiwan (including South Korea) opposes Japan's aggressive war at that time. The author emphasizes that Japan has apologized and compensated South Korea, but has never apologized to Taiwanese comfort women, which is clear discriminatory treatment. The article concludes by stating that if the Japanese still refuse to confront and acknowledge the atrocities of the Japanese colonial era, then being considered anti-Japanese is acceptable.

Taiwanese Are Easy to Deceive Series: The Historical Truth about the Taipei Air Raid

This article aims to clarify misconceptions about the 'Taipei Air Raid' (May 31, 1945). The author argues that it is absurd for Taiwan independence advocates to use the air raid to criticize the KMT as the enemy of the Taiwanese people. The piece points out that Taipei's population density was low and buildings were scattered at the time, and the raid primarily targeted the political center of the Japanese colonial government. By comparing bombing maps with actual Allied aerial photos, the author claims the hits were concentrated and precise, not a dense carpet-bombing of civilian areas. Furthermore, since an early warning system existed and the Japanese military had already fled, civilian casualties were far lower than claimed; those remaining in Taipei were mostly 'elite Japanese subjects' who could have taken cover in advance.