Taiwan 1900-1949 "Did You Know"

1. **Did you know?** After the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, Taiwan became a colony of Japan until the end of World War II in 1945.
2. **Did you know?** The first census of Taiwan conducted by the Japanese in 1905 recorded a population of approximately **3 million**.
3. **Did you know?** In 1915, Taiwanese anti-Japanese activists led the **Tapani Incident**, a large-scale rebellion against Japanese rule.
4. **Did you know?** The Japanese established **Taiwan University** in 1928, originally called Taihoku Imperial University, as part of their effort to modernize the education system.
5. **Did you know?** During the Japanese colonial period, Taiwan became a leading global producer of sugar, with most of its production exported to Japan.
6. **Did you know?** In the 1920s, Taiwan saw the rise of the **Taiwanese Cultural Association**, which promoted local culture and resistance to Japanese assimilation policies.
7. **Did you know?** In the early 20th century, Japan introduced **public health campaigns** in Taiwan, significantly reducing the spread of malaria and other tropical diseases.
8. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **first airport**, **Songshan Airport** in Taipei, was built in 1936 by the Japanese military.
9. **Did you know?** The Japanese introduced the first **modern railway** system in Taiwan, which connected Taipei to Kaohsiung, significantly improving transportation.
10. **Did you know?** The **Wushe Uprising** of 1930 was one of the most significant anti-Japanese rebellions led by the indigenous Seediq people.
11. **Did you know?** In 1919, Taiwan produced **4% of the world’s camphor**, a key component in the production of explosives and medicine.
12. **Did you know?** Japan’s colonial rule led to the introduction of the **first public electrical grid** in Taiwan in 1905, with electricity reaching urban areas like Taipei and Kaohsiung.
13. **Did you know?** The **Japanese-era Shinto shrines**, built across Taiwan, were symbols of Japan’s effort to assimilate the Taiwanese population.
14. **Did you know?** By 1941, Taiwan had become a key military base for the Japanese Empire, serving as a launch point for invasions of Southeast Asia during World War II.
15. **Did you know?** The **Kano baseball team** from a rural school in Chiayi became legendary after competing in the prestigious national Japanese baseball championship in 1931.
16. **Did you know?** In 1920, Taiwan underwent a major administrative reorganization under Japanese rule, dividing the island into **5 prefectures**.
17. **Did you know?** The Japanese introduced **rice cultivation** techniques to Taiwan, making it a major rice producer in the region.
18. **Did you know?** In 1935, the Japanese colonial government held the **Taiwan Exposition**, showcasing the island’s economic achievements and modern infrastructure.
19. **Did you know?** During the 1930s, Taiwan’s indigenous peoples were subjected to a **Japanization campaign**, which included compulsory education in the Japanese language and culture.
20. **Did you know?** The Japanese built **hydroelectric dams** in the early 20th century, significantly increasing Taiwan’s power production and industrial capabilities.
21. **Did you know?** Taiwan became a major supplier of **natural rubber** to Japan during World War II, contributing to the war effort.
22. **Did you know?** In 1938, Taiwan became the **third-largest sugar exporter** in the world, following a dramatic increase in sugarcane cultivation during Japanese rule.
23. **Did you know?** In 1927, the **Taiwan People’s Party** was founded as the first political party in Taiwan, advocating for greater civil rights under Japanese colonial rule.
24. **Did you know?** Japan introduced **modern urban planning** to cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung, constructing new roads, sewage systems, and public buildings during their rule.
25. **Did you know?** During the 1930s, **tariffs on goods** produced in Taiwan were reduced for export to Japan, boosting the island’s economy.
26. **Did you know?** **Taichung Park**, one of Taiwan’s oldest public parks, was established by the Japanese in 1903 and became a center of recreation.
27. **Did you know?** Japanese governance led to significant increases in **life expectancy** in Taiwan, from 30 years in the early 1900s to over 50 years by the 1940s.
28. **Did you know?** In 1944, the United States launched several air raids on Taiwan, targeting military bases and infrastructure in cities like Taipei and Kaohsiung.
29. **Did you know?** In 1900, the **Taiwan Sugar Corporation** was founded by the Japanese and became one of the largest sugar producers in Asia.
30. **Did you know?** In 1947, the **228 Incident** marked the beginning of mass protests in Taiwan against the new Kuomintang (KMT) government, leading to violent crackdowns and the start of martial law.
31. **Did you know?** In 1945, Taiwan was returned to Chinese rule after Japan’s defeat in World War II, becoming a province of the Republic of China.
32. **Did you know?** During World War II, tens of thousands of Taiwanese men were conscripted into the **Japanese Imperial Army**, serving in various combat and non-combat roles.
33. **Did you know?** The **Takao Shrine** in Kaohsiung, built in 1920 by the Japanese, remains one of the most important historical sites from the colonial era.
34. **Did you know?** By the 1940s, over 80% of Taiwanese were able to speak and write Japanese, as a result of Japan’s educational policies during its colonial period.
35. **Did you know?** The **Taipei Grand Mosque** was built in 1947, shortly after the return of Chinese rule, and remains one of the most significant Islamic cultural landmarks in Taiwan.
36. **Did you know?** Taiwan’s **textile industry** expanded significantly during the 1930s, producing fabrics for the Japanese military and civilian populations.
37. **Did you know?** In 1925, the **Taiwanese New Cultural Movement** began to advocate for Taiwanese autonomy and greater political participation under Japanese rule.
38. **Did you know?** In 1911, Taiwan became a key producer of **tea**, with Oolong tea from Taiwan gaining international recognition for its quality.
39. **Did you know?** The first **public transportation system** in Taiwan, using electric trams, was introduced in Taipei in 1911 by the Japanese.
40. **Did you know?** In 1945, the Kuomintang (KMT) government implemented **land reforms** in Taiwan, redistributing land from large landowners to tenant farmers, which improved the agricultural economy.
41. **Did you know?** In 1904, **Jinguashi**, a small town in northern Taiwan, became famous for its rich deposits of gold, leading to a gold rush during Japanese rule.
42. **Did you know?** By 1939, Taiwan had become a major center of **heavy industry** in the Japanese Empire, particularly in steel and chemical production.
43. **Did you know?** The **Taiwan Shrine** in Taipei was constructed in 1901 as one of the many Shinto shrines built during Japanese occupation, reflecting Japan’s cultural influence on the island.
44. **Did you know?** **Taipei’s Beitou District** became famous during the Japanese period for its natural hot springs, leading to the development of numerous bathhouses and resorts.
45. **Did you know?** In 1946, following Japan’s defeat, Taiwan officially became part of the Republic of China, but a lack of resources and economic strain led to tension between locals and the KMT government.
46. **Did you know?** In 1936, Japan used Taiwan as a testing ground for modern **aerial warfare**, conducting military air drills and establishing airfields across the island.
47. **Did you know?** In 1912, **Taiwan Beer** was first produced by the Japanese, and the brand remains one of Taiwan’s most popular beers today.
48. **Did you know?** The **First Sino-Japanese War** ended in 1895, but Taiwan continued to serve as a critical military outpost for Japan during the early 1900s.
49. **Did you know?** After the Japanese introduced **compulsory primary education** in 1898, Taiwan’s literacy rate rose dramatically, reaching over 70% by the 1940s.
50. **Did you know?** In 1949, after the Communist victory in China’s civil war, Chiang Kai-shek’s government retreated to Taiwan, marking the beginning of Taiwan’s separate political trajectory from mainland China.