Taiwan under Imperial Japanese Control

Taiwan, which had been ceded to Japan after the Sino-Japanese War, was ruled as a colony for 50 years. As crown prince, the Emperor Hirohito visited Taiwan. Most of the footage that has survived is home movies taken by Japanese living in Taiwan at the time. Among those, the footage shot of the railway from the reconstructed Taipei station is especially interesting.

	Formosa Production: unknown 1920-30s / The Netherlands / 35mm / B&W / Silent, Dutch subtitles / 8 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive A documentary shot during the time Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule.
	The Story of Wu Fong Production: Taiwan Productions Director: Chiba Yasuki, Ando Taro Cast: Akita Shin'ichi, Tsumura Hiroshi 1932 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 16mm / B? / Silent, Japanese subtitles / 42 min / Source: Planet Bibliothèque de Cinéma The story, set in Ch'ing era Taiwan, of Wu Fong the Chinese who ended the practice of headhunting among a minority group on Taiwan.
	Sayon's Bell Production: Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan, Shochiku, Manchuria Motion Picture Studio Director: Shimizu Hiroshi Script: Nagase Yoshitomo, Saito Torashiro, Ushida Hiroshi Photography: Inokai Suketaro Cast: Ri Ko-ran (Li Xianglan), Shimazaki Hatsu 1943 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / Japanese / 35mm (16mm version) / B? / 74 min / Source: Shochiku A war-time "national policy" film (kokusaku eiga). Sayon, a young girl from a Taiwanese minority group, sees Japanese troops off to the front.
	Japanese Policemen Go to the Village of Taiwanese Natives Production, Original title: unknown 1935 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent / 13 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive
	Taiwanese Natives in Taizhong Go to Japan Production: unknown 1936 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent, Japanese subtitles / 14 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive A documentary film about a sightseeing trip to Japan by group of Taiwanese natives from Taizhong. Wearing uniforms and comporting themselves with the strictest discipline, they give the impression of being in the army.
	Leaving for the Front Lines, Mobilizing Spirit Production, Original title: unknown 1939 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent / 2 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive
	Visiting a Shrine / Student Soldiers on Maneuvers Production, Original title: unknown 1939 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent / 5 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive
	Beautiful Scenery in Taiwan Production, Original title: unknown 1936 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent / 9 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive
	Sketch of Taiwanese Natives Production, Original title: unknown 1939 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent / 10 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive A documentary about Taiwanese natives. Scenes of native gaily dressed in ethnic costumes dancing, etc. are shown from an anthropological viewpoint.
	From the Window of a Train Production: Traffic Bureau Railway Division, Japanese Governor-General of Taiwan 1942 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent / 6 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive
	Pleasure Trip Production: Taiwan Travel Club 1943 / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 35mm / B&W / Silent, Japanese subtitles / 10 min / Source: Chinese Taipei Film Archive A group of Japanese living in Taiwan, take a railway journey and make their own private drama film, portraying a relaxed Taiwan, that one can't imagine to be in the midst of war.
	Female Students of Taipei Production: unknown 1940s / TAIWAN, JAPAN / 16mm / B&W / Silent / 18 min / Source: Planet Bibliothèque de Cinéma A documentary film about a girl's school in Taipei. As school events and the like are recorded, it can be imagined that it was taken by a teacher wielding a 16mm camera.
	Japanese Crown Prince Hirohito Visits to Taiwan Production: Makino Productions 1923 / JAPAN / 16mm / B? / Silent / 25 min / Source: Keio Yochisha Elementary School News reel of the Crown Prince's (the future Emperor Hirohito) visit to Taiwan.
	Victory (Mei-hua) Production: Central Motion Picture Co. Director: Liu Jiachang Cast: Ke Junxiong, Cilvia Zhang Aijia, Gu Minglun, Tian Niu 1975 / TAIWAN / Chinese, English subtitles / Color / 35mm (16mm version) / 89 min / Reference Library R.O.C. The story of a Taiwanese who carried on the anti-Japanese resistance in Taiwan during the colonial era. An immensely popular melodrama in Taiwan.