An Okinawan from Taiwan @Tokyo

赤門 Akamon Tokyo University (built in 1827)

赤 aka is red. 赤 tshiah in Holo is brown. 

Gifts I brought to 川平朝清 KABIRA Chōsei @Tokyo. 

Kabira-san was interested in Dadaocheng 煎餅 and asked if Taiwanese pronounce 煎餅 in Japanese "Senbei". He often wears traditional Okinawa shirts and joked he probably forgot how to tie (necktie).

I arranged to meet in Tokyo with my father's "Taihoku High" classmate 川平朝清 KABIRA Chōsei in September.

The morning before I did, I took the opportunity to visit  一般財団法人台湾協会  （Japan-Taiwan Association) and warmly greeted by 金子展也 Kaneko Nobuya (Managing Director). 

Listening and chatting with these two remarkable Japanese elders is a privilege. And one exhilarating and humbling experience.  Their generous and thoughtful sharing and responding to my interests (and questions) is mesmerizing to which I am immensely grateful. 

I took away lovely and valuable lifetime-stories and Japan-Taiwan materials - some I knew but not enough, some I forgot and been duly reminded, and some interesting new and refreshing information.

Here are a few moments that I like to keep.

川平朝清 KABIRA Chōsei 

Oral History of Broadcasting Start from Scratch:Living the Broadcasting History of Post-War Okinawa (Source)

Prologue "1927 – 1947 Starting from Taiwan, a “forerunner” in broadcasting" detailed Kabira-san's growing-up and education in Taiwan. 

Phase One "The "Forgotten Island" 1945-1947" described post-WWII Taiwan and his military service as a 學徒兵 Student soldier. 

Student soldier recruited from Taihoku High were called  蕉 兵.  蕉 as in 芭蕉 Banana - their school logo.

" I am GOING to Japan. Not RETURNING to"

During our chats - Kabira made a point to say being sent back to Japan is NOT 'returning home' but 'going to Japan' as he was born and raised in Taiwan until forced to leave upon Japanese surrender.

I showed him a few photos of pages taken from books during earlier visit to Japan-Taiwan Association, he so competently and generously shared tidbits and memories - remarkably sharp for 98 years old! 

Naturally - the first thing I brought up is George Kerr who was the English teacher to my father and him at Taihoku High (1938-1940). He went on to tell Kerr's influential (and interesting) role for Taiwan (1945-47) and their US meet-up some years later and consequent follow-up.

Kerr's work include "information about economic and political conditions in Okinawa and the Ryukyu Islands after World War II". 

Taihoku High students (including my father and Kabira)
before called into military service WWII.

西本願寺 Nishi Honganji @Taipei
In 1941- Taihoku High accommodated 110 Japanese and 10 Taiwanese students.

Taiwan's strategic position relative to Southeast Asia 

Gakuyū Nenkan (学友年鑑 School friend almanac) 1936

A Child's Guide to Japanese Empire

I was perhaps most engrossed with Kabira's explanations on Japan's strategic planning to use Taiwan as a base for Japanese expansion into Southeast Asia.

His point in terms of the context of our conversation was to signify the importance of Taihoku High - Teachers were recruited to teach not only English, German, but also Malay to prepare students for the prospective of entering Southeast Asia. Of course, war changed everything.

I was engrossed because I have not been exposed to an opportunity that someone came along, explained and described this part of history in a way to which I can personally relate. And probably no one else can effect that.

1967 President Chiang Kai-shek VS Japanese Prime Minister Eisaku Sato 

"In 1967 became the head of the broadcaster Okinawa Hōsō Kyōkai. When Okinawa reverted to Japanese control in 1972, the OHK was disbanded and folded into NHK, and Kabira moved with his family to Tokyo, where he worked for the national broadcaster." (Shedding Light on “Formosa’s Betrayal”: Kabira Chōsei on George Kerr and Taiwanese History)

金子展也 KANEKO Nobuya 

Japan-Taiwan Association 一般財団法人台湾協会 

Managing Director

Kaneko-san kept a low profile during the first-half of visit although he clearly was very familiar with Taiwan and really knew his stuff. Once he opened up and told us he investigated 350 Shinto shrines in Taiwan ...

350! I then asked if he published something in this regards ... "Yes" he said, turned back to his office and came back with a book in hand.

Whoa! So ignorant of me! He is the well-acknowledged and dedicated author of these two books on Shinto shrines in Taiwan. 

"Japanese Deities Came Across the Sea to Taiwan" - Title of the book he is holding intrigued me - In a trip to fascinating ancient Izumo 出雲 (Known as 'Land of  the Gods" and "Birthplace of Japanese mythology"), it was believed every October Japan's 8000000 (八百萬) gods flocked in Izumo for sacred gathering. I went in October to witness. 

God's Gathering in October
Izumo Shimane

And I was thinking - at least 350 (of the eight millions - too many to count) at one time came across the sea to Taiwan - right?!

Dogs Gone - Pigs Came. 

(By 1947) Taiwanese called Japanese 'dogs 犬'. Chinese 'pigs 豚’. (豚 not 猪. 猪 is wild pig)

"Dogs (Japanese) Gone - Pigs (Chinese) Came."

What do indigenous people call Hokkien (Han Taiwanese)/Han Chinese?

Most common is 'Paylang' 白浪 Hokkien 'pháinn-lâng'  (Bad people). Others for example - Saisiyat called 本省人 (Benshengren) “kamsiulang” （F-word). 外省人(Waishengren) babui (pig). See posts HERE and HERE. 

昭和草（Crassocephalum crepidioides）

Student soldiers 學徒兵 ate to fight hunger during operations.

Some said US 米 airplanes dropped and planted seeds . 

昭和草（Crassocephalum crepidioides）If you are into indigenous greens you would have known 昭和草 - various stories about its origin, most go Japanese airplane dropped and planted seeds (while the 1940s Taihoku Student solider 學徒兵 wrote by US 米, not Japanese), so this part is likely tale.

It has been promoted as 'indigenous' wild green and indigenous names are such like Hikoki (airplane in Japanese) for Amis, Taulu 昭和 for Bunun etc.  A mention HERE.

高砂踊 Indigenous Dance (Ritual)

高砂踊 Indigenous dance movements, line formations, rotations, circle head and tail (serpent) in details. Including lyric of two indigenous dance songs .

臺高踊 on the other hand is a dance incorporating Formosan indigenous and traditional Japanese dances developed for  performing at Taihoku High annual festival 祭.

My donation - A print copy of my grandfather 洪長庚‘s thesis at Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine. The original as you can see falls apart.