| |||||||
Anthem | "Kimigayo" | ||||||
Capital | Taihoku (Taipei) | ||||||
Largest city | Tainan | ||||||
Other cities | Taichū (Taichung), Takao (Kaohsiung) and Shinchiku (Hsinchu) | ||||||
Language official |
Japanese | ||||||
others | Taiwanese Hokkien, Hakka Chinese, Mandarin Chinese and Formosan languages | ||||||
Religion main |
State Shinto | ||||||
others | Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism | ||||||
Ethnic Groups main |
Han | ||||||
others | Hoklo, Hakka, Japanese and Taiwanese aborigines | ||||||
Demonym | Taiwanese | ||||||
Government | Constitutional monarchy (territory of the Empire of Japan) | ||||||
Emperor | |||||||
Governor-General of Taiwan | |||||||
Area | 35,980 km² | ||||||
Population | 5.87 million (1940) | ||||||
Annexation | to Empire of Japan | ||||||
date | 1895-1945 | ||||||
Currency | Taiwanese yen (圓) | ||||||
Organizations | Greater East Asian Prosperity Alliance (since 1934, has territory of the Empire of Japan) |
Taiwan (台湾) was a dependency of the Empire of Japan. The expansion into Taiwan was a part of Imperial Japan's general policy of southward expansion during the late 19th century.
History[]
As Taiwan was Japan's first overseas colony, Japanese intentions were to turn the island into a showpiece "model colony". As a result, much effort was made to improve the island's economy, industry, public works and to change its culture.
News of Revolution in Japan (1945) and mutiny of the army and naval units in Chosen, also meant an uprising of Japanese armed forces in Taiwan. However, the rebels got the upper hand of the conflict after sieging the headquarters of the Governor-General and loyal units at Taihoku (Taipei). The colonial administration was dissolved and local committees of Taiwanese and some Japanese put in charge of administration. These established a Provisional Government that mainly coordinated the retreat of Japanese soldiers and officials.
Near the end of the Great Pacific War the Provisional Government proclaimed independence and established the Democratic State of Taiwan. The Joint Allies Administration of Taiwan (JAAT), integrated by China, USA, France and ICF, recognized the already installed government after the surrender of the Empire of Japan (1945).