Japanization Efforts in Taiwan During Kōminka Period

The Kōminka project was an imperial Japanization initiative aimed at assimilating the Taiwanese population into the Japanese Empire during a period of heightened tensions with China. Following the outbreak of full-scale war with China, the Japanese government sought to ensure that the Taiwanese would remain loyal subjects of the Emperor, thereby preventing any support for a potential Chinese victory. The project was designed to suppress the development of a distinct Taiwanese national identity, which was seen as a threat to Japanese imperial interests. Key components of the Kōminka efforts included the removal of the Chinese language from newspapers and educational institutions, effectively erasing Chinese history from the curriculum. This was part of a broader strategy to instill loyalty to Japan and its culture among the Taiwanese people. In addition to educational reforms, the Kōminka project involved a name-changing campaign that encouraged Taiwanese individuals to adopt Japanese names, with approximately seven percent participating by the end of the conflict. The campaign also targeted aspects of Taiwanese culture deemed 'un-Japanese,' leading to the prohibition of certain cultural practices and the promotion of Shinto worship. War propaganda and donation drives were prevalent, further regimenting daily life in Taiwan. These efforts not only aimed to integrate the Taiwanese into the Japanese Empire but also to eliminate any potential resistance by fostering a sense of allegiance to Japan, thereby reshaping the cultural landscape of Taiwan during this tumultuous period.