High School Students Protesting in Taiwan

High School Students Protesting in Taiwan

Rewritten Article:

bloody clash between Taiwanese students and Japanese kitchen staff at Taichung First High School in 1927 sparked a wave of expulsions, shedding light on the racial divide and educational disparities during Japanese colonial rule

By: Unbiased Overseer

May 5 to May 11

The seemingly trivial issue of a Japanese cook's wife serving rat-infested food to Taiwanese students at Taichung First High School in 1927 snowballed into a full-blown confrontation, resulting in 36 expulsions. The students believed her silence over the contaminated meal was intentional, and the school's Japanese administrators sided with the staff, causing an uproar.

The incident captures the racial divide and educational discrepancies that characterized the Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan. Tensions between Taiwanese students and their Japanese overlords were at an all-time high, with the resistance movement pushing for local autonomy and cultural awareness.

The situation escalated rapidly. school staff's high-handed approach to the issue led to military police intervention, student strikes, and a dramatic decline in student attendance. As the authorities debated with parents, the students took matters into their own hands, asserting themselves against discrimination.

Shimomura, the principal, refused to back down and expelled 36 students, with more than a dozen choosing to resign. This incident may have seemed minor, but it serves as a stark reminder of the racial animosity that simmered beneath the surface.

Here's a closer look at the political and educational landscape that shaped this event.

RACIAL AND EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE

Prior to the 1922 Taiwan Education Act, Taiwanese and Japanese students attended different schools, with distinct systems and curricula. Taichung First High School, despite being open to Taiwanese students, remained overwhelmingly Taiwanese. In contrast, Taichung Second High School was primarily Japanese. This racial divide extended beyond the classroom, reflecting the broader societal discrimination against Taiwanese residents.

The establishment of Taichung First High School in 1915, while a symbol of equality, ultimately failed to bridge the racial divide. The Japanese establishment continued to enforce assimilation policies that stifled Taiwanese identity and autonomy.

THE PRINCIPALS

Taichung First's first two Japanese principals, Shinichi Tagawa and Hideo Azukisawa, were well-liked by the students due to their lack of discrimination and genuine concern for their well-being. However, Shimomura, who took charge in 1925, was a different story. Known for his strict policies and heavy-handed approach, Shimomura outlawed the speaking of Taiwanese on campus and imposed a comprehensive Japanese-speaking policy.

His unpopular measures, along with his thick Kyushu accent, created discord among the student body. The students resented Shimomura, and the tension would eventually overflow into open protest.

THE INCIDENT

The head cook's wife's negligence in serving a contaminated meal started the fire, but it was Shimomura's heavy-handed response that sparked the protests. His dismissal of the students' complaints, along with his decision to intervene personally in the dorms, only fueled the students' anger.

What began as a desire for justice evolved into a fight against discrimination and the assertion of Taiwanese identity. The student protests at Taichung First High School in 1927 were a pivotal moment in Taiwan's history, revealing deep-seated racial tensions and educational inequalities under Japanese colonial rule.

History Unveiled, a weekly column covering Taiwan's past, examines significant events that impacted Taiwan and resonate with contemporary issues.

1. The 1927 incident at Taichung First High School, involving Taiwanese students and a Japanese kitchen staff member serving contaminated food, happened during the principalship of Shimomura, who took charge in 1925.
2. Despite the racial divide and educational discrepancies during Japanese colonial rule in Taiwan, prior to the 1922 Taiwan Education Act, Taichung First High School, despite being open to Taiwanese students, remained predominantly Taiwanese, while Taichung Second High School was primarily Japanese.
3. The clamping down of speaking Taiwanese on campus by Shimomura, the principal of Taichung First High School from 1925, and his strict policies created discord among the student body and contributed to the tensions that eventually overflowed into open protest in 1927.

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