Japan’s victory in the First Sino-Japanese War led the Qing government to sign the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Under the treaty’s terms, Taiwan and the Pescadores (Penghu) were ceded to Japan, setting the legal basis for Japanese colonial rule. This transfer sparked resistance on the island and began a 50-year colonial period.
Japan organized Taiwan’s colonial government under the Government-General (Taiwan Sōtokufu), led by the Governor-General. The institution combined civil administration with strong policing and, at times, military power. It shaped policy on land, labor, education, and public order through the end of Japanese rule.
Japan created the post of Governor-General of Taiwan to direct colonial administration and security. Admiral Kabayama Sukenori became the first Governor-General, reflecting how the early colonial government relied heavily on military leadership. This office became the central authority for Japanese rule until 1945.
After news of cession reached Taiwan, local elites proclaimed the Republic of Formosa in Taipei. The new government aimed to block the handover to Japan, but it lacked international recognition and struggled to coordinate defense. Its brief existence highlights how contested the transfer of Taiwan was from the start.
Japanese forces captured Tainan, ending the Republic of Formosa and the last major organized resistance of the 1895 campaign. With this defeat, Japan established effective control over the island and could build a long-term colonial government. The event marks a turning point from invasion to administration.
The Bank of Taiwan was authorized as a Japanese policy institution and began operations in 1899. It helped finance colonial development and supported trade tied to Japan’s economic goals in Taiwan and the region. The bank also became a key issuer of banknotes on the island.
In 1915, the Tapani (Xilai Temple) uprising became one of the largest armed revolts against Japanese rule, involving Han Taiwanese and some Indigenous participants. Japanese authorities suppressed it, and the aftermath included harsh punishment and tighter security measures. The incident influenced later colonial policies toward policing and political activity.
To expand agricultural output, colonial officials supported large irrigation works on the Chianan Plain. A cooperative was founded to promote construction that included the future Wushantou reservoir and major canals. This marked the start of one of the most important infrastructure projects of Japanese-era Taiwan.
Japan inaugurated Taihoku Imperial University, Taiwan’s first comprehensive university, as part of expanding higher education under colonial rule. The university trained professionals for government, medicine, agriculture, and research aligned with imperial priorities. It later became National Taiwan University after 1945.
After a decade of work, the Wushantou reservoir and related canals were completed, enabling large-scale irrigation across the Chianan Plain. The project significantly expanded reliably irrigated farmland and supported higher rice production, strengthening Taiwan’s role in Japan’s agricultural supply. It also shows how colonial development relied on major public works.
In October 1930, Seediq Indigenous fighters attacked Japanese targets at Wushe, killing many at a school event. Japanese forces suppressed the uprising, and the colonial response became a major example of violent repression. The incident also led to shifts in how authorities managed and controlled Indigenous communities.
In the late 1930s, the Taiwan Government-General launched the Kōminka (imperial-subject) movement, aiming to accelerate cultural and political assimilation. Policies promoted Japanese language and loyalty to the emperor, and expanded Shinto-related practices. The campaign reflected the wartime shift toward tighter ideological control.
Japan announced its surrender in August 1945, bringing World War II to an end in Asia and forcing the dismantling of its overseas empire. For Taiwan, this meant the colonial Government-General would soon be dissolved and authority transferred. The surrender set the stage for an immediate political transition on the island.
On October 25, 1945, Japanese authorities handed over Taiwan and Penghu to the Republic of China, ending 50 years of Japanese colonial rule. The event is often called Taiwan’s “retrocession” in Republic of China narratives, though its legal and political meanings are debated in later history. It marked the practical conclusion of Japanese governance on the island.
Japanese rule in Taiwan (1895-1945)