Tourism and History in East Asia: On Rememberance of Okinawan Immigrants in Taiwan

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25885110
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Sociology
• Research Institution: Kobe Gakuin University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUDA Hiroko 神戸学院大学, 現代社会学部, 准教授 (90708489)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 沖縄 / 台湾 / 植民地支配 / 歴史認識 / 観光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The project examines one of the commemorative monuments for colonial settlers in Taiwan-the statue of an Okinawan fisherman standing in the center of Heping Island Marine Park in Jilong City. Heping Island, which used to be called Sharyo Island, received Okinawan as well as fishermen almost immediately after cession of Taiwan to Japan. Based on my own interview and archival research, I conclude that the Ryukyu Fisherman Statue in Heping Marine Park best embodies the officially recognized and idealized historical identities of both contemporary Okinawa and Keelung City. In Northeast Asia today, national borders have once again become the sites of nationalistic conflict. In light of the current situation, some might consider the erection of the Ryukyu Fisherman Statue in Heping Island to be a welcome move at the grassroots level. However, this case has also revealed some problems of touristy monument that is telling the history related to the colonial domination.

Free Research Field

東アジア地域研究