Decolonializing Kobe Taiwanese Association in Japan in 1960's: between Depoliticization and Stigmatization.

Okano, Shota

Yeh, Hsiang-tai

台籍日本兵

去殖民化

神戶台灣同鄉會

華僑

Taiwanese in Japan

Taiwanese Imperial Japan Serviceman

Decolonization

Kobe Taiwanese Association

Overseas Chinese

The right of adobe of Taiwanese in Japan, the compensation to Taiwanese Imperial Japan Serviceman, as well as the tribute to the deceased were the historical problems overlooked in post-war East Asian order, neglected by both Japanese Government and the Republic of China. In 1960s, Kobe Taiwanese Association attempted to set apart from the control of “Two Chinas”. By taking non-political approach, Kobe Taiwanese Association, representing Taiwanese in Japan, had a voice in the war compensation and right of adobe of Taiwanese after WWⅡ. Kobe Taiwanese Association was found with the principle of “No party, no wings and no political ideologies”, in order to plead for the improvement of Taiwanese's right of abode with Japanese government. However, key members of the Kobe Taiwanese Association were took part in Thomas Liao’s provisional government of the “Republic of Taiwan”. To the Government of the Republic of China (ROC), they were therefore regarded as a group of people working on the pretext of pro-independence faking its political neutrality. Despite their non-political claim, Kobe Taiwanese Association was smeared for its alleged political affiliation based on the speculation over the member composition. The effort made by the association was therefore in vain. The association later dissolved in 1970s under the pressure of ROC.