The Southern Warehouse Company Limited during the Japanese Southward Movement: 1920 to 1945

Abstract

This paper describes the history of The Southern Warehouse Company Limited, which was promoted and supported by the Taiwan Governor's Office and the Bank of Taiwan, and was established as a joint venture between Japanese and Overseas Chinese capital investors in 1920. The company operated a warehouse business in Southeast Asia and South China during the Japanese Southward Movement; however, the business was seriously affected by the drastic changes in the business environment and international relations from the 1920s through the 1940s. Moreover, many actors were involved in the company during its 25-year history, including the Taiwan Governor's Office, the Bank of Taiwan, merchants from Japan, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese, Japanese big businesses, and the Japanese Government. Therefore, this paper elucidates the complexity of the history of The Southern Warehouse Company Limited through a detailed analysis of management and financial records, and describes its role and significance in the context of modern Asian economic history.