This paper describes the newspaper activities and press policies in wartime

colonial Taiwan by analyzing local newspapers and the archives of the

Taiwanese Government-General and Army, materials that were rarely examined

in previous studies.

　　Three major newspapers, Taiwan Nichi Nichi Shimpo, Taiwan Shimbun

and Tainan Shimpo played a leading role in the Taiwan press system, and

restrictive media control was temporarily eased in the 1930s. However, with

the rise of Japanism, the use of Chinese was abolished in 1937 due to the

change of the Government-General’s policies. Henceforth, in wartime, the integration

of newspapers was promoted, creating a complex relationship between

the Japanese journalists from the mainland, local Japanese and Taiwanese journalists

and the Taiwanese Army. First, weekly newspapers were reorganized,

but unlike on the mainland of Japan, Taiwan’s press community, which did not

have a restricted paper supply, was aiming to expand their newspapers into

South China and the South Seas.

　　However, in 1944 the Government-General decided to cease all publishing

of the six daily newspapers, and the Taiwan Shimpo was launched. However, in

1945 the Taiwanese Army supplanted the Government-General and directed

the media policies. The Taiwanese Army denied the Government-General’s conventional

colonial rule and tolerated democratic speeches, because it was necessary

to improve morale and obtain the cooperation of the Taiwanese people

regarding the war. Thus, critiques of the Government-General and private citizen

leaders were made, the identity of the Taiwanese people was somewhat

recognized and articles written from the perspective of commoners began to be

published.

　　After Japan’s defeat, Taiwan Shimpo was transferred to the Taiwanese,

and the Taiwanese launched new media outlets one after another. Here, Taiwanese

journalists, who were critical throughout the war, proactively criticized

the Republic of China and advocated for Taiwanese society in both Chinese and

Japanese during the early postwar period.