Taiwan Governor's Office

This was the colonial administrative agency for Japan's rule of Taiwan. It was established in Taipei in 1895 (Meiji 28). Initially, it was a military government institution, with a military officer as the Governor-General, and aimed to unify military and administrative operations. The Governor-General was given the authority to issue orders (ritsuryo) that had the force of law, which sparked a long-running legal debate in relation to the Constitution. In 1919 (Taisho 8), the military system of Governor-General was abolished and a civil officer was appointed, and at the same time, the Taiwan Military Headquarters became independent. After 1936 (Showa 11), the military Governor-General system was reinstated. The organization consisted of internal bureaus such as Home Affairs, Finance, Industry and Police Affairs under the Governor-General and the Chief Civil Administrator (later the Chief Administrator), as well as affiliated government offices such as the Court, Transportation Bureau, and Monopoly Bureau, and local administrative agencies such as prefectures and offices. Since taking possession of Taiwan, the government implemented strong security policies to suppress resistance from the Han Chinese and the Gaoshan people, actively promoted the colonization of Taiwan, and earned large financial income through government-run monopolies on camphor, opium, and tobacco, as well as forestry in the Ari Mountains. It was abolished in 1945 (Showa 20) when Japan was defeated in the war.

[Makio Okabe]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本の台湾統治のための植民地行政官庁。1895年（明治28）台北に設置された。初めは軍政機関で総督には武官をあて、軍事・行政の統一的運用を図った。総督には法律の効力を有する命令（律令）を発する権限が与えられ、憲法との関係で長く法学上の論争をよんだ。1919年（大正8）には総督の武官制を廃し、文官を任用、同時に台湾軍司令部が独立した。36年（昭和11）以降は武官総督制が復活した。機構は総督、民政長官（のちに総務長官）のもとに内務、財務、殖産、警務などの内局と、法院、交通局、専売局などの所属官衙(かんが)をもち、州、庁の地方行政機関があった。台湾領有以来、強力な治安政策を遂行して漢民族、高山族の抵抗を抑え、積極的に台湾の植民地化を推進し、樟脳(しょうのう)、阿片(あへん)、煙草(たばこ)などの専売、阿里(あり)山林業などの官営で大きな財政収入をあげた。45年（昭和20）日本の敗戦で消滅。

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