Documentary 'Taiwanese Soldiers' screens nationwide, highlights Siberian POW survivor

The documentary "Taiwanese Soldiers: East Longitude 120-135, Fiery Youth" is currently on a nationwide tour in Taiwan, drawing attention to the often-overlooked experiences of Taiwanese men who served in the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

The film's premiere in Taichung concluded on July 5th, with subsequent screenings planned for Kaohsiung on July 19th. Attendees, including Presidential Office advisor Yao Chia-wen and former Changhua County Magistrate Chou Ching-yu, have been moved by the veterans' stories of bravery during the Pacific War. Dr. Chu Chia-huang, who attended the premiere, shared his recent visit with 98-year-old Wu Chengnan, a Taiwanese veteran who endured years as a prisoner of war in Siberia. He emphasized that these experiences should not be forgotten.

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I visited 98-year-old Taiwanese soldier Wu Chengnan last year. He is the protagonist of the documentary 'Frozen Memories' and endured years as a prisoner of war in Siberia after World War II. These experiences should not be forgotten.

Director Yu Yi-chih's film begins with Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and delves into the motivations and psychological depths of Taiwanese individuals who joined the Japanese military. The documentary relies heavily on interviews with first-generation Taiwanese veterans, allowing them to narrate their wartime experiences. Chu Chia-huang, chairman of the Care for Taiwanese Veterans Cultural Association, recounted visiting Wu Chengnan last year. Wu, the protagonist of the documentary "Frozen Memories," spent years in Soviet Siberian and Kazakh prisoner-of-war camps after WWII. He has since been actively advocating for his fellow soldiers and established a memorial for fallen Taiwanese soldiers at Yokohama's Shinsho-ji Temple.

The association highlighted that in 1943, Taiwan's population was approximately 6.13 million. It is estimated that one in every 30 Taiwanese individuals served as a Japanese soldier during the war. According to a 1973 survey by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the total number of Taiwanese soldiers, including those missing and presumed dead, exceeded 53,000.

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In 1943, Taiwan's total population was about 6.13 million. On average, one in every 30 people was a Taiwanese soldier for Japan, and according to statistics from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in 1973, the total number, including those missing and presumed dead, exceeded 53,000.