Taiwan Travelogue

A culinary journey through the Showa era of Taiwan's railways: Yang Shuangzi's fictional translation, "Taiwan Travelogue," has been released. "Let's eat our way through Taiwan together!" — Chizuru Aoyama (Japanese novelist from Kyushu)
"There's nothing in this world more difficult to refuse than self-righteous kindness." --Mijima Aizo (staff member of the Taichung City Office, Taiwan Governor's Office)
"I'll say this only once, listen carefully. I don't cook for the Japanese." — Chef Apen (a legendary female chef from Zhangzhou)
"The war between the Empire and China has evolved to this point—oh, maybe Taiwan won't need translators in the future." —Wang Qianhe (Chinese language teacher at a public school)
From melon seeds, rice sieves, and barley soup to sashimi, sukiyaki, salt cake, and candied bean ice cream, the novel unfolds like a feast, capturing the four seasons of Chizuru Aoyama's year in Taiwan. This feast encompasses Taiwanese snacks, Japanese dishes, and cuisines of diverse descent, such as curry, which has been influenced by the flavors of the country since its arrival. In each successive dish, the novel's chef subtly introduces flavors, the indescribable tastes that arise from the different cultures and lives that separate our taste buds.
In 1945, Chizuru Aoyama's semi-autobiographical novel, "Youthful Chronicles," was adapted into a film and released in Taiwan. The film, promoted by the women's group Nisshinkai, received a rave review and was invited to tour Taiwan. Born into a wealthy family, Chizuru Aoyama was raised in a branch family in Nagasaki after her mother's early death. While living in Taichung, the Nisshinkai recommended Wang Chizuru, a illegitimate daughter of a prominent Taiwanese family, to serve as her interpreter. Raised in vastly different cultures, the two had the opportunity to travel together through cities along the railway line. They stayed at railway hotels in Taipei and Tainan, and even took the Sugar Railway and local branch lines to explore the sights of various towns. They ate at every street vendor, daka shop, thai shop, coffee shop, Western-style restaurant, restaurant, or hotel. This railway food tour was a rare opportunity for two women, who had met before marriage, to enjoy a moment of freedom. After satisfying their taste buds and exchanging ideas and cultures, Aoyama learned that Wang Chizuru, a former public school teacher, had aspirations of becoming a translator. Perhaps because she resonated with her own feelings, she understood the challenges of an independent career for a woman, especially since Wang Chizuru lacked a strong family background or family support, and she felt the desire to lend a hand.
However, the severity of the war is gradually approaching... Can the two of them move towards the destiny they hope for?
The long-out-of-print "Travels in Taiwan" has been republished in a complete, legendary retranslation. After returning to Japan, Chizuru Aoyama adapted her column, "Travels in Taiwan," from her time in Taiwan into a novel. Through her eyes, we witness firsthand details of Imperial Japan's treatment of colonial Taiwan, the interactions between mainland Japanese and Taiwanese, and even the disparate fates of men and women during that period, as well as the difficulties and trials women faced as independent individuals striving for independent professional identities and perspectives.
Features of this book: Includes a "Taiwan Travelogue" colored bookmark (two randomly selected)

2020-03-31

春山出版公司

368

9789869866262