Personal history and landscaping activities of Hampei SHIMIZU as a landscape architectural technician during the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan

Abstract

This paper focusses, on the achievements of Hampei SHIMIZU (1890-1981). The results of document analysis and an interview of a descendant of SHIMIZU, led to this paper’s new findings: The reason which Hampei moved to Taiwan was that he lost his house and farmlands in Gumma to a flooding disaster. The reason which he started to grow landscape architectural trees and foliage was at the request by Governor General of Taiwan. He grew about 60 species of landscape architectural trees and foliage, imported and exported them to and from Japan. Then he started landscaping. The gardens made by him were in and around the east area of Taiwan. His company had not only Japanese staff members but also native Taiwanese staff members. The organization of his company reflected the structure under the Japanese colonial period in Taiwan. Hampei worked as a president of a post office and the chief of Yoshino village and other public occupations. The reason he could work in the public sector was because of not only his contribution to Yoshino village but also that he had moved to Taiwan as a private immigrant.