Lost Architecture Exams: 20 Postcards of Japanese Assets from the Japanese Colonial Period to the Republic of China Era, Hidden in the Archives

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Japanese-owned houses in Taiwan after World War II when the Japanese withdrew?

These vanished Japanese buildings, shockingly, only leave behind historical memories from the authoritarian era!

To truly understand Taiwan,
you cannot miss these "disappearing buildings"!

By deciphering historical materials and archives, we meticulously reconstruct the buildings and uncover the truth.

Journeying through a century, we delve into the extraordinary past and present of old houses,

allowing us to see what everyday life was like during the Japanese colonial period,

and gain a new understanding and perspective on the buildings and stories hidden in the crevices of history during that grand era.

Once, a collection of Japanese-owned houses remained in Taiwan, bearing witness to the changes of an era after the war; once, buildings used by political parties were ubiquitous around us, but due to past authoritarian rule, the stories of these locations always remained mysterious, yet often held significant weight in history.

This book compiles 20 Japanese-owned houses, including photography studios, hotels, city halls, coffee shops, and more. Through historical documents, photographs, and exquisite hand-drawn architectural plans, it constructs the little-known stories and origins of these Japanese-owned properties to Taiwanese people. It is hoped that the publication of this book will allow people to feel the impact of transitional justice and historical restoration. If it can inspire concern for the issue of improper party assets, it would be a further contribution to transitional justice.