In Taiwan, Japanese Actors Bring to Life a Momentous Baseball Game Ahead of the World Series

A heartwarming film turned into a musical, Kano was performed for the first time in Kagi (Chiayi) City, Taiwan, this October. It commemorated the 100th anniversary of Taiwan-Japan baseball exchanges. More specifically, it celebrated of the inauguration into the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame of a coach who led his multi-ethnic team to the Koshien tournament in 1931.

Readers may have heard of the movie, Kano (嘉農), a 2014 Taiwanese-Japanese historical sports film directed by Umin Boya. Set in the 1930s when Taiwan was under Japanese colonial rule, it tells the remarkable true story of the Kagi Agriculture and Forestry Public School baseball team. 

Commonly known as Kano, it was a multi-ethnic team that rose from obscurity to national fame in Japan's prestigious Koshien baseball tournament in 1931.

A New Coach from Japan

The film revolves around a team of Japanese, Han Chinese, and indigenous Taiwanese players from different cultural and social backgrounds. Kano was initially a little-known agricultural school with a struggling baseball team. However, its fortunes changed when a new coach, Hyotaro Kondo (played by Masatoshi Nagase in the film), took over. 

Kondo is a Japanese educator and baseball coach with a deep passion for the sport. He implements a rigorous training regime and instills discipline, teamwork, and resilience in the players. Under his guidance, the Kano team transforms from underdogs into a competitive force, earning a spot in the highly regarded Summer Koshien tournament in 1931. That came three years after Kondo took on the coaching position.

The film focuses on themes of perseverance, unity, and the power of sport to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries. 

It explores the relationship between the Japanese colonizers and the local Taiwanese people, highlighting both the tension and cooperation that existed during this period. The players, despite their differences in language, ethnicity, and background, come together as a unified team, driven by their shared love of baseball and the desire to prove themselves on the national stage.

Capturing a Moment in Time

The movie beautifully captures the atmosphere of 1930s Taiwan,. It depicts the agricultural society of the time and the influence of Japanese colonial rule on local education and sports. The cinematography, particularly during the baseball scenes, is stunning. There are sweeping shots of the lush Taiwanese countryside juxtaposed against the intense and emotional moments on the baseball field. 

The film's detailed portrayal of the Koshien tournament, one of Japan's most prestigious high school sports events, adds an additional layer of historical authenticity.

A Symbol of Hope

One of the central characters, Kano player Wu Ming-chieh (Tsao Yu-ning), emerges as a symbol of hope and determination, representing the aspirations of not only the team but also the Taiwanese people under the generally benevolent colonial rule. The bond between the players, especially in overcoming their differences, reflects the broader cultural unity and resilience that develops throughout the film.

Kano was well-received by audiences in Taiwan and Japan for its positive portrayal of cross-cultural collaboration and exploration of Taiwan's colonial past. It struck a chord with many for its message of perseverance, hard work, and achievement of greatness despite humble beginnings. 

The film also contributed to the ongoing conversation about identity, colonial history, and the role of sports in cultural diplomacy between Taiwan and Japan. 

Kondo passed away in 1966. However, in honor of his contributions as the coach of the Kano team from 1928 to 1946, he was entered into the Taiwan Baseball Hall of Fame in January 2024. He is the first non-Taiwanese to be given that honor.

A Play from Ehime

In April 2023, a theater group called Bocchan Gekijo began performing a theatrical version of the story. They are based in Ehime Prefecture, where Coach Kondo was from. Impressed by the performance, Ehime Governor Tokihiro Nakamura, who has proactively pursued relations with Taiwan by promoting trade, travel, educational, sports, and cultural ties, expressed his hope that the play could be produced in Taiwan as well. 

His hope became a reality on October 19, 2024. On that date for two days, the theater group performed the musical in the city where Kano was located. It was a way to commemorate 100 years of Taiwan-Japan baseball exchanges.

Kagi City, known today as Chiayi City, has a deep historical connection with Japan. Its ties were particularly strong during the Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945). This connection is most notably seen through the region's agriculture and education development which were strongly influenced by Japanese policies.

Beyond sports, Kagi City saw improvements in infrastructure, industry, and urban planning during the colonial period. These were part of the Japanese government's heavy investment in modernizing Taiwan. They laid the foundation for Chiayi's later development and created a lasting legacy of Japanese influence. These can still be seen in the city's architecture, public spaces, and cultural memory.

Last Surviving Team Member

Those in attendance clearly felt the gratitude from the citizens of Chiayi and elsewhere toward Japan, and specifically the performers. 

The play was performed in Japanese, with Mandarin subtitles scrolling on the sides of the stage. Nevertheless, there was no mistaking the feelings the musical brought out. You could hear people crying throughout. Every scene was skillfully done, including the difficult-to-reproduce games. The performers received several rounds of standing ovations which would have continued, except they had to prepare for a second evening performance.

Located in a beautiful building in the city's cultural square, the theater was packed with people of all backgrounds. Japan's representative to Taiwan, Ambassador Kazuyuki Katayama, and his wife were among them. They were also joined by numerous local and central government officials from Taiwan. 

Moreover, all generations were present, from elementary school students to the 96-year-old Seiki Sai. Sai is the last surviving member of the Kano team that Kondo coached. Introduced along with the other guests of honor, Sai, in his Kano baseball uniform shaking his cap, was swamped by well-wishers during the intermission.

Yet, perhaps the happiest people that day were Governor Nakamura and his counterparts from Kagi. They had just taken their bilateral relations to the next level. I can't wait to see what's next in store for Taiwan-Japan relations.

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Author: Robert D Eldridge

Dr Eldridge is the author of "The Necessary Commander and the Unnecessary Fight: Colonel Nakagawa Kunio and the Battle of Peleliu" (Reed International, 2024) and the former political advisor to the Marine Corps in Japan.