Movie
Description
Yoichi Hatta, born in 1886 in Kanazawa, Japan, was a Japanese civil engineer. After graduating from Tokyo Imperial University in 1910, he received an assignment to work in Taiwan under Japanese colonial administration. His primary mission focused on resolving severe drought and irrigation problems plaguing the Chianan Plain in southwestern Taiwan, an area considered barren due to low rainfall and lacking sufficient water infrastructure.
Hatta arrived with plans for a significant irrigation project, encompassing the construction of the Chianan Canal and Wushantou Reservoir. Local Taiwanese farmers initially greeted him with skepticism and hostility, distrusting his role as a colonial government representative. Among them, a young boy named Xu Yingzhe gradually came under the influence of Hatta's dedication and vision, eventually aspiring to become a civil engineer himself.
Significant professional and personal challenges arose during the project. A catastrophic tunnel accident killed over 50 construction workers, including Kenkichi Tsuji, the father of a Japanese laborer's son named Susumu known to Hatta. This tragedy sparked discussions about halting construction and caused Hatta profound distress, shaking his confidence. Despite this setback, he persevered, driven by his conviction that water management transcended nationalism and was a universal human endeavor. He articulated this philosophy to Xu Yingzhe, stating that "the sea and water are the heritage of all mankind."
The irrigation project unfolded from approximately 1917 to 1930, fundamentally transforming the region into fertile agricultural land. Hatta remained in Taiwan with his family for most of his life, continuing his work. He died on May 8, 1942, when the transport ship Taiyō Maru, on which he was traveling, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine during World War II. In contemporary Taiwan, Hatta is commemorated for his contributions to the island's development. A memorial park bearing his name stands near the Wushantou Reservoir, reflecting his enduring legacy as a figure honored for improving lives through engineering.
Hatta arrived with plans for a significant irrigation project, encompassing the construction of the Chianan Canal and Wushantou Reservoir. Local Taiwanese farmers initially greeted him with skepticism and hostility, distrusting his role as a colonial government representative. Among them, a young boy named Xu Yingzhe gradually came under the influence of Hatta's dedication and vision, eventually aspiring to become a civil engineer himself.
Significant professional and personal challenges arose during the project. A catastrophic tunnel accident killed over 50 construction workers, including Kenkichi Tsuji, the father of a Japanese laborer's son named Susumu known to Hatta. This tragedy sparked discussions about halting construction and caused Hatta profound distress, shaking his confidence. Despite this setback, he persevered, driven by his conviction that water management transcended nationalism and was a universal human endeavor. He articulated this philosophy to Xu Yingzhe, stating that "the sea and water are the heritage of all mankind."
The irrigation project unfolded from approximately 1917 to 1930, fundamentally transforming the region into fertile agricultural land. Hatta remained in Taiwan with his family for most of his life, continuing his work. He died on May 8, 1942, when the transport ship Taiyō Maru, on which he was traveling, was torpedoed and sunk by a US submarine during World War II. In contemporary Taiwan, Hatta is commemorated for his contributions to the island's development. A memorial park bearing his name stands near the Wushantou Reservoir, reflecting his enduring legacy as a figure honored for improving lives through engineering.