Documentary highlights the history of Taiwanese child labourers during WW2

by Chris MaGee

Surfing through the links on Japan Probe this morning I came across what looks to be a fascinating yet sobering documentary called "Shonenko". While the plight of Korean workers and of the women enslaved as "comfort women" by the Imperial Japanese troops during WW2 are common knowledge this documentary highlights another aspect of Japanese imperialism during the war: child labour. Directed by Liang-Yin Kuo it tells the story of Taiwanese boys between the ages of 12 and 14 who left their homes and families to go to Japan in hopes of receiving an education and some money to send home, but what they found instead was near slave labour as they were made to help build Japanese fighter planes.

"Shoneko" received the Jury's Special Mentions Award at 2006 International Taipei Film Festival. You can check out more about the documentary, including clips, at it's official site here. Thanks to FroginaWall.net for bringing this to everyone's attention.