Copies of the novel Taiwan Travelogue, which received the International Booker Prize this year, are seen at a bookstore in Taipei on May 21, 2026.
I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images
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I-HWA CHENG/AFP via Getty Images
TAIPEI, Taiwan — The novel, Taiwan Travelogue, delves into a journey on the island of Taiwan during its occupation by Japan, sparking debate about the island’s identity and its ties with Japan and China.
Authored by Taiwanese writer Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translated into English by Lin King, this book gained international recognition by winning the 2026 International Booker Prize for best-translated fiction.
Set in the 1930s, the narrative follows a young Japanese writer, Aoyama Chizuko, as she traverses the island with her Taiwanese translator, Ō Chizuru. The novel examines the power dynamics between the two women, their developing relationship, and their interactions with both Taiwanese and Japanese characters, prompting questions about Taiwan’s colonial past.
In China, the book has faced criticism for allegedly downplaying Japan’s colonial-era atrocities.
NPR recently conversed with both author Yáng Shuāng-zǐ and translator Lin King about Taiwan, Japan’s colonial period, and the pressure from China, which asserts claims over Taiwan.
The following interviews have been edited for brevity and clarity. The discussions with the author and translator were conducted separately.
Interview with Yáng Shuāng-zǐ:
Author Yáng Shuāng-zǐ outside her favorite restaurant in Taipei.
Jan Camenzind Broomby/NPR
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Jan Camenzind Broomby/NPR
NPR: Taiwan’s perspective on Japan differs significantly from that of Korea and China, which were also colonized by Japan. Why is that?
Yáng Shuāng-zǐ: This complex situation is what inspired me to write the novel. While Japan’s colonial rule brought suffering and oppression, it also played a key role in Taiwan’s modernization, resulting in mixed emotions among people.
After the war, Japan left, and the Republic of China quickly adopted many of the colonizer’s methods, such as language replacement. This sudden change created a divide, leading some to view Japan’s rule in a less negative light retrospectively.
The difference in perspective between Korea, China, and Taiwan stems from Korea and China not experiencing the Republic of China regime that followed Japanese rule.
NPR: Some Chinese audiences have accused your book of romanticizing colonialism, or portraying colonial nostalgia. How do you respond?
Yáng: I believe those who think that have misunderstood the book. My critique of colonialism is clear: even when colonizers attempt to treat the colonized fairly, they ultimately cannot. This demonstrates that colonialism is pervasive, and its system is inherently flawed. Despite any modern facilities built by the regime, it doesn’t address the deprivation of the original rights of the colonized people.
NPR: Can you tell us about your family background and how it influences your writing?
Yáng: I grew up surrounded by WaiShengRen [外省人, people or descendants of those who moved from China to Taiwan after the Republic of China lost the civil war to the communists in 1949]. Yet, my ancestors from both sides came to Taiwan from Fujian around the 17th or 18th century. This background shapes my thoughts on novel-writing and what it means to be Taiwanese.
Some believe ancestry defines who is Taiwanese. I consider this viewpoint dangerous. I hope people identify with Taiwan based on their connection to the country and land, regardless of their origins. Whether new residents or third generation, we are all Taiwanese.
NPR: What are your concerns about Taiwan’s future?
Yáng: While I worry about war, like everyone, my main concern is that Taiwanese people might abandon our current lifestyle and the pursuit of democracy, equality, and freedom. It’s only been thirty years since we gained the right to directly choose our leaders in 1996. Are we willing to give that up so soon?
Some people around us think unification with China would be acceptable, thereby ending a pursuit that has lasted over a century. This worries me: we have the right to vote, but we might use it to undermine our own freedoms.
Interview with Lin King:
Translator Lin King stands outside a former colonial-era prison in Taipei where anti-Japanese political prisoners were once held.
Jan Camenzind Broomby/NPR
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Jan Camenzind Broomby/NPR
NPR: What is your role as a translator?
Lin King: Literary translation is distinct from other forms of translation; accuracy doesn’t mean conveying every sentence verbatim. In Taiwan, translators generally have limited freedom, but I was influenced by translators who believe in taking interpretive liberties, aiming to convey the essence of the story. This involves getting deeply involved in the story without major alterations.
For this book, I sought a plausible English version of events set in the 1930s, engaging deeply in the translation process, hence the footnotes.
Aerial view of Taipei 101 and the surrounding cityscape at sunset from Taipei Mountains in Taipei in Taiwan on Dec. 14, 2021.
immy Beunardeau/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
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immy Beunardeau/Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
NPR: How does today’s reflection on colonialism connect to Taiwan’s current geopolitical situation with China?
King: There’s a realpolitik aspect of relying on allies, and currently, our closest allies happen to be our former colonizers. We depend on these friends due to greater threats and our needs.
NPR: Does your family history reflect Taiwan’s identity struggle?
King: For my generation and those after, Taiwan has always been a vibrant, noisy democracy. We identify as Taiwanese because that’s all we’ve known. This reality is often misunderstood or ignored by our international allies.
There’s a tendency for the U.S. and others to criticize Taiwan for being too outspoken, fearing it might provoke China. We don’t aim to provoke anyone, but there seems to be an implication that by discussing its own identity, Taiwan is provoking China and should stop.
