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  Father of the Canal》Husband Dead Wife Committed Suicide

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▌Selected as the Senior Inspector, he headed for the South Seas to conduct a survey.

In 1939, Hachitayoichi was selected as the senior inspector and was awarded Sudenguibao Seal. In November of the same year, The Office of the Taiwan Governor General appointed Hachitayoichi as the agriculture survey group leader. He was sent to the Hainan Island to conduct survey on electricity generation, and irrigation business operations together with professors of University of Taipei. In 1941, he was sent to Manzhou (Northeast of China) to inspect the reservoir. In 1942, Hachitayoichi was hired by the Japanese army as a “specialist for southern developments”. He was asked to go to the Philippines to conduct surveys on irrigation facilities. In April, Hachitayoichi and his three subordinates returned to Japan by ship. During which period, he was invited to his alma mater, the University of Tokyo for a speech delivery. 

On May 5^th, 1942, over one thousand “Southern Economic Frontiers” consisting of specialists for southern developments, public affairs group, and business and industrial group were gathered at Ujina Port, Hiroshima. They headed for Southeast Asia aboard on Taiyoumaru Ship. (At 7:30PM, Taiyoumaru Ship departed Ujina Port and entered Jiuzhou to replenish coal, and water. On this day, the Japanese troops captured Corregidor of the Philippines. The U.S. Army General Douglas Macarthur fled in a panic. On the 7th, the Taiyoumaru Ship headed for the Philippines. 

A Photograph of the Ship（Taken from Hachitayoichi Memorial Room）

▌Bombarded Taiyoumaru Ship Sank; Hachitayoichi Killed

After the Japanese troops captured the Philippines originally occupied by the American troops, the Japanese were overjoyed. At 6:30pm, May 8^th, a celebrative party was held for capturing Corregidor. However, the American troops locked on the ship and launched for torpedoes. The ship was hit and exploded at the sea. At 8:40, it sank. Hachitayoichi was killed at sea. His dead body floated on the water for a month before being found by a fishing boat from Hagi City.

Ha Ta’s body was cremated in Hagi City. On June 21^st, he was taken back to Taiwan for the funeral. Two funerals were held. One was held at Ohigashisan in Taipei (home funeral), and the other was held before the Ha Ta Statue at The Office of the Taiwan Governor General, Wushantou. The ash of Hachitayoichi was put to rest in Taiwan.

It is said that Hachitayoichi’s wife committed suicide at Pump Station and the Hachitayoichi Memorial Hall now seats above it (left upper corner)

▌Wife Sotoyoki Committed Suicide

After Hachitayoichi passed away, his wife Sotoyoki lived in Taipei. Toward the end of the war, Japan lost its preponderance. Her son and son in-law joined the army and Taipei was often under air strike. Sotoyoki, and her daughters were evacuated to Wushantou, the place she had lived for 10 years.  

On August 15^th, 1945, Japan surrendered. On August 31^st,Sotoyoki’the second son Yasuo returned to Wushantou to reunite with his family. The following morning, while her family members were still asleep, Sotoyoki leaped into the canal and ended her life. Coincidentally, it was the day Chia-Nan Canal broke ground, so, her body was found the following day. Later, Sotoyoki’s body was cremated. A part of her ash was taken back to Japan, and the other part of the ash was buried right beside Hachitayoichi at Wushantou Reservoir.

   ▍Hsin Chia Elementary School ˙Houbi Township, Tainan County , Taiwan (R.O.C.)˙2008˙1024*768