Dihua Street (迪化街), in the heart of Taipei’s historic Dadaocheng District (大稻埕), took on a festive vibe yesterday as dozens of people thronged the street in nostalgic costumes to pay tribute to the 1920s, a landmark era for political and cultural engagement during Japan’s colonial rule of Taiwan.
Now in its third year, the annual costume parade was initiated by Jou Yi-cheng (周奕成), an entrepreneur at the forefront of Dihua Street’s burgeoning cultural scene.
The owner of several stores in the area, including a 1920s-themed bookstore, a cafe, an art gallery and a pottery house, Jou aims to channel the street’s rich cultural history into new sources of creativity.
“The 1920s was an exciting period, when the Taiwan Cultural Association was established in Dadaocheng (大稻埕), while revolutionary activities sprang up across the world,” Jou said, dressed in a beige gown and straw hat reminiscent of Chiang Wei-shui (蔣渭水).
Chiang, a doctor and prominent activist who founded the Taiwan Cultural Association on Oct. 17, 1921, dedicated his life to campaigning for representative democracy and cultural enlightenment in colonial Taiwan.
Packed in front of Dihua Street’s Xiahai City God Temple (霞海城隍廟), men in vintage suits with suspenders danced alongside women in silk skirts and headscarves, with occasional Chinese qipaos and Japanese kimonos joining the mix.
The Muddy Basin Ramblers, a band formed by long-term expats, stirred up the crowd by performing an ensemble of Taiwanese folk, swing and jug band music.
One participant surnamed Lin (林) said he attended the event because of his interest in Taiwanese history.
“Think of me as a brat from the market. I dressed up in a modest kimono, as I think most Taiwanese back then wouldn’t have had very fancy clothes,” he said.
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