Japanese opium policy in Taiwan (1895-1945)

Before Japan annexed Taiwan from China in 1895, Japan lacked an effective government capable of banning or regulating the consumption of opium. According to Japanese statistics, in 1900, there were 169,000 opium smokers in Taiwan, equivalent to 6% of the Taiwanese population.

The Japanese government tried to prohibit opium at first, but after encountering many difficulties, the strategy turned into one of "slow weaning" by adopting a licensing system. As a result, the number of opium smokers had decreased to 24,000 by 1929. However, as World War II progressed, opium licensing became a source of much-needed revenue for Japan's war efforts.