Umezawa Masa

Umezawa Masa (in Japanese, うめさわ まさ, September 27, 1877 - January 29,1920) was born in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. He came from a commoner background in the former Yanagihara domain. Umezawa served as a Special Sergeant Chief in the Imperial Japanese Army and later transferred to Taiwan as a police officer, after his discharge. He specialized in civil engineering and construction projects related to aboriginal lands.

Military Experience

Umezawa was originally from 270 Banchi, Noda Village, Karita District, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The details of his life before joining the military are not known, but it is speculated that he received basic education in the local area of Niigata.

Umezawa joined the military on June 10, 1897 and studied at Imperial Japanese Army Academy, specializing in engineering. He graduated from the Academy on November 24, 1898, and remained within the corps, assigned to the 9th Engineer Battalion. On October 10, 1899, Umezawa was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant in the Engineer Corps. After the Army Instructional Corps was abolished on November 30, 1899, he was transferred to the Railway Battalion.

During his service in the Railway Battalion, Umezawa studied communication and graduated from the Fortress Communication Course on November 10, 1900. On October 15, 1902 he was dispatched to China and assigned to the command headquarters of the 9th Division of the Chinese Empire Garrison Army. On October 21, he took on the position of Chief of the Beijing Communication Office, and became the Line Maintenance Supervisor on September 15, 1903.

Umezawa participated in the Russo-Japanese War and the Battle of Nanshan. He was promoted to the First Sergeant of Engineer regiment on May 20, 1904[A1]  and transferred to the Reserve Engineer Battalion of the First Company in the 9th Division on July 10, serving as an acting Special First Sergeant. Umezawa participated in the Siege of Port Arthur. On November 11, he officially became the Special First Sergeant, under the command of the 2nd Army Logistic Branch. After the Siege of Port Arthur, Umezawa also participated in the Battle of Mukden. Following the end of the Russo-Japanese War he was transferred to the Telegraph Unit of the 2nd Army Logistic Branch on July 30, 1905 and on November 30 was awarded the Eighth Class of Honor for his meritorious service. Umezawa was transferred to the First Battalion of the Engineer Corps on February 4, 1906, and on April 1 of the same year promoted to the Seventh Class of Honor. Umezawa retired from the military as a Special First Sergeant of the Akabane Engineer Unit on December 11, 1907, at the age of 30.

Participation in Aboriginal Pacification in Taiwan

Umezawa possessed expertise in field engineering, demolition, communication, and railway construction. He was recruited by Rinpei Otsu, the secretary of the Government-General of Taiwan, to serve as a police officer. Utilizing his professional knowledge in civil engineering and communication, Umezawa was actively involved in various crucial endeavors to advance the frontier defense lines and fight against indigenous people, as well as the construction of mountain roads between 1908 and 1920. As a result, he gained recognition as an expert in indigenous land infrastructure and development.

Indigenous pacification operations during his tenure

Umezawa was asked by the Police Bureau of Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Government-General of Taiwan, to engage in ‘indigenous pacification operations’ on January 9, 1908, he receiveda similar invitation from Nantou Prefecture in May 1909. Umezawa served as a lecturer at the Police Officer and Prison Officer Training Institute of the Government-General of Taiwan between 1910 and 1911.

During his tenure, Umezawa was entrusted with various indigenous pacification operations and engineering projects related to advance the frontier defense lines:

1. Advance of the Nei-Wu-She Frontier Line (1908-1909). On December 15, 1908, Nantou Prefecture launched an advance into the territory of the Seediq tribe in the Wushe area. The frontier line was extended to the area near Triangle Peak, and Umezawa served as a back-up member during this operation. He participated in the further advance from March to May 1909 commanding artillery units this time.
2. Advance of the Maohe Shan Frontier Line (1909): Umezawa participated in the advance in both Liuchu Shan near HsinChu and Maohe Shan area near Taoyuan from July to September. He was in charge of the mortar units and conducted surveys of the planned routes for roads and paths in the area.
3. Advance of the Gogan Frontier Line (1910): In late May, an advance was launched on the Gogan frontier line by Yilan and Taoyuan Prefectures, with participation from Hsinchu Prefecture. Umezawa was entrusted with the operation in Yilan Prefecture, by the Aboriginal Affairs Department of the Government-General of Taiwan. He participated in search operations with the Third Brigade on June 7 and onJune 9th commanded a team of 120 laborers to transport a three-inch rapid-fire cannon from the riverside at Yuanshan Headquarters to the second highland fort position in Pengpeng.On June 11th, Umezawa led a team of technicians to build a battery position on the first highland in Pengpeng. When construction was nearly finished and the cannons were being transported, they were attacked by over 50 Gogan indigenous people. Umezawa and Toshitsugu Iizuka repelled the attack using mortar fire and machine guns. On July 2nd, Umezawa was appointed as the leader of the Special Operations Team, overseeing patrols and both Japanese and Taiwanese laborers. His responsibilities included landmine placement, explosives for trees and rocks, road construction, and bridge construction. He also assisted in surveying routes for frontier lines and locations for electric wire fences.

Indigenous pacification operations during his tenure during his tenure as a police officer

On July 22, 1910, Umezawa's appointment as a police officer was terminated by the Government-General of Taiwan, and he was officially rehired as a technician for Taoyuan Prefecture and the Government-General of Taiwan. On September 17 of the same year, according to the regulations of the "Deputy Inspector Special Appointment Examination for the Police Bureau in the Government-General of Taiwan," Taoyuan Prefecture promoted Umezawa to the position of Technician and concurrently appointed him as a Deputy Police Inspector. On November 17, he was further promoted to Police Inspector.

During the five-year plan of the indigenous pacification operation Umezawa participated in the following activities related to the advancement of fortifications and combat against indigenous peoples:

1. Advance of the Meibara Society frontier Line (1911): In October, Umezawa served in the police force and participated in advancing the defense line in Nantou Prefecture. He contracted malaria during this time.
2. Advance of the Mrqwang area frontier Line (1912): From October 2nd, Umezawa led the police combat troops and operations teams to build the forts at Li Dunshan, Wulai Shan, Mamei Shan and others. He also led a special search team responsible for road construction, repairing telephone lines, electric fences, clearing shooting ranges, and building houses and defense structures from December 13 to 17.
3. Occupation Operation in the Kinagi Area (1913): Umezawa led the operations teams in this occupation. Under the orders of Governor-General Sakuma Samata, Umwzawa had turned the fort located at the top of Li Dongshan into a permanent stronghold using reinforced concrete and red bricks. Construction began on December 15, 1913, and it is now known as the ‘Lidongshan Old Fort’, a designated historical site – Tapung Old Fort in Hsinchu County.
4. Taroko Occupation Operation (1914): Umezawa served as the leader of the Umezawa Operations Team under Karenkō Prefecture Police Force's Badulun Conquest Unit- responsible for constructing storage facilities for provisions and ammunition, erecting wire bridges, installing telephones and electric fences, and opening up a road along the Mugua River (which would later become the precursor to the Central Cross-Island Highway, known today as the Nenggao Traverse Trail, built between 1917 and 1918).

The opening of the three major cross-island highways:

After the Taroko battle, Governor-General Sakuma Samata declared the pacification of the indigenous territories in Taiwan, marking the official end of the Five-year Indigenous Affairs Campaign. On July 21, 1915, the "Indigenous Affairs Bureau" was disbanded. The Government-General of Taiwan took the initiative to arrange 20 mid-to-high-ranking police officers who were under the jurisdiction of the Indigenous Affairs Bureau, including Umezawa, to various local governments. Umezawa was transferred to Karenkō Prefecture as a Police Inspector.

During his time as the Police Inspector in Karenkō Prefecture, Umwzawa led the police operations team in undertaking the construction of roads across the Central Mountain Range in indigenous territories. The specific projects are as follows:

1. The Nei Taroko Road Construction Project (1914-1915) from Taroko Gorge to Tpido (now Tpdu), starting on September 5, 1914, and completing in April 1915.
2. The East Section of the Nenggao Traverse Trail Project (1917-1918): The construction work of Central Cross-Island Highway was started in September, undertaken by Nantou and Karenkō prefectures. It was carried out from both the western and eastern ends towards the Central Mountain Range. Under the leadership of Umezawa, approximately 500 personnel, consisting of security and engineering teams, were involved in this project. The East Section started from Chuying in Jian Township, Hualien County, following the north bank of the Mugua River, passing through the Tianchang Cliff, crossing the Central Mountain Range near the foothills of Nanhua Mountain. It connected with the West Section in the area of Qilai South Peak and Tianchi. Altogether, the trail spanned a distance of 13 days (51 kilometers) and was completed in January 1918.
3. 1.     During the first phase of the East Section of the Batongguan Traverse Trail’s construction (1919-1920), Umezawa passed away due to illness. On August 2, 1918, Umezawa, along with Tamazato Town Chief Matsuo Wen'er and a team of 38 people, conducted a survey of the proposed route of the Batongguan Traverse Trail, crossing the main ridge of the Central Mountain Range at Mount Shukoran and arriving in the Nantou Prefecture on the 8th. Umezawa served as the leader of the engineering team for the first phase, which spanned from Yuli to Ihohor Valley, covering a distance of approximately 41.2 kilometers. Construction began on June 10, 1919 and was completed on March 27, 1920. Umezawa contracted Spanish flu on January 22, 1920 at Green Outpost (now Batongguan Traverse Trail, Meitouli). He was transferred to Hualien Harbor Hospital for treatment but he passed away on the 29th of January at the age of 42. Despite being married, Umezawa did not have any children. Throughout his 13 years in Taiwan, he mainly engaged in indigenous pacification operations in mountainous regions. At the time of his death he left behind no immediate family.

Publications and Influence

‘The Guide for Indigenous Land Operations’

Umezawa compiled his experiences in the mountainous regions of Taiwan in the fields of surveillance, combat, and civil engineering into a book titled ’The Guide for Indigenous Land Operations’. This book is his legacy and the only known work that has been preserved. It was completed in March 1919 and self-published in October of the same year. The book consists of twelve chapters: fortification, rapid road construction, light railways, bridges, dormitories, defensive houses, explosives, surveying, construction of power lines, telephones, telegraphs, and signals. The appendix includes electromagnetism and a comparative table of measurement units from various countries. The book spans over 280 pages, with more than 30 illustrations and over 300 tables.

‘The Guide for Indigenous Land Operations’ is a book targeting police officers stationed in indigenous territories and focusing on specific topics related to operations in these areas. Its contents cover traditional disciplines of military engineering, such as earthworks, civil construction, communication, and surveying, as well as the knowledge and technology of the latest electrical and electromagnetic advancements of the early 20th century. Rooted in the engineering skills acquired during his military service, Umezawa excelled in tasks such as road construction and bridge building during operations in indigenous territories. He mostly served as the captain of ‘Operations Teams’ or ‘Engineering Teams,’ leading police personnel at various levels in activities related to the civil engineering of frontier lines, including logging, road construction, bridge building, dormitory construction, fortification, wiring, and landmine placement. In addition, he opened up roadsin the indigenous territories and established associated infrastructure.

‘The Guide for Indigenous Land Operations’ is currently the only known reference book specifically focused on operations related to indigenous territories. It can be regarded as an almost official version of standards or guidelines. The first edition of the book was ordered by the police who worked with indigenous people, with over a thousand copies being printed. It is estimated that at that time, approximately one out of every six police officers possessed a copy of the book.

‘Mountain Boss’

Umezawa was known as "Yama no Oyabun" (山の親分), which translates to ’Mountain Boss’. He led a large number of patrols, soldiers, police forces, laborers, and other personnel. They all had a close relationship, resembling that of parent and child, and they would address him as "Oyabun" (Boss, Leader or Master) or "Gan-ko" (Godson). These subordinates served in various local government positions, applying the civil engineering skills and expertise taught by Umezawa to deal with indigenous affairs. Umezawa had a significant influence on training and legacy.

’500 Yen for Umezawa's Camouflaged Fort’

During the five-years of the Indigenous Pacification Campaign, there was a popular song among the(indigenous) police called ’500 Yen for Umezawa's Camouflaged Fort.’ In order to defend against attacks from the indigenous people, Umezawa advocated for the construction of camouflaged forts with roofs at various outposts along the frontier line. The cost for each fort was 500 yen. At that time, the death benefit for patrol officers who died while performing their duties in the indigenous territories was also 500 yen. Therefore, ’500 Yen for Umezawa's Camouflaged Fort’ became a metaphor symbolizing the sacrifice of a patrol officer.

Related Historical Sites and Cultural Artifacts

• Zhuilu Cliff Tunnel No. 2: On the rocks outside the tunnel, there is a small engraved inscription that reads ‘Excavation, Memorial, Umezawa Operations Team, Taisho III’. This inscription is evidence of the involvement of the Umezawa’s Operations Team in the construction of the Nei Taroko Road.
• Nenggao Traverse Trail Memorial Monument: The inscription on the monument reads ’Operations Team Captain Umezawa Masa’. It is located behind the Xining Temple, No. 254-1, Neighborhood 10, Gancheng Village, Ji'an Township, Hualien County, with the land number 4781-9. Hualien County has designated it as a historic site.
• Batongguan Traverse Trail Excavation Memorial Monument: The inscription on the monument reads ‘Team Captain Police Inspector Umezawa Masa’. It is located in front of the Nan'an Management Station of Yushan National Park in Zhuoxi Township, Hualien County.
• Tapung Old Fort (Lidongshan Old Fort): Historical remains of Lidongshan Old Fort, which was constructed under the supervision of Umezawa from 1913 to 1914. It has been designated as a historical site by Hsinchu County.

Reference

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