Taiwanese Novel Adaptation Explores Colonial Tensions Through Women's Relationship

World Softest Productions is currently developing "Taiwan Travelogue," an adaptation of the U.S. National Book Award-winning novel by Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi. The series, which is in script development, follows the story of Japanese writer Aoyama Chizuko, who travels to Taiwan in 1938 to give lectures while escaping marriage pressures back home. There, she meets Ō Chizuru, a talented local interpreter who becomes her essential guide to understanding Taiwan.

The narrative explores the complex relationship that develops between the two young women, as they grow closer through shared experiences with food and culture. However, the unbridgeable gulf between them created by language, power, and identity ultimately leads to confrontation. When Chizuko attempts to protect Chizuru through what she considers a "well-meaning Japanese perspective," she inadvertently wounds Chizuru's dignity.

The production brings together a notable team of Japan-Taiwan collaborators, including executive producer Jayde Lin, who has experience in elevating Taiwanese content to global platforms, and Japanese producer Maehata Sachiko, who has international co-production experience. Japanese screenwriter Yoshida Erika, known for her work on the anime "Bocchi the Rock!" and the series "The Tiger and Her Wings," is handling the adaptation.

The series is scheduled to begin filming in 2026 across locations in both Japan and Taiwan, with a planned Q4 2027 release. The producers emphasize that the story's themes of cultural differences, identity, and power dynamics resonate beyond its historical setting, making it relevant for a broader global audience.