[Taiwan Cultural Center, Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, Taipei] The exhibition “Taste Taiwan on a Train! Taiwanese Ekiben Stories” opens at the Taiwan Cultural Center.
*Taiwan Cultural Center, Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan*
Press release: September 18, 2024
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“Taste Taiwan on a train! Taiwanese Ekiben Stories” exhibition opens at Taiwan Cultural Center
At the signal of “Departure proceed!”, we prayed for the success of this exhibition and the next special exhibition in Omiya.
The Taiwan Cultural Center, Taipei Economic and Cultural
Representative Office in Japan (hereinafter referred to as the Taiwan Cultural Center) and the National Railway Museum Preparation Office of Taiwan will hold an exhibition entitled “Tasting Taiwan on a Train! Taiwan Ekiben Stories” on September 10th at Toranomon, Tokyo. It opened at the cultural center. The opening ceremony was attended by Zhou Xueyou, vice representative to Japan, Zheng Mingzhang, director of the National Railway Museum Preparation Department, Yoshiyuki Oba, director of the National Railway Museum, and people involved in Japan’s railway culture and publishing world.
Exhibition scenery
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Representative for Japan Zhou Xueyou said, “’Railway’ and ‘bento’ can be said to be a shared memory and historical culture of Taiwan, and ‘railway bento’, which connects these two, has a special emotional feeling. It has become not only a cheap and delicious local food, but also a reminder of sweet and bitter memories of life.This moving feeling is one that only Taiwanese and Japanese people can relate to in the world. said.
Director Cheng Ming-chang said, “Railway bentos, which are popular in Taiwan, have cultural values unique to Taiwan, such as Taiwanese taste memories and railway stories, and the more local they are, the better they can represent internationally.” He emphasized the story of the exhibition, from Taiwan’s station bento during the Japanese colonial era, to the creation of the “boned bento” typified by the “Taiwan railway bento” after the war.
Exhibition scenery
At the opening ceremony, former Taiwan Railway Taipei Railway Cafeteria Manager Li Yuxia attended the opening ceremony as a special guest and talked about the improvement process that led to the Taiwan Railway’s “skeletal bento” boom, as well as the introduction of the food that was introduced in the Japanese manga “Ekiben Solitary Journey.” He talked about anecdotes, etc.
Following this exhibition, the Railway Museum in Omiya, Saitama City is planning to hold a special exhibition on the theme of railways in Taiwan and Japan starting in February 2025 in cooperation with the National Railway Museum Preparation Office and the Taiwan Cultural Center. At the signal of “Leaving!”, they prayed for the success of this exhibition and the next special exhibition in Omiya.
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Exhibition information
In Taiwan, Ekiben can be said to be a “national memory” that transcends generations. Lunch boxes from the state-run Taiwan Railway Company (TRT) and Taiwan High Speed Rail Company (Thailand High Speed Rail), as well as local bentos along the railway lines, all add delicious memories to your train journey.
The two keywords “railway” and “bento” truly symbolize the
modernization of Taiwan under Japanese rule and the influx of Japanese food culture. How has the railway bento changed after about 100 years? This exhibition will take you on a trip to Taiwan that transcends time and space, through the flavors and appearances of ekiben that vary by era and region.
Enjoy the “taste of Taiwan” and feel the story behind Taiwanese culture.
Exhibition location: Taiwan Cultural Center
Exhibition period: September 10th (Tuesday) – November 8th (Friday) Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 10:00~17:00
This exhibition consists of three themes.
1. Birth of Ekiben in Taiwan
Starting from the Japanese colonial era, when ekiben were born, we will introduce the meals that passengers enjoyed on trains, and display models of ekiben from four locations in Taiwan in 1914. 2. From the “taste of foreign ministry” to the “taste of Taiwan”―― We will focus on the Paiko bento, a staple of ironworks, and introduce the secret history of its development from the past to the present. 3. Platform vendors and local ekiben
Introducing the ekiben that has long been loved in northern, southern, and eastern Taiwan, you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of those days through the voices of the vendors who once echoed through the platforms.
* *Lunch boxes will not be sold*
The opening ceremony was attended by Zhou Xueyou, vice representative to Japan, Zheng Mingzhang, director of the National Railway Museum Preparation Department, Yoshiyuki Oba, director of the National Railway Museum, and people involved in Japan’s railway culture and publishing world.
The opening ceremony was attended by Zhou Xueyou, vice representative to Japan, Zheng Mingzhang, director of the National Railway Museum Preparation Department, Yoshiyuki Oba, director of the National Railway Museum, and people involved in Japan’s railway culture and publishing world.
The opening ceremony was attended by Zhou Xueyou, vice representative to Japan, Zheng Mingzhang, director of the National Railway Museum Preparation Department, Yoshiyuki Oba, director of the National Railway Museum, and people involved in Japan’s railway culture and publishing world.
The exhibition explained the story of Taiwan’s station bento during the Japanese colonial period, which is on display at the exhibition, to the development of the “bone bento” typified by the “Taiwan railway bento” after the war.
The exhibition explained the story of Taiwan’s station bento during the Japanese colonial period, which is on display at the exhibition, to the development of the “bone bento” typified by the “Taiwan railway bento” after the war.
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