In Taiwan's presidential election Saturday, young people, who are favorably disposed toward Japan, may have been one of the major contributors to the re-election of incumbent Tsai Ing-wen.
They are enthusiastic about Japanese pop culture such as anime, comic books, music and TV dramas. Moreover, they were taught at school about the Japanese empire's colonization and aggression before the end of World War II in a neutral manner, unlike their Korean and Chinese counterparts.
Many of them also feel ambivalent toward the Communist-ruled mainland, especially since the leadership led by Chinese President Xi Jinping considers self-governing, democratic Taiwan a renegade province awaiting re-unification.