Author: Eryk Michael Smith
Eryk Michael Smith
Eryk Michael Smith is a journalist with over a decade of experience working for local and international outlets. He is also the co-host of The Taiwan History Podcast: Formosa Files, and co-founder of Plum Rain Press. The Kaohsiung Times is Smith's latest project, and aims to provide more southern Taiwan-centric news in English.
The north and south sections of Kaohsiung Station Ichibangai (高雄駅一番街) officially opened Saturday, creating what the city says is Taiwan’s largest anime-themed underground shopping area. The 2,300-ping complex was developed by Kaohsiung Metro Corp. and Mofan Co. (墨凡公司). It includes more than 50 brands offering anime merchandise, food and drinks, toys, collector displays, and consignment-style retail spaces.
The Cijin Ferry Terminal has reopened after a renovation aimed at improving passenger flow, public facilities, and the nighttime appearance of one of Kaohsiung’s busiest tourist gateways.
The average number of registered residents per home fell to a new low of 2.77 during the first quarter of 2026, reflecting Kaohsiung’s declining population and changing household structure.
Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or at formosafiles.com We start with the relatively unknown story of Taiwanese boys condemned to become eunuchs in Emperor Qianlong’s imperial palace, their fate sealed simply because they were the young sons of rebels. We then turn to the first gender affirmation surgery (as it might be called today) performed in Taiwan, way back in the early 1950s, with the remarkable case of soldier Hsieh Chien-shun (謝尖順), the so-called “Chinese Christine.” In 1953, the discovery of Hsieh’s medical condition and the ensuing series of operations became front-page news across Taiwan, with newspapers turning a deeply…
Slow exposure to the joy of thinking and talking about something a student has read can become addictive. And the dopamine hits from a teacher or classmates are not all about praise. The biggest hits come from being understood. That is why Englist’s tagline works so well — Writing is thinking.
A wide range of political and business figures attended the opening ceremony on Sunday, including KMT Legislator Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉), DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱), Pingtung City Mayor Chou Chia-chi (周佳琪), and half a dozen county councilors, officials, as well as candidates running in the November local elections.
Fu said that government purchases of drones and unmanned boats could give local metalworking and manufacturing companies a route into higher-value defense and aerospace supply chains.
Afritai Ltd. (亞非台有限公司) founder Ubadigha Chinweze told Kaohsiung Times that he first noticed the opportunity while working part-time at a scrapyard as a student in Taiwan. One of his jobs was helping load shipping containers bound for Africa. The experience showed him that many Taiwanese used cars and auto parts still had value in overseas markets.
The city launched its All-Gender Accommodation Certification Program in 2023 to help hotels, hostels, and bed-and-breakfast operators enhance their services and facilities for travelers with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations. Sixty lodging businesses have received certification so far. The program also received an Executive Yuan Gender Equality Innovation Award, the bureau said.
The event is scheduled for July 24 at InterContinental Kaohsiung (高雄洲際酒店), according to the Taiwan Startup World Cup website. Organizers said the Kaohsiung event is part of a broader initiative to connect southern Taiwan’s startup teams with international investors, business leaders, accelerators, and entrepreneurship networks.
