Profile of three contributors of Ponlai Rice

After the Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese entered into Taiwan and started various improvements in many fields. Rice is a staple food for the human being in Asian countries. However, most of the Japanese could not get used to Zailai rice in Taiwan. It was too harsh. They tried to develop a kind of rice with the quality close to Japan.

It took a long time for them to get results after numerous hard works. In 1921, Ponlai rice was successfully cultivated at Zhuzihu. Hence, the Zhuzihu Ponlai Rice Foundation Nursery Story House ( Seed Field) was established in 1923. The new rice was officially named as Ponlai Rice in 1926.

Profile of three relevant people is as follows:

1. Iso Eikichi磯永吉 (1886-1972), the father of Ponlai rice, came to Taiwan in 1912. He was an expert in agriculture. He made contribution not only in the field of rice but also in other agricultural produces. After World War II, though most Japanese returned to Japan, he stayed in Taiwan for another 12 years continuing to give agricultural guidance. Recognized by local people for his great feat, Iso was awarded a Brilliant Star medal by our government. Taiwan Provincial Parliament even passed a resolution to send 1200tons Ponlai rice to Iso every year during his lifetime.

2. Suenaga Megumu 末永仁 (1886-1939), the mother of Ponlai rice. He came to Taiwan in 1910 and worked as a technician at an agricultural experimental site. His work was painstaking because he had to undergo numerous trials and errors. He worked very hard every day trying to cultivate the new rice. Though walking 1.5km from his house to the experimental site every day no matter what kind of weather, he did not give up. His wife took the lunch box to his working place every day without any complaint. Sometimes, when he confronted with difficulties in rice cultivation, he would have to ride bicycle to visit Iso Eikichi for consulting. Working so hard to get success in cultivating Ponlai rice, he was respected as the mother of Ponlai rice. Unfortunately, he died from tuberculosis at 53 after his return to Taiwan from his errand to Sarawak.

3. Hirazawa Kiichiro 平澤龜一郎 (1890-1986), the nanny of Ponlai rice. He ever came to Taipei in 1911 during his school year at the university. He formally worked as a Director at the Bureau of Productive Industries from 1917. He liked hiking in the mountain area. One day when he went to Zhuzihu, he found that its topographical isolation and weather were similar to Kyushu in Japan, a place suitable to plant Ponlai rice. Consequently, the Zhuzihu Ponlai rice Foundation Seed Fields was established in 1923. Through his effort in pushing the development of Ponlai rice and in making convenient transportation from Zhuzihu to the outside area, Ponlai rice finally could be spread to the whole island. He was praised as “a debt of deep gratitude” 恩重如山 by Zhuzuhu community.