Category：Features

16-year-old Wu Yu-yen defies achondroplasia to become badminton star

Tonight we meet a teen who’s short in stature but mighty in heart. Sixteen-year-old Wu Yu-yen is a winner of the 2023 Presidential Education Award. She was born with a condition called achondroplasia , which causes dwarfism, but she’s refused to let that define her. Wu discovered badminton in primary school, and by junior high, was already representing Taiwan at international competitions. She’s currently enrolled in the athletics program at New Taipei Senior High School, where she endures intense training every day. Her talent, grit, and sunny disposition are an inspiration to those who know her. Our Sunday special report.

It’s 7 a.m. and practice is underway at New Taipei Senior High School. The boys on the badminton team are all 175 centimeters or above, while the girls aren’t far behind. Standing out in the crowd is Wu Yu-yen , who’s just 115 centimeters tall.

Every day, the team completes 10 laps around the field. Wu has achondroplasia, a bone growth disorder that results in dwarfism. Her strides are shorter, and she often lags behind the pack. But her determination always gets her to the finish line.

Huang Hsiao-chuan
Wu Yu-yen’s mother
It hurts me to watch her. I don’t like watching her train, because she gets so exhausted.

Wu Shih-wei
Wu Yu-yen’s father
When she first joined the athletics program, she told us every day that she was tired. I told her to quit, to transfer to a regular class. But she said to me, “This is my passion. I just wanted to have a bit of a moan to a sympathetic ear.”

No matter how tough training can be, Wu is determined to stick it out. She comes into her element when she’s on the court, racket in hand.

Cheng Chun-i
Badminton coach
For her, every shot seems far away. She needs to exert extra effort, move extra fast, and be extra focused to reach the shuttlecock. So she’s got more grit than most.

The 16-year-old is a high-school freshman. She joined a badminton team in junior high, after starting the sport relatively late. But her talent and willpower have launched her on an adventure as a national team para-athlete.

Playfully pushing her luggage, Wu joins her team at the airport. This June, Wu went to Ottawa for 10 days to compete in the Canada Para Badminton International. The goal was to earn qualification points for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
I need to really focus on my training, so that I get good enough to make it to the end.

Wu began competing internationally in the ninth grade. At the 2022 Dubai Para Badminton International, she competed in the standing/short stature category, winning bronze in women’s singles and silver in women’s doubles. On the BWF Para Badminton World Rankings, she’s currently sixth in women’s singles and third in women’s doubles. The Canada trip was her 11th international appearance, but that didn’t stop her parents from worrying.

Playing with partner Cai Yi-lin, Wu won silver in women’s doubles at the Canada Para Badminton International.

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
This is my room, welcome to my humble abode. This is where I usually sleep. I only sit in that chair over there when I need to study for the sectional exams. This is where I keep my medals. This is from Bahrain. And this is from Bahrain. This one is from Thailand. Thailand’s medal is very beautiful. This one is from Canada, and this one is from Brazil.

With hard work and a steely resolve, she’s made a place for herself on the international stage. Behind her success is a close and happy family.

Laughter rings out as her family examines old photos. Sixteen years ago, when Wu’s mother was expecting her second child, prenatal testing showed that the child would have a genetic mutation that causes stunted bone growth. At just four months old, Wu had a 14-hour surgery to treat hydrocephalus. This is her as a bright-eyed baby. Tucked under her pink cap is a tangle of plastic tubes.

Huang Hsiao-chuan
Wu Yu-yen’s mother
There were so many tubes. She was so small, but there were tubes everywhere. I saw them and was about to cry, but her father had already started crying. Her father is such a crybaby. He’s very emotional, always crying.

No matter how touching the story, a comical side appears when Wu’s mother tells it. During her mother’s interview, Wu and her father and sister watched, munching on popcorn and enjoying the show. For families coping with a rare disease, laughter can heal what medicine can’t.

Huang Hsiao-chuan
Wu Yu-yen’s mother
I told her to look in the mirror. I said, “Look at your arms,” and she moved her arms. I said, “What about your legs?” And she moved them. I said, “So how are you different from anybody else?” She looked at herself and said, “I’m shorter than other people.” I said, “You are shorter than other people, but you have arms and legs, just like everybody else. Anything they do, you can, too.”

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
This world isn’t as bad as you might think. You may not necessarily think it’s evil, but you might wonder, “Why are they looking at me? They must be looking at me because I look different. They are laughing at me because I’m so short.” But in reality, people might simply be curious. Don’t let such things affect your view of the world.

Wu dances and skateboards, never letting her condition dictate what she can or can’t do. In high school, she bought a guitar that was as tall as she was, to add some music to her life.

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
If I really want to do something, I ignore all the reasons and all the things stopping me. My stature might impose limitations, but I’ll still want to do it.

Thirty-six-year-old Hsiung Hsiao-yuan, a former national team player himself, had introduced Wu to para athletics. He’s all too familiar with the self-imposed constraints of people with rare conditions. He knows that sports can be a way to break free.

Chen Kuan-ju
Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders head
Hsiao-yuan led Yu-yen into sports, helped her blaze a path for herself. Hsiao-yuan did it first and it was very difficult. He taught her how to land better results. This is mentorship. It’s also one person with a disability supporting another.

During a break, Wu drinks water and wipes away sweat, before pulling out a comb to straighten her bangs. Noticing the camera, she flashes an endearing smile.

Hsiung Hsiao-yuan
Former national team para-athlete
She’s integrated seamlessly into a mainstream high school with mainstream students, mainstream classmates. Her optimism, candidness, and joy are far beyond how we were in our youth.

Here at her school, Wu is comfortable and confident. Her height distinguishes her from her classmates, but she’s very much one of them.

The three girls have been in the same athletics program since junior high. They share a special bond, which became clear during one practice session, when Wu hit a shuttlecock too high. One of her friends rushed forth to smash it, but accidentally slammed her racket into the other friend. Distraught and wracked with guilt, Wu burst into tears, triggering a domino effect.

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
It was a very upsetting moment that became funny, because all three of us were crying on the court. The other girls weren’t sure what was happening.

Ko Ya-ling
New Taipei Senior High School principal
I think that Yu-yen embodies positivity. When she interacts with people, she leads them in a direction that’s positive, proactive, and optimistic.

New Taipei Senior High School nominated Wu for the 2023 Presidential Education Award. She didn’t disappoint, becoming one of 56 finalists picked from 351 nominees.

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
I want to thank the people who have supported me, my mom and dad, my coach, classmates. I feel that this award belongs to the people who have been at my side, helping me.

Wu believes that, although her legs are shorter, she can make up for it by running faster and working harder. Her height falls below her peers’, but she can jump higher and set her sights farther. Badminton is her goal, and shining on the international stage is her dream.

Wu Yu-yen
New Taipei Senior High School badminton player
If you have a dream but you can’t endure hardship, then how will you make that dream come true?

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-26

Musician Hsiao Hung-jen describes transition from pop star to jazz crooner

Today we take you to meet Taiwanese pop singer Hsiao Hung-jen. He is known for eclectically mixing Taiwanese, Mandarin, and English lyrics in his pop ballads. Now he is venturing into the world of jazz. Our very own FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Hsiao to find out more about his career and how managed to persevere despite several hardships.

This is Hsiao Hung-jen. He has collaborated with many prominent Taiwanese music artists, such as Jay Chou and Ian Chen of F.I.R., a Taiwanese rock band. Besides being known for his romantic pop ballads, Hsiao’s lyrics often evoke his Taiwanese roots and social criticism. In September, he wrote a song with his wife.

Hsiao Hung-jen
Singer
I collaborated with my wife to write the lyrics. I’m very grateful to her. She helped me complete it. This song is completely different from my previous works. It has a lower-pitched vocal. I discovered that I quite like the melody and the direction of the music is different from before.

Hsiao first got his foot in the door in the music industry when he was 11 years old. He won first place at a Taiwanese singing competition called "Five Light Awards.” Hsiao was later nominated for "Best Newcomer" at Taiwan’s 20th Golden Melody Awards in 2009. Having been in the music industry for almost 20 years, Hsiao is now venturing into the world of jazz. He says it was not an easy feat to transition from pop to jazz and he had to train and make adjustments. He also recently underwent lung surgery, but that hasn’t hindered him from pursuing his passion for music.

Hsiao Hung-jen
Singer
My voice is now a bit softer. In the past, I sang at a higher pitch. This time the key will be adjusted. I underwent throat treatment earlier, and it seemed that my voice suddenly changed. I hope I can make a jazz album. That is the goal. I want to learn more jazz or blues in the future and add them to my own pop music in live performances.

Hsiao has been busy writing songs for his new jazz album. He says the songs are inspired by his daily life and also difficulties that he faced, such as being the victim of a car accident.

Hsiao Hung-jen
Singer
I have also been composing recently, and I will collaborate with Su Sheng-yu to produce a jazz album. This is my first jazz album. I think it is quite challenging because I am known for my pop music and he is known for his jazz music. When we collaborate together, it is a very unique experience. There are already several songs. The most special thing is that the jazz album is in Taiwanese. It was inspired by many things that I have experienced myself. I was in a car accident and I wrote a song about it. I think life is very precious, so I wrote a song about it. We must seize the moment.

Hsiao hopes that his music can inspire others and bring joy to all.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-24

80-year herbal tea store undergoes transformation

Today we take you to an herbal tea store that has 80 years of history. The store’s third-generation owner, Jovial Kuo, decided to reinvent the brand by using herbal tea to create products such as perfume, jewelry, and more. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the Kuo to find out how she’s revitalizing the industry, while still maintaining her family traditions.

Kuo makes herbal tea, carefully pouring it into a cup. Through adjustments to the formulation and packaging of herbal tea, she hopes to reinvent the image of herbal tea, making it exquisite.

Jovial Kuo
Owner
I used to work at a luxury shoe manufacturer in China. After I came back, I wanted to transform the industry, making it to be more about gifts and luxury products. Our teas are all sourced directly from the origin. After cleaning, we dry it and process it into tea bags. It used to take a long time to brew traditional herb tea, about half an hour or more. Now through our roasting process, you can brew it directly with hot water. We adjusted the formula because many young people find traditional herb tea to be bitter and not tasty.

Kuo also made this snack using fruits grown on herbal tea farms.

Jovial Kuo
Owner
Only small farmers who do not use pesticides or fertilizers can grow herbal tea. There are also many fruits grown in tea orchards, and many of those fruits can be brought into people’s everyday lives. Pineapples roasted at low temperatures tastes very good and chewy. Citrus is cooked with rock sugar and we add honey after 60 hours. It tastes very unique. The dried longan is removed with a tool and roasted at a low temperature. Our production areas range widely. Some of the fruits are produced by small farmers who have cooperated with my grandparents for 70-80 years. We always visit the production site ourselves.

This herbal tea store has an 80-year history. Kuo, who is the store’s third-generation owner, decided to build her own brand five years ago. She worked in China for a few years and decided to come back to Taiwan to continue her family’s legacy, because she noticed the herbal tea industry slowly disappearing. Since returning to Taiwan, she’s created a fashionable herbal tea lifestyle brand. The store uses hand-picked herbal tea from Taiwanese farms to create herbal teas and products such as perfume, jewelry, and more.

Jovial Kuo
Owner
I started my business about five years ago because I found that the herbal tea industry was declining. I feared that herbal tea stores may slowly disappear in the next 10 years. I wanted to transform herbal tea, make it relevant to life, and make it easy to choose and use. For example, in the form of tea and bath tea bags. In addition, we turned herbal tea into fragrance-based products that can be used for healing. In the future, we will also develop some plant-based and herbal tea eye masks, which can be reused and are environmentally friendly. My family is very supportive of what we are doing. I hope to expand our products internationally. I hope to work on the packaging and have the opportunity to expand overseas because Taiwan is most famous for black tea and oolong tea. I hope that the good flavors of herbal tea can be promoted internationally.

Kuo hopes to continue her family’s legacy of herbal teas and one day introduce her products internationally.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-23

Artist Chen Pu’s exhibition explores ecology, history and civilization

Today we take you to an immersive exhibition which uses 5G and generative artificial intelligence to explore the relationship between ecology, history and civilization from the Industrial Revolution to modern times. Our very own Stephany Yang spoke to the exhibition’s creator to find out more.

Stephany Yang
FTV reporter
One work was inspired by the Wardian case, which was invented during the Industrial Revolution.

This Wardian-case-like installation is a collaboration between Chen and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute. The installation roams around the room while the background changes. This art exhibition “Streaming Colony: Nesting Terrariums" explores the relationship between ecology, history, and civilization from the Industrial Revolution to the modern day.

Chen Pu
Artist
This exhibition is idea from history, from plant transportation around the world. In the very beginning, we find the story which is a box called Wardian Case. Wardian Case is a small case which can put plants or small ecosystems. This case let British take the tea to India. Actually, it created a tremendous effect to humans. Actually, we started from this impact story and created this exhibition. We used different ways of writing to build up the structure of this story. In our work, you can see different writing styles, the handwriting, typing machines in the 19th century, and computer coding. The latest one is the AI. We used AI to create some of the images. And also, generative art to build up a future concept of ecosystem.

One work utilizes a 5G livestream to present real-time live video of workers in Taipei and Orchid Island.

Chen Pu
Artist
Why we using 5G live images connected to the Orchid Island? Because Orchid Island plays an important role in plant history. Beasue why is it called Orchid Island? Because in the past time, the island was full of orchids. Their orchid’s ecosystem was very prosperous but due to human’s behavior, the orchids now vanished. We want to use this 5G live stream to show people that ecosystems can change rapidly due to the human behavior. People in Orchid Island are trying to recovering the orchids in Orchid Island. We want to tell a story about that.

The exhibition has been co-created by two Taiwanese artists, Wu Chi-yu and Chen Pu. Chen 3D-printed plants in his studio and placed them into the works. Wu wrote the script. This exhibition highlights their reflections on society, history, culture and technology.

Chen Pu
Artist
The main idea that we want to talk about is when we create, not only just doing a plan is creating an ecosystem, but also when you writ, when you thinking, when you drawing, when you video something. Actually, you create kind of ecosystem in your consciousness. This year, the AI is quite advanced. I think that people can accept the idea if one thing can be described, can be put into human consciousness, actually it can become a creature which can become an ecosystem. That is our main idea. Actually, we want to encourage people to keep creating.

Chen has won various international accolades and has displayed his works in many art institutions and exhibitions in various countries. He began to cultivate an interest in plants three years ago. In the future, he hopes to experiment with combining concepts in his artworks relating to ESG, otherwise known as environmental, social and governance.

Chen Pu
Artist
In the future, we are going to have some experiments about artwork combined with plants or more ecosystem ideas because nowadays people put in plantlike decorations. But actually, if we can invent a system when the plant condition is not very well, we can recycle it and after that, we can put the well condition into that. The plant are not going into the trash can, they can go back to the greenhouse. Actually, this ecosystem I want to try to combine with my work in the future.

The exhibition will be held at the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts until Dec.3.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-22

Yilan man charts unexpected path to ‘Olympics of Dog Sports’

This September, Eli the Belgian Shepherd made a triumphant debut at the "Olympics of Dog Sports," the FCI-IGP World Championship in Slovenia. But behind this four-legged champion is an even more remarkable story, that of his trainer Wu Chien-hsing. Wu is not a professional dog handler by any means. He runs a small guesthouse in Yilan, and he didn’t especially like dogs as a younger man. But in 2009, his life was forever changed by a stray dog. Today in our Sunday special report, we bring you a heartwarming tale of friendship, commitment, and an unlikely journey to the global stage.

Ms. Luo is at the airport bright and early. She’s here not for a celebrity but for Eli the Belgian Shepherd, who’s returning from an international competition.

In September, Eli and his owner Wu Chien-hsing traveled to Slovenia to compete in the FCI-IGP World Championship, where they won a medal.

Hailed as the Olympics of Dog Sports, the FCI-IGP World Championship is made up of three trials: tracking, obedience, and protection. If a dog fails to score at least 70 points in any one trial, it is eliminated.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
Especially with the test of chasing after an escaping suspect – other dogs might need to take five or seven steps before chasing him down and apprehending him. But my dog doesn’t. My dog can do it in just three steps. So the audience was amazed. They were amazed at how fast my dog could apprehend a suspect.

This was Eli’s first-ever appearance on the global stage, and Wu is not a professional trainer. He runs a small guesthouse in Yilan County.

Wu has managed the guesthouse for over a decade now. As a young man, he wasn’t especially fond of dogs and had never owned one of his own. But in 2009, he and his now-fiancée found a stray on the street. That was how Latte came into Wu’s life, changing it forever.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
We picked her up in Jiaosi. She was very weak and sickly. She had so many diseases, and we treated them, spending four months and NT$40,000, NT$50,000. After that, she was living a good life, and so we started to do some things with her to give back to the community.

Wu got Latte certified as a therapy dog. Together, they went to social welfare organizations and long-term care centers to bring joy to children and the elderly.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
My dog, she led me into the world of dogs. The second thing is, she was very smart. I even taught her to speak. She could say, “I love you.”

But all dogs die too soon. Latte passed away in 2017, leaving her family heartbroken. To heal his grief, Wu began using his guesthouse as a foster home for small strays. He quickly realized that not all dogs were as easy as his beloved Latte.

Penny Chang
Wu Chien-hsing’s fiancée
We took in a dog that had behavioral issues. We ourselves got hurt. We wanted to rehabilitate it so that it could be adopted. Naturally we didn’t want the dog to get adopted and then be returned immediately.

To give each dog its best chance at a new family, Wu ventured into the world of dog training.

Every week, he went to a canine training school in Sanxia, New Taipei. He started out with basic pet training. After getting certified, he moved on to specialized fields like rescue and police dog training.

Kevin
Canine training school instructor
At the time, Eli hadn’t been born yet. We assigned to him a “dog assistant,” a dog that was already well-trained. The point wasn’t for the dog to be trained, but for Chien-hsing to be trained. The dog trained him.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
I had a Belgian Malinois named A, a big strong dog. At the time I felt that whenever A was on a leash, it was like trying to control a bull. I couldn’t do it. The dog weighed 40-something kilograms and walked on my left, so of course I held the leash in my left hand. Once time after a day at the school, I couldn’t even lift my left arm.

Wu pushed on, weathering scrapes and bruises. To better understand dogs, he would even fall to the ground to imitate their movements.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
You have to know how your dog feels and how difficult a task is for them. Instead of whipping them or punishing them or criticizing them, you have to guide them to accomplish a task.

Using praise, not censure, Wu hit his stride in dog training. But then tragedy struck again when his faithful “dog assistant” died suddenly from a heart attack.

Penny Chang
Wu Chien-hsing’s fiancée
I saw that he was deeply distressed. It was the first time I’d seen him cry. He just held the dog and sobbed. Because that dog was truly exceptional. And it wasn’t old. It died so abruptly. I felt that he needed to do something to overcome his sorrow. He later asked if he could have a dog of his own, and that’s how we got Eli.

As a puppy, Eli’s lively spirit brought Wu back from his grief, renewing his enthusiasm for dog training.

Starting from two months old, Eli was trained for at least two hours a day. During scent detection exercises, Wu would hide three objects in a space as big as a soccer field, and ask Eli to track them down within 15 minutes.

Shen Chi-tung
Canine training school head
Eli is special because he has tremendous focus, tremendous power. His movements are extremely quick and precise.

The training school saw Eli’s innate talent. Wu was encouraged to take Eli to qualifiers for a shot at competing internationally. A lot of work goes into qualifying for the global stage. The dog must first pass basic, junior, intermediate, and advanced certification tests in Taiwan. It must also win a national championship.

Penny Chang
Wu Chien-hsing’s fiancée
At the time I thought, “Yeah right. There’s no way we could go abroad to compete.” But he really did work hard, and Eli was truly extraordinary. So I told him, “It’s OK, no matter how much time, effort, or money it takes, I will support you.” Because I think it’s a really special thing when someone has a dream and chases it, step by step. It’s such a rare thing to see.

In pursuit of his dreams, Wu spent two years competing with Eli in events big and small. And then, at a national competition, he defeated a professional trainer to claim the title and a spot in a global tournament.

But the journey to the event had its own hurdles. On his first overseas flight, 4-year-old Eli was confined to the cargo hold for 12 hours. Upon arrival at Vienna, Eli endured a six-hour drive to the competition site in Slovenia. Perhaps due to the stress of travel, Eli began to lose his fur, developing a bald patch.

Penny Chang
Wu Chien-hsing’s fiancée
When I saw it I thought, “It’s stress.” There was nothing to be done. He was on a long flight. And he wasn’t used to being confined in isolation.

In the days before the competition, Wu fell ill on the training field, after hours of training under the hot sun and intermittent rain.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
During a training session, I began to vomit profusely. I was like a fire hydrant. My vomiting frightened the other handlers, who were so concerned.

But the setbacks took the pressure off the big day. During the competition itself, Wu and Eli worked the field in complete harmony.

Eli sailed through the tracking, obedience, and protection trials, earning high scores of 77, 70, and 80. Elated from their success on the field, Wu found the courage to propose to his girlfriend of 15 years.

He won not just a medal, but also the hand of his beloved. But for Wu, the journey isn’t over. He plans to take Eli to more competitions and see the world. He also wants to keep giving back to society.

Penny Chang
Wu Chien-hsing’s fiancée
We offer courses to volunteers at shelters. We also go to the homes of dog owners to work with their dogs, free of charge.

Wu Chien-hsing
Dog handler
I want to offer classes. It’s not just about me and my dog. Because Eli has a bit of fame now, people want to see him, they want to pet him. They say, “Your dog is so impressive, can my dog be like that?” And I say, “Of course!” While not every dog can go overseas to compete, every dog can be as happy as Eli is and share the same bond with its owner and live each day in comfort and ease.

Wu wants to share Eli with the world, to help other dog owners solve hard problems. And with Eli at his side, Wu hopes to help more stray dogs find their forever homes.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-19

Artist Li Kuei-pi explores dark side of banana industry in solo exhibition

Let’s take you to meet Taiwanese artist Li Kuei-pi. She is holding an exhibition titled “Banana Coin,” which is centered on bananas, a colonial cash crop in Taiwan. Through the exhibition, Li hopes to bring awareness to problems in the banana industry and pose questions about our modern-day perceptions of trade and currency. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to Li to find out more about her exhibition.

Scan the QR code to try a game of banana picking. If you can accumulate 2,000 points in ten minutes, you’ll win a prize in the form of an NFT. It’s an exceptionally difficult challenge, but nothing compared to the quotas imposed on a real-life banana orchard worker. Through this game, “Banana Coin,” artist Li Kuei-pi hopes to bring to light problems in the banana industry.

Li Kuei-pi
Artist
You can join the auction to bid your copper banana. The banana industry is a global industry. It has a lot of problems and a lot of issues. They have some NGOS that is also doing research to remind people that the problems made from the banana plantation and banana company. I think although this project now is talking about the relationship with Taiwanese history but it can be global and make a new link to other countries and other banana farmers. It can be a new platform to have more conversations about this issue in the future.

This work “Weather Forecast of Banana Plantation” is a video installation that was created by combining images of “banana money” banknotes with a real-time weather tracker, Google Weather. By integrating these two elements, the weather conditions of former colonial banana plantation sites are then synchronized and presented on a projection screen.

Li Kuei-pi
Artist
This video installation is linked to Google. The voices were made. We used some AI technology. Also, with some music. The video talks about the colonization history in Taiwan and also the banana industry.

Li received her M.F.A degree from Taipei National University of the Arts in 2017. Her works mainly focus on landscapes that are neglected under globalization. One topic she has done extensive research on is Cambodia’s Diamond Island. In her newest solo exhibition, Li focuses on bananas, a colonial cash crop in Taiwan. She aims to bring to light the contradictions of contemporary trading systems in relation to the structures of colonialism. She also explores how colonialism history connects with the present-day economic situation in Taiwan.

Li Kuei-pi
Artist
We are talking about colony history. We are talking about colonialism. We are talking about globalism. Also, today’s economic situation after COVID-19. They have a relationship. In this project, I want to remind everyone, remind people of our history and today’s economic system. Actually, we have a very big relationship. We are not alone. Actually, we are linked with other countries. We are linked with the world for a very long time. But we maybe sometimes too busy that we don’t have enough time to focus on it.

Li’s solo exhibition will be held at the Hong Foundation till Dec. 16.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-16

One entrepreneur seeks to bring young talent to rural fish-farming communities

Youths in rural communities tend to head for the city, where they find new opportunities and greater excitement. However, one entrepreneur who left the city life behind to return to his fishing village hopes to encourage others to follow him. Chang Po-jen took over his father’s fish farm, but he was not content to farm the way his father had. He changed the farm’s management and distribution models, and now he trains other young fish farmers, even encouraging them to start their own fish-farming businesses. Let’s hear from Chang and some of the youths who work with him. Our Sunday in-depth report.

One by one the chef places the uncooked shrimp in the hot frying pan. Once they start to turn red, he adds garlic, butter, salt and pepper, before placing the shrimp atop a salad.

Before shrimp gets used by this high-end French restaurant, it must go through a strict selection process.

Chien Tien-tsai
Chef
It has to be high quality. That means it must be the right level of sweetness, and it must be fresh. It has to be very, very good quality before we can select it to use for our ingredients.

In its pursuit for low emissions and sustainability, this restaurant buys local ingredients. To that end, he works with shrimp farmer Chang Po-jen in Kaohsiung’s Mituo District.

Chien Tien-tsai
Chef
Since I had planned to use his shrimp I had to try it first. The day I went there we all tried some, and I felt it was very fresh, very delicious. I also requested of him that I could go see his farming process. His family’s shrimp farm was the only one that wasn’t using any chemicals in its farming process.

Chang lays out freshly harvested shrimp on a counter for grading. In 2010, when he was 32 years old, Chang left a high-paying job at a pharmaceutical trading company and returned home to take over his father’s shrimp farm. Having studied nutrition in college and bioengineering in graduate school, he knows the importance of food safety to the industry.

To put his farming ideas into practice, Chang later left his father’s farm and went out to rent a pond from another fish farmer. Contrary to traditional fish-farming methods, he engages in ecologically friendly, low-density farming. The shrimp also share the pond with fish, which allows the shrimp to eat the uneaten feed left behind by the fish, and at the same time to purify the water. This ecologically friendly environment also allows Chang to obtain additional income from the fish in his pond.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
The fish I gather from my pond include many species that can be prepared in a variety of ways including fish steak, soup made with the bones, dishes made with the stomach or skin, fish filet, or we can do fish collars. With just one catch from the pond, a whole product line appears. There could be between 10 and 20 products from that catch.

Unlike with the traditional dealer acquisition model, Chang produces and sells his products on his own. This means he has to seek out channels to sell his fish.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
When I first returned to my hometown to raise fish, I often carried my products with me, delivering them and visiting customers all over the place.

Chang’s hard work was motivated by the challenges he saw fishing communities facing.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
The problems my father’s generation faced in the industry were largely related to marketing. After they were finished with production, they had only one channel for distribution, which was the wholesaler. They didn’t have any other options, because in selling their own products they had no marketing network. So, the power to set the prices was in someone else’s hands. We met with over 1,000 fish farmers, including men and women in their 80s who had to carry 30-kilogram bags of feed by themselves. When you see that it makes you ask, “Is there nobody younger in your family, nobody stronger who can do this work?”

In response to the labor shortage in fishing communities, Chang in 2013 invited aquaculture students from the city to help out with harvesting and repair of the aerators used in the fish ponds. He aimed to create work and help the communities at the same time.

Chi Peng-yi stands atop a raft throwing a net into the pond. Chi is one of the recruits brought in by Chang to help harvest fish. His work hours are flexible, and he can earn NT$1,500 to NT$1,800 for four hours of work every day.

Chi Peng-yi
Fish farmer
In a month I can earn roughly NT$85,000. Of course, during the mullet season I can earn more – nearly NT$100,000. In the slow seasons I earn around NT$70,000.

However, working on the fish farm also involves hidden dangers. Farmers must endure cold winter temperatures, and sometimes total darkness in the water.

Chi Peng-yi
Fish farmer
Some fish like the mullet and the milkfish are harvested at night, when it’s impossible to see anything. You might cast the net, and then disappear, having fallen into the water.

Chang’s hope is that his recruits won’t just help out on the fish farms, but will also consider becoming entrepreneurs.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
I train them with the skills they need like raising and harvesting the fish, and maintaining the equipment. Then I teach them about the overall operations of the industry, including the management aspects. After that, they can make a choice. They can decide to work for a fish farm as an employee, or they can take the next step and create their own aquaculture business.

Entrepreneurs will receive assistance through joint operations. Chang works with the National Fishermen’s Association to rent ponds from retired fishers, and then provides those to the entrepreneur for free, leaving them responsible only for maintenance and feed expenses. They keep all profits.

Hung Wei-chun, who previously learned fish farming from Chang, made the decision to buy a nearly 1,000 square meter fish pond and chase his dream of business ownership.

Hung Wei-chun
Fish farmer
I worked here continuously for six years. Toward the end, Chang gave us the opportunity to start businesses, to give things a try on our own. At the moment I’m just breaking even.

Chang currently leases 18 ponds accounting for 7 hectares, but says that expanding that would prove quite difficult. Many farmers adhere to the traditional idea that land should be passed on to the next generation, he says.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
Farmers and fish farmers are all similar in that they all have one thing in common. When their time comes, they pass the land on to their sons or daughters. They give it to their own children, or other family members.

Despite challenges, Chang actively pushes ahead with his ideas. Alongside one pond, he built a cafe, and invites nearby students to try their hand at catching shrimp and feeding fish. He hopes this will foster an ecological mindset.

However, not everyone supports Chang’s efforts to bring life to the fish-farming community.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
The older generation feels that their decades of experience means much more than that of younger fish farmers. They feel that their experience is more significant than that of the children they raised who went off to school, and who previously didn’t farm fish.

Chang says his father wanted him to fully focus on raising fish, and to leave the marketing to others. However, his hope is to diversify management in the industry, he says.

Chang Po-jen
Fish farmer
If I were only planning to return home to live the same life as my father, then I may as well not have returned. To return is to seek change. For children to obtain the approval of their parents is difficult, because although we don’t fail, our accomplishments are never enough in their eyes.

Youth who return to rural communities generally face the generation gap, but for Chang, his success is confirmed by his awards including one from the UK-based Social Value International, making him one of very few in Taiwan to be personally conferred the award.

Chang’s ideas may be at odd with older fish farmers, but he hopes his efforts and perseverance will bring fresh, young talent to the industry, and new life to fishing communities.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-12

Dance Now Asia ongoing until Nov. 12

The Dance Now Asia Festival seeks to promote the development of dance and cultivate talent in cities across Asia. This year’s first-ever festival will showcase performances by Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean dance masters. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the highlights.

The Dance Now Asia Festival is underway, featuring talks, Q&A sessions, workshops and master classes for dancers.

Ho Hsiao-mei
Curator
Asian countries has a long history and culture. And also, we have very traditional dance ceremonies which are very beautiful. We used to go to Europe. We think that Europe is the best, but we also have to think where we are. We are Asian. We have our cultural aesthetics. What is our dance. What is our body language?

National Award for Arts winner Ho Hsiao-mei is chief curator of the festival. She is joined by co-curators Keiko Takeya, founder of Japan’s Dance 01 company, and Moonsuk Choi, Daegu City Dance Company’s artistic director.

Keiko Takeya
Co-curator
Recently, there are so many dance festivals in Asia but I need more I think because each country has a very wonderful traditional culture. Maybe, in the future to combine traditional and modern, and to make it regional.

Moonsuk Choi
Co-curator
We are really excited to collaborate with these three countries as well as to know each other. Exactly in this moment in the world, there are a lot of things going on, but we wanted to have one voice through this festival. This is very important to send the message to the world.

The festival also includes two days of performances that are open to the public. Nine dancers from Taiwan, Japan, and South Korea will be showcased at Taiwan’s historic Zhongshan Hall.

Jiang Meng-fang
Taipei Zhongshan Hall director
The reason that we host this festival is that Taipei Zhongshan Hall right now is in a transformation period of time. We hope that in 10 years from now, we are going to become a dance center in Taipei, maybe in Taiwan. So, for Zhongshan Hall and the Department of Cultural Affairs in Taipei, 2023 Dance Now Asia is a very important project.

The performances of Dance Now Asia 2023 will be staged on Nov. 11 and 12.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-09

Dancer-turned-baker serves up made-to-order cakes

Today we take you to meet Marina Medvedeva, a dancer turned baker. Initially when she moved to Taiwan, the Russian native taught dance. But after giving birth to her daughter, she began baking for her family and close friends. She even started an Instagram page as her cakes became more popular. Today she has a thriving business serving made-to-order cakes. FTV reporter Stephany Yang has the story.

She slowly spins the cake and adds two different icings onto the cake.

Then she adds tiny pearls made of chocolate. This is a bento cake, a small treat perfectly sized for one to four people. Originally from South Korea, bento cakes have taken the internet by storm.

Marina Medvedeva
Baker
This one is for our teachers. Thank you so much for having us at your school.

This one was handmade by Marina, a Russian baker. It’s a gift for her daughter’s teachers.

Marina Medvedeva
Baker
I wanted to make something special, not a regular boring cake for our teachers. I wanted to make something fun and special. Since bubble tea is just a very Taiwanese product it is very fun to make such a cake. Usually, most people like to put letters inside. Like "I love you" or something like that.

Another signature treat is cheesecake placed in a cup, so that it’s perfect for a quick afternoon snack.

Marina Medvedeva
Baker
No need to have a special decoration if you don’t want too much frosting. Some people they don’t like frosting. People are so different so it is very good to make them something for their special request.

Marina is originally from Russia. She moved to the U.S. and worked as a dance teacher. Due to her husband’s job, she moved to Taiwan eight years ago. She taught dance for a while, but after giving birth to her daughter, began exploring a new passion: baking. As a self-taught baker, she worked hard to master her craft, experimenting with lots of techniques. She started her own Instagram page, where she features all kinds of cakes. She even makes her own cottage cheese.

Marina Medvedeva
Baker
I asked people everything. The feeling, decoration, and delivery, it is absolutely customized. I started to make very simple cakes. It was a honey cake with no decoration and nothing special. Now, my passion is to make some figures.

Having lived in Taiwan for eight years now, she calls Taiwan her second home. She has a daughter and son, who both grew up here.

Marina Medvedeva
Baker
We just couldn’t believe how convenient everything is here. Everything made for people. Everything. MRT, these bubble tea shops, every breakfast shops, everything so good. We just want to live a happy life. As far as baking, it brings me so much fun and so much joy. I like it when people send me pictures back with nice words, very kind words of my jobs.

Marina hopes to continue to bake tasty treats for people and bring joy to those around her.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-09

Spotlight on Brazilian saxophonist, Diogo Pinheiro

Today we take you to meet Diogo Pinheiro, whose saxophone has led him on an adventure across Taiwan. FTV reporter Stephany Yang caught up with the Brazilian musician, to find out more about his career and life.

Since moving to Taiwan, Pinheiro has worked with prominent musicians such as Jay Chou. Pinheiro was invited to play with the Chou at his Carnival World Tour in December 2022.

Diogo Pinheiro
Saxophone player
I did the show in Singapore first. We did two shows in Singapore. He is on tour to celebrate 20 years, now 23 after COVID. It was 20 years of his career. It was just a whole new level of performance and organization and everything. I was really happy with this opportunity.

Pinheiro started playing saxophone when he was 6. Since then, his dream has been to be a professional and perform on big stages. To fulfill his dream, he attended the Stetson University Saxophone Workshop in the U.S. in 2007. After that, Pinheiro performed at the NAMM Show, the biggest music trade fair in the world as a guest artist. He moved to Taiwan in 2019 where he performs in a variety of events.

Diogo Pinheiro
Saxophone player
Coming from Brazil the thing I love the most about Taiwan is the safety. It is so safe here. I mean, last week I forgot my saxophone in my parking lot because I was so tired. Too many gigs this year so I forgot my saxophone in the parking lot. In Brazil, in two seconds I would never see my saxophone again. But it is Taiwan. Taiwan is super safe. The second thing and mostly that I like most about Taiwan is that Taiwanese people are so nice, really polite, really helpful, especially with foreigners. I feel that Taiwan is a very foreigner-friendly country. I like the safety, I like the country, I like the food. I love Taiwan. I just like everything about here.

When public performances were suspended during the COVID pandemic, he began teaching the saxophone.

Diogo Pinheiro
Saxophone player
I found out that the students they don’t really have the open ears for music. They must read but they are not really listening for real what they are playing. So, I try to focus mostly on opening their ears to imagine that instead of just reading music, they should sing with their instrument.

Pinheiro is currently working on a new CD, which will feature original music inspired by his experiences in Taiwan. One original song on the CD is titled “First Kiss.”

Diogo Pinheiro
Saxophone player
When we compose a song, we need to have some kind of experience related right? This song "First Kiss" was a situation in Taiwan. The first. This song for me was like trying to transmit that feeling that we have when we meet this person and we have this first moment of intimacy. I feel that when I play this song and I just kind of relive that moment. I love Taiwan very much. Taiwan has opened arms to receive me in very lovely ways. My project is to have a copyrighted CD, like my own compositions all talking about Taiwan. It doesn’t have lyrics but music is kind of you don’t need lyrics sometimes to tell how you feel right?

Pinheiro is passionate about Taiwan and the saxophone. He hopes to continue to tell stories about Taiwan through his music.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

2023-11-07