Copyright Variety
World Softest Productions is developing “Taiwan Travelogue,” an adaptation of the U.S. National Book Award-winning novel by Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi that explores a complex relationship between two women against the backdrop of Japanese colonial rule in 1938 Taiwan. The series, currently in script development, is selected at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest (TCCF). It follows Japanese writer Aoyama Chizuko, who travels to Taiwan to give lectures while escaping marriage pressures back home. There she meets Ō Chizuru, a talented local interpreter who becomes her essential guide to understanding Taiwan—and a relationship that exposes the painful realities of colonial power dynamics. “What drew us to ‘Taiwan Travelogue’ is the relationship between two women,” says executive producer and producer Chen Yu Chang, director general of World Sofsoft Productions. “Chizuko is outspoken and guided by a strong sense of justice, saying whatever she thinks without hesitation, while Chizuru suppresses her emotions and hides her true feelings deep within.” The narrative follows the two young women as they grow closer through shared experiences with food and culture, only to confront the unbridgeable gulf between them created by language, power, and identity. When Chizuko attempts to protect Chizuru through what she considers a “well-meaning Japanese perspective,” she inadvertently wounds Chizuru’s dignity. The interpreter eventually confronts the writer, telling her that Chizuko wants to protect an idealized version of her, not the real Ō Chizuru. “They are like magnets, irresistibly attracted, yet destined to separate,” Chang explains. “We want to portray that kind of love – a love that even the word ‘love’ cannot cross.” The production brings together a notable team of Japan-Taiwan collaborators. Executive producer Jayde Lin, who invested in the hit horror series “The Tag-Along” and produced acclaimed series like “The World Between Us II” and “Wave Makers,” brings experience in elevating Taiwanese content to global platforms. Japanese producer Maehata Sachiko adds international co-production experience from credits including “Shark” for NTV and YouTube Originals’ “Gray Zone Agency, Inc.” Japanese screenwriter Yoshida Erika, whose recent credits include the anime “Bocchi the Rock!” and the series “The Tiger and Her Wings,” is handling the adaptation. Her work on “Cherry Magic!” earned Best Script Adaptation at the KKTV Annual Japanese Drama Awards. Chang emphasizes that the story’s themes resonate beyond its historical setting. “Set in 1938, a time shadowed by the quiet approach of war, the story reflects an age of uncertainty. Yet, even 90 years later, humanity still lives with the same anxiety and unease,” he says. “Wars continue, and in our globalized world, differences of culture, identity, and gender still shape hierarchies of power and tension between people.” The series is scheduled to begin filming in 2026 across locations in both Japan and Taiwan, with a planned Q4 2027 release. Chang notes that Taiwan’s well-preserved historical architecture will help recreate “the energetic and fascinating world of 1930s Taiwan – a time when life was vibrant and full of discovery.” At TCCF, World Softest Productions is seeking sales partners and distribution platforms for the project. “This project is not only a story for Taiwanese and Japanese audiences,” Chang says. “Set during the Japanese colonial era in Taiwan, it aims to render history tangible and emotionally resonant, allowing a broader audience to experience that time alongside the characters.” Chang, who participated in the 2024 documentary “Triads: The Chinese Mafia on the Rise” for Arte and launched “The Thrifty Family,” which ranked among Taiwan’s top 10 streaming shows, also produced the 2025 documentary “Have You Eaten Yet? Tasting Taiwan,” which received three Golden Bell Award nominations including best lifestyle program, director, and cinematography.
