Daze & Dazzle Diary, Manila (2026)

11/03/2026

Bangus, but make it baked!

10/03/2026

Ichiran instant ramen for the ultimate comfort meal 🍜”

10/03/2026

Cook instant Ichiran ramen with me 🍜

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26/02/2026

In the late Japanese colonial period, the Japanese widely built Shinto shrines across Taiwan. According to their importance and scale, shrines were classified into six categories: Government Shrines (Kansha), National Shrines (Kokusha), Prefectural Shrines (Kensha), Township Shrines (Gōsha), Village Shrines (Sonsha), and Ungraded Shrines (Mukakusha) or small shrine sanctuaries.

The shrine within this area was built around 1940 and was likely classified as an “Ungraded Shrine.” Its architectural style follows the traditional “Nagare-zukuri” design. Because it was constructed within company premises for employees to worship, it was called a “Kōnai-sha” (in-company shrine).

The predecessor of Taiwan Fertilizer Co., Ltd. Hualien Plant was the Hualien Port Factory of Nippon Aluminum Co., Ltd., established in 1939. During World War II, it produced aluminum, an important strategic material. Raw materials were transported from the Philippines, processed here, and then shipped back to Japan to manufacture aircraft used by the Kamikaze forces. As a result, this key strategic production base became a target of heavy bombing by the U.S. military.

Fortunately, despite the devastation of war, this land seemed to be spiritually protected. The in-company shrine site was not damaged by the fighting and has stood in eastern Taiwan for nearly a century, adding historical depth and traces of time to the area.

After Taiwan’s retrocession, the factory was reorganized in 1952 as the Hualien Nitrogen Fertilizer Company. In 1960, it merged into Taiwan Fertilizer Co., Ltd. After fertilizer production ceased in 2003, preparations began for a deep-sea water intake project, and in 2007, deep ocean water was successfully drawn.

With this new era, Taiwan Fertilizer transitioned from manufacturing to leisure and tourism development. Throughout these changes, the in-company shrine has remained here, quietly watching over the land. Deep ocean water nourishes the body, while the shrine nourishes the soul.

26/02/2026

📌 Heping Island Geopark in Keelung, Taiwan

If you’re looking for a place where nature, history, and ocean views come together, Heping Island is definitely worth the visit.