Qinshan River He Doctor Memorial Stone Introduction
In May 1902, Dr. Kawai Shōtarō, a forestry professor from the Imperial University of Tokyo, was invited by the Taiwan Governor-General's Office to conduct an investigation in Alishan, Chiayi. He discovered that the forest in Alishan had excellent vegetation, good quality materials, and rich resources. When he submitted his investigation report, he strongly advocated for development, thus gaining the attention of the Governor-General's Office. Subsequently, during important surveys and forestry management plans, Dr. Kawai's opinions had a crucial influence, making him the greatest contributor to the development of Alishan's forestry. After his death, a monument was erected in his memory, and it was designated as a county heritage site. Kawai Shōtarō, a Doctor of Forestry from the Imperial University of Tokyo, was appointed by the Governor-General's Office on February 8, 1903, to oversee the development of the Alishan forest and the surveying of the forest railway route. On October 3, 1904, a large exploration team comprised of over thirty officials, including Governor-General's Secretary Gotō Shinpei, Bureau Chief Zuka, Chiayi Prefect Okada, Chief Engineer Hase Keisuke, and Dr. Kawai Shōtarō, along with sixty porters, reached Alishan Banshō Mountain after three days and began promoting the development of the Alishan forest. However, due to the financial difficulties faced by the Japanese government during the Russo-Japanese War, the project was delayed and did not officially commence until 1906. The development process faced ups and downs; originally, a private group led by Fujita was involved, but it was halted midway and continued to be managed by the Governor-General's Office. Dr. Kawai, as an advisor to the Forestry Bureau of the Taiwan Governor-General's Office, devoted himself to exploration planning for an extended period, contributing significantly to the development of Alishan forestry. Dr. Kawai Shōtarō passed away in Tokyo, Japan, on March 14, 1931. To honor his achievements, a monument in his name was erected in Alishan in November 1932, and it was officially unveiled on February 3, 1933.
