日本殖民台灣五十年餘，如何對這段統治歷史加以分期是一個十分基本、但卻極為重要的研究問題。本文將以1919年為分野，區分為日治前期與日治後期。 雖然日本對台灣的統治政策隨著時間的推移，而出現顯著的變化，但其基本態度卻從未改變，是以經營殖民地的心態來統治台灣，同時賦予總督法律制定等極大的權力。

Taiwan under Japanese rule more than five decades, how to apart from this history of rule is a very basic, but extremely important research questions. The paper will in 1919 as the dividing line is divided into early and late of Japanese rule. Although Taiwan under Japanese rule policy over time, while significant changes occurred, but the basic attitude has never changed, is operating the colonial mentality ruled Taiwan, while giving a great deal of power as the Governor's law-making.