1895 年（明治28 ）臺灣被迫割讓給日本，自此成為日本殖民地。日人在臺灣 統治期間，雖然對於臺灣島內各方面積極改造，希望第一個殖民地臺灣能有如期 的繁榮。因此大量的日籍政府官員、商人以及知識份子等來到臺灣，投入發展與 建設。然而，帶動臺灣工業、經濟、貿易、行政、教育、醫療等各種之發展與建 設，並非僅是在臺的日籍菁英，臺灣島內的臺籍菁英，亦是貢獻良多，功不可沒 者。這些島內的臺籍菁英，除了具有優秀的學識、能力以及工作熱忱之外，從昭 和18 年版之〈臺灣人士鑑〉中所收錄的1,596 位臺籍菁英亦可看出，有612 人具 有海外經驗，占38.3% 。其中有日本經驗者最多，有410 人，占67.0% ，中國活 動經驗者有150 人，占24.5% ，有南洋、歐美及朝鮮等地區經驗者有52 人，占8.5 %。可看出當時的臺籍菁英，有非常豐富的海外經驗和國際視野。本文是以昭和 18 年版之〈臺灣人士鑑〉為基礎材料，對於日本殖民臺灣時期，臺籍菁英在日本、 中國以及南洋、歐美及朝鮮地區海外活動之狀況等問題試做一分析與討論。

In 1895 (Meiji 28) China was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan. After this the Japanese were very active in developing Taiwan since it was their first colony ever. In the process they brought to Taiwan many government officials, businesspeople, professionals and educated people to develop and construct their new possession. However, The Japanese were not the only ones who contributed to the economy, trade, administration, education, the media and other areas. Taiwanese professionals also made important contributions. These Taiwan professionals possessed outstanding expertise,ability and enthusiasm. The book "Important Persons of Taiwan" published in 1943 (Showa 18) stated that about 612 (38.3%) out of a total of 1,596 Taiwan experts had oversea experience. Of the 612 experts, 410 (67%) had Japan experience, 150 (24.5%) had experience in China, and 52 (8.5%) had experience in the South Pacific, Europe, North America and Korea. From the above we can see that the Taiwan experts had already achieved notable oversea standards and a global perspective.