霧峰灌園先生林獻堂，在日本時代他不僅在臺灣人心目中和事實上為重要領導人物；臺灣總督府也視他為具有影響力的地方領袖。由於林獻堂在臺灣近代史發展的過程中扮演重要角色，同時他將生命過程中最重要的事務記錄在1927年至1955年其所撰寫的《灌園先生日記》中。內容不僅可提供研究霧峰林家的重要資料和素材，同時也可以作為研究日據時期臺灣社會結構與狀況的重要參考依據。中央研究院臺灣史研究所許雪姬所率領的研究圑隊，花費長達8年半的時間完成《灌園先生日記》解讀之後，以《灌園先生日記》為研究材料，相關的研究成果亦陸續展現。例如有從經濟視野的探討、有以宗教為中心的探討；有以醫療和體育為題名的探討。另外，也有以旅遊為題材的討論；以及以戲劇或是美術為題的考察；亦有讀書生活為題材；以及以水利為主題的探討。以上學者透過個人不同的專業領域，不論是針對林獻堂個人的角度或當時社會的狀況，均提出相當深入的探討，展現多樣而豐碩的研究成果，也體現這套日記無比珍貴的史料價值。但是，尚少見到運用《灌園先生日記》，針對在日本殖民臺灣時期，身為臺灣領導階層者，與日本統治者彼此互動的情況；以及從中了解日本殖民統治臺灣的實際作法與態度為何？等相關議題之討論。因此，本文嘗試稍作彌補，以《灌園先生日記》為主要材料，探討林獻堂與日本「特務」互動的情況，企盼能拼湊出日本統治臺灣時期，呈現何種治理態度。

Lin Hsien-tang, was also known as Guanyuan, was born in Wufeng, Taiwan. During the Japanese colonial period, he was not merely a notable figure in Taiwan, but also a local leader with considerable influence inside the Government-General of Taiwan . This status enabled Lin play a major role in modern Taiwan history. Lin recorded the most significant life events The Diary of Mr. Guanyuan (1927-1955), which provides essential historical data and materials for the study of the Wufeng Lin Family and helps to understand Taiwan’s social structure during the Japanese Occupation. Hsu Hsueh-chi led a research team of eight historians at the Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica analyzing The Diary and obtained significant findings. The scholars have used their related expertise in various specialties to comprehensively investigate many topics during Lin’s time, including economics, religion, medical care, physical education, drama, arts, and even water conservation. The Diary opens a valuable historical perspective to view the interactions between Taiwan leaders, the Japanese governor and officialdom. It also reveals specific colonial ruling approaches and reactions during those times. This study shall use the Diary to examine how a Taiwan leader worked with Japanese secret agents in an attempt to reconstruct the attitudes of rulers during Taiwan’s Japanese Colonial Period.