A Bronze Statue of Kodama in New Park

In the 228 Peace Memorial Park there is a peace memorial bell tower, which during the colonial period used to be a bronze statue of the 4th Governor-General of Taiwan, Kodama Gentarō. The 228 Memorial Monument is also located where a bronze statue of Gotō Shinpei, head of civilian affairs at the time, was located. New Park was completed in 1915, but the statues of Kodama and Gotōwere unveiled in 1906 and 1911, respectively, making them much earlier than the park.
Kodama Gentarō and Gotō Shinpei were thought to be the key figures in solidifying the modernization of Taiwan. The colonial government memorialized them by tearing down the Mazu Temple in the park in 1913 and building a Kodama & Gotō Memorial Hall in its place. The memorial hall was completed in 1915. Later it was donated to the Office of the Governor-General to be used as a museum. Now it houses the National Taiwan Museum. On either side of the main hall are two niches which also used to house the statues of Kodama and Gotō.