In 1896, the Japanese governor-general ordered two companies, Osaka Merchant Ship and Coastal Ferry, to begin regular scheduled service between Taiwan and Japan. These became the earliest bridge between the two.
1896 年台灣總督府命命「大阪商船」及「近海郵輪」兩家公司開辦定期日台航路，成為台日交通最早的橋樑。