Takamori SAIGO, who was younger, received a secret order to conduct reconnaissance in Taiwan from Saiakira SHIMAZU, the lord of domain of Satsuma, so he landed in a small fishing village, Nampo-o, So-chin, Giran-ken (Nan Fang Ao, Suao Township, Yilan County) from North of Taiwan, Keelung, and he lived there pretending to be Ryukyuan.
1851年（嘉永4年）、薩摩藩主島津斉彬の台湾偵察の密命を受け、若き日の西郷隆盛は、台湾北部基隆から小さな漁村であった宜蘭県蘇澳鎮南方澳に密かに上陸、そこで琉球人を装って暮らした。