Muse No.26: Japanese Citizens Network of Museums for Peace
Newsletter: March 2012
The Editorial Office: Daisuke Miyahara at Peace Aichi
2-820 Yomogidai, Meitoku, Nagoya City, Aichi 465-0091
Tel/Fax: 052-602-4222 http://www.peace-aichi.com/
Editor: Kazuyo Yamane, Masahiko Yamabe, Ikuro Anzai, Parker Murff
Translators: Yoshiko Tanigawa, Terumi Imai, Hisako Masuda, Tanya S. Maus, Atsuko Takeda, Yuriko Taki, Mihoko Yasuhara
Illstrator: Erico Tasaki
from the Institute of Business & Technology-Biztek, Karachi,
Pakistan; 4) ‘Wednesday Social Movement for the Survivorsof Japanese Military Sexual Slavery for the Last 20 Years’ by
Ms. Yun Mi-hyang, Director of the Korean Comfort Women’s
Committee; 5) ‘50 Years of Efforts to Reveal the Truth of Jeju
4.3 Incident’ by Kim Chang-hu, Director of the Jeju 4.3
Research Institute; 6) ‘Activities to Reveal the Truth of Mass
Civilian Killings and Establish Special Acts of Bereaved
Families’ by Mr. Akim Jeongas, Former Investigator of South
Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission; and 7)‘Establishment and Prospects of Organizations for Victims ofGovernment Violence Focused on Democracy Movement’ by
Dr. Jeong Ho-gi from the Korean Modern Society ResearchInstitute.

Peace Events organized by the No Gun Ri International
Peace Foundation
By Syed Sikander Mehdi
sikander.mehdi@yahoo.com
4th No Gun Ri International Peace Prize
A series of peace events were organized by the No Gun Ri
International Peace Foundation on December 21st and 22nd,
2011 in the capital city of Seoul and No Gun Ri in the
Republic of Korea. These events included the 4thInternational Peace Prize Ceremony held on the evening ofDecember 21st at The Hotel Plaza, where Professor Ikuro
Anzai, INMP Board Member and an eminent Japanese peacescholar, activist and peace museum expert, was awarded theprestigious Human Rights Prize. At the ceremony, theJournalist Prize for newspapers was awarded to the
Hankyoreh (Reporter Ahn Soochan, et al.) and to Tae Jeon
Broadcasting (reporter Kim San-gi, et al.) for broadcasting.
Novelist Kang Byungsuk was awarded the Literature Prize forhis novel “Legend of Green”.
On this occasion, passages were read and the recipients wererequested to say a few words. In his acceptance speech,
Professor Anzai thanked the International Peace Foundation
for awarding him the prestigious Asian Peace Prize andstressed the importance of peace research, peace movements
and museums for peace in Asia and the rest of the world in thetwenty-first century. The ceremony was elegant and wellorganized, concluding with the singing of peace songs, andmore than 100 distinguished scholars and members of themedia and civil society were in attendance.

The presentation of papers was followed by a comprehensive
discussion by eminent Korean scholars and peace activists,then followed by an question-and-answer session. The papers
presented were of high quality and comprehensive on theirrespective matters of concern. On the eve of this well-attended
conference, a publication of the Foundation entitled The 5th
No Gun Ri Academic Conference for International Peace wasdistributed among the participants. This book contains all thepapers presented at the conference and also includes a Koreantranslation of the papers written in English.
No Gun Ri Peace Park and Museum
The next day, on the morning of December 22nd , a tour of No
Gun Ri Peace Park and Museum was arranged. More thanforty scholars and peace activists including eminent Korean
educationists and civil society leaders, Professor and Mrs.
Ikuro Anzai and his secretary Mrs. Yuriko Shimano, Professor
Ryotaro Katsura, Professor Herbert George, Mr. Chung Eunyong, Chairman of the No Gun Ri Peace Prize Committee and
Dr. Chung Koo-Do, Chairman of the No Gun Ri International
Peace Foundation availed themselves of the provided luxury
bus service.

5th No Gun Ri Academic Conference For International Peace
Early in the morning of December 21st, the 5th No Gun Ri
Academic Conference for International Peace was held at the
National Assembly Library in Seoul. It was a well-structured
program and the proceedings were conducted in both English
and Korean. In his welcoming address, Dr. Chung Koo-Do,
Chairman of the No Gun Ri International Peace Foundation,
explained how the International Peace Foundation came to beestablished as well as the purposes behind organizing theinternational academic conference on international peace
every year.
A total number of seven presentations were made during thetwo working sessions. These were: 1) ‘The Last Memorial toWar’ by Emeritus Professor Herbert George, University of
Chicago, USA; 2) ‘Toward the Networking of Museums for a
New Approach to Peace’ by Professor Ryotaro Katsura from
Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan; 3) ‘Building Peace
Museums on the Wagah Border and the Khyber PassChallenges and Prospects’ by Professor Syed Sikander Mehdi

erico
1

It took a little more than an hour and a half by bus from The
Plaza Hotel, Seoul to reach the No Gun Ri Peace Park andMuseum.

subject of Mr & Mrs. Maruki’s artworks, were unprecedented
events of substantial and lasting signigficance in Japan’s
history.
Thirty-six people attended the meeting hailing from Okinawa
at the southern end of the Japanese archipelago, and fivepersons arrived from Peace Aichi. The discussion held was
dynamic and engaging, with a rapport of questioning andresponse, along with two special reports and nine paper
presentations by the participants. Such a rich intellectual
environment allowed the two days to pass by more quickly
than expected.
What was most impressive in the reports was that many
people discussed the urgency of conveying war experiences
and memory to the next generation despite sixty-six years
having passed away after World War II, proving through thesearguments and participants’ various activities that there isalways more to learn.
In particular, Mr. Yukinobu Okamura, a curator of Maruki
Gallery, gave an impressive presentation. He studied Mr. &Mrs. Maruki’s huge paintings on the atomic bombing in
relation to their historical and situational contexts, and wasable to explain their intentions in their creative work,
enhancing visitors’ understanding and appreciation for theseworks.
The many volunteers at Maruki Gallery prepared a delicious
meal of curry and rice and joined us on the tatami for a
discussion concerning various issues, especially the hardshipof running a private peace museum. We concluded that thesuccess of peace museums must be due to their idealism andthe immense efforts of their supporters.
The meeting was stimulating and encouraging. I would liketo thank Mr. Kodera, the director of Maruki Gallery, staff
members and volunteers. The next meeting will be held at
Kyoto Museum for World Peace in 2012.

The location of the park is historic in that it was the actual
location of No Gun Ri massacre over sixty years ago.
Occupying a vast area, it is a well-planned and well-designed
park with passages, symbols, a monument and a museum
building, all narrating the tragedy of No Gun Ri. The
delegates visiting the park were introduced to the survivors,
who spoke for voices otherwise unheard and paid homage tothe dead. As Board Members of INMP, Professor Anzai andmyself were very happy to see a big banner at a corner of thePeace Park, advertising the conference being organized by theInternational Network of Museums for Peace and the No Gun
Ri International Peace Foundation on museums for peace inthe year 2014.
Later, the delegates were given a tour of the beautiful Peace
Museum that was only recently constructed and opened. It is a
big building with galleries, a well-furnished 500-seatauditorium with several small rooms for holding separate
sessions, workshops or round tables, each room with acapacity for sixty people or so. At the museum, the delegateswere shown a powerful documentary on the massacre and on
the leaders of the movement seeking apology andcompensation from the United States. During the visit to themuseum, the delegates were given a tour through an
exhibition of photographs relating to the massacre and to the
movement for an official apology and compensation from the
US was inaugurated. A number of books written in English,
Japanese and Korean by scholars from Korea and othercountries on the massacre were nicely preserved tomemorialize the event and its victims and to inform
succeeding generations about the tragedy. However, thedisplay of artifacts and photographs was more concerned with
providing a historical narrative rather than promoting a
campaign of hatred against the United States and its people.
As a centre of peace education, this museum emphasizes theimportance of peace and shows how to work collectively forthe healing of the wounds.
By any count or criterion, the events organized by the No Gun
Ri International Peace Foundation under the leadership of its
dynamic Chairman Dr. Chung Koo-Do on December 21st and22nd, 2011 were remarkably, imaginatively and efficiently
organized, and I have full confidence that Dr. Chung Koo-Do
and his team can organize bigger events like the International
Museums for Peace Conference in the year 2014.

The 21st Study Meeting on Peace Museums
By Ariyuki Fukushima: a curator in Hiroshima
The 21st study meeting on peace museums was heldon March 18th in a room above the Kyoto Museum forWorld Peace. One presenter was Kenichi Genjida, alecturer at Jissen Women’s University. His presentation concerned the role of volunteer guides at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It was analyzed
from the viewpoints of social and educational psychology. The first such meeting was held in March 2007
in Kyoto and this year was the 6th year of holding
such study meetings. At first, primarily researchersand curators living in Kyoto attended it, but recently
the number of the participants from all over Japan,
Hokkaido to Okinawa, has increased. Though thereis the Japanese Citizens’ Network of Museums for
Peace, sometimes a researcher misses an opportunity
to present a paper, and thus providing such an opportunity is the purpose behind the establishment of these study meetings. The academic fields represented
are various, including history, education, museum
study, anthropology, and so forth. If you are interested in it, please let me know using the network ML.
We can exchange ideas and information using ourmailing list.

Annual Meeting of the Network of Museums for Peace
Daisuke Miyahara: Peace Aichi and the Secretary General of
the Network
The 11th annual network meeting was held on November
26th and 27th, 2011 at Maruki Gallery in Saitama Prefecture.
It was the first meeting after the 3.11 event. There was aunique atmosphere to this particular meeting because it washeld at an art gallery set in beautiful natural surroundings inlate fall.
We could not help feeling a certain connection between theannual meeting and Maruki Gallery, since both the events ofMarch 11th, the earthquake, resulting tsunami and nuclear
accident in Fukushima, and the atomic bombing of Japan, the2My attempt to study the definition and perceptions of peaceand museums in the Thai and Japanese contexts has made me
realize how important and powerful the definition andperceptions toward the word are as it influences what we will
do or should do. In addition, this conclusion has led me tostart observing the connection between the perception ofpeace and museums’ exhibitions: how each museum reflects
the question on whether they are living in peaceful society andhow visitors feel the connection between themselves andmessage in museum.

What We Talk When We Talk about Peace Museums
By Patporn Phoothong (Thailand)Over the last six months, I have spent most of my time inJapan thinking about and examining whether peace museums 1
play a significant role in peace education or send strong
political messages instead. Every time I step into any peacemuseum, I try to find out if that peace museum provides theobjective, historical truth and encourages its visitors toparticipate in peace building. However, the more I felt that myprogress was very slow, the more I realized that I was actually
moving too fast. I should go back to the starting point andstudy the definition and my perception of peace and museums
again.

My research is still ongoing as I have yet to answer myoriginal question. However, I hope that the influence of thedefinition and various perceptions of museums and peace
would be one of the topics when we talk about peace museum.

I found that the definition of peace museum or museum forpeace is very clear. However, perceptions towards peace andmuseums are dynamic. Collective and individual perceptions
on museums and peace are based on politics, culture,
education and personal experiences. Thus, ‘museum’ can bere-constructed, re-defined and re-interpreted while ‘peace’ ismuch more than the absence of war or conflict.

The 5 year anniversary of “Peace Port: Yamanashi Peace
Museum ”
By Tamotsu Asakawa, Director of Yamanashi Peace Museum
Since last September, Yamanashi Peace Museum has been
holding a special exhibition: “80 years After the Manchurian
Incident”. It was covered by NHK Kohfu TV station and a
special program was broadcasted on December 7th. On
September 18th, there was a symposium to commemorate
republication of the complete works of Tanzan Ishibashi,
which was conducted by Prof. Hiroshi Masuda and otherpanelists. The museum received the Maeda Akira Award from“San Jin Kai (An exclusive group from Yamanashi)” for its
current and past activities.
Remembering the March 11th disaster as well as the 5-year
history of this museum, we are planning to hold anotherspecial exhibition from this coming April. The materials
contributed to this museum by the citizens will be displayed
as much as possible. In May and June, publication of the vol.
3 booklet and the establishment of the Tanzan Ishibashi PeaceAward are expected. A writer, Takashi Tujii, will be giving a
lecture on June 14th at the 5 year anniversary event. In autumn,
we will have a special exhibition to commemorate the 40th
anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations
between Japan and China. This exhibition will show how
Tanzan Ishibashi advanced peace efforts by visiting China
twice to restore diplomatic relations.

My primary finding regarding the matter on peace museums is
not new, as we know that all activities and exhibitions inpeace museum are based on their objectives and visions forpeace. Subsequently, the functions and responsibilities ofpeace museums are based on the perceptions and definition of
museums and peace, which differs with each museum.
Meanwhile, the interaction between peace museums and theirvisitors is based on how the individual visitor or society
understands what peace or a museum is.
Studying the definition and perception on peace and museum
led me to two relevant components: 1) the dialogue between
visitor and museum and 2) the political message in a peacemuseum. When a visitor steps into a peace museum, they not
only receive - reading, looking and listening to the museum
and its displays - but also they think and reflect on what they
are receiving based on their experiences. This process leads tothe interpretation and question of what they learned from thatmuseum, eventually resulting in a new perspective or at least
new thoughts on the subject matter. I then realized that what is
written and what said in museums is important and should becomparatively studied along with what is taught in schools
and said in society: history, memory of war, the relation withneighboring countries and, most importantly, what peace andconflict is, for example.

Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (wam)WAM has been holding the 9th special exhibition “Standing
Up Lola~ From the Philippine Islands which were trampled
by the former Japanese Army” since July 2011. The related
events shown below are also organized at WAM until June
17th:
Autumn 2011: a seminar about the battles in the Philippines
given by former soldiers and others
January 2012: a workshop, “War and Women”, given by
Santama supporters network of former ‘‘Comfort Women” of
the Philippines (Lola net)February and March 2012: a film screening and discussion
session “wam de video” will be held. The film director will be
invited as a speaker
Spring 2012: a symposium to discuss the reasons why famous
war novelists such as Shohei Ohka couldn’t express sexual
violence committed by Japanese military
At present, WAM has already started preparing for the 10th
special exhibition. The upcoming theme is Okinawa and theI also think about the political messages in ‘peace museums’.
We tend to avoid going to war museum as we know that they
glorify war and militarism. We prefer to visit peace museums
as we believe that we and peace museums share a common
goal. However, my observation is that, whether we realize thatan assumption lies within the name of ‘peace museum’, wemight tend to believe or agree with what a peace museum says
without questions or criticism.

1

My research project includes Kyoto Museum for World
Peace, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, Nagasaki Atomic
Bomb Museum, Oka Masaharu and Himeyuri Peace Museum.
3

October: Publishing the 63rd issue of the newsletter“Nishizaka Dayori”. A film screening of “Hiroshima andPyongyang”. The 2nd session of the open seminar was about
Showa great depression by Katsuya Kinaga.
November: The 3rd session of the open seminar was about
religion, given by Kazuya Hara. The 9th annual general
meeting was also held.
December: The 4th session of the open seminar was about
Taisho Democracy and Showa Fascism, given by Shinobu
Okuyama. The 11th gathering of Nanjing Massacre survivor’s
experience talk by Chen Guixiang and a film screening of “A
Corporal Matsumura at Nanjing” were also presented.

exhibition aims to show sexual violence committed in
Okinawa by the Japanese army during the WW as well as by
the U.S. army, an ongoing act.
Grass Roots House Peace Museum: Kochi City
By Mana Nakauchi
Last year, a document of the “Air Station Construction Unit 2”of the Imperial Japanese Army was discovered in the courseof the research of “war remains in Kochi Prefecture”
conducted by the members of the Grass Roots House. The
document, found at the Military Archival Library of the
National Institute for Defense Studies, indicated that former
Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone was involved in setting up
Ian-jo (wartime brothels); the fact was announced to the press
at our museum on Oct. 27 (The details are given in the “Warin Kochi - Evidence and Investigation, No. 16” issued in Feb.
2012). Our Director Masahiro Okamura published an open
letter to Mr. Nakasone on Nov. 8, setting a reply deadline of
Nov. 30, which regrettably has not been answered yet.
On Oct. 23, one of our members discovered the Tei Battery of
the Imperial Japanese Navy in the mountains in Konan City,
Kochi Prefecture, after three and a half years of research. The
thick concrete battery almost retained its original form with aroof to shield the cannon from air attacks. According to therelevant documents, this battery was built near the end of the
War in preparation for an enemy attack in a decisive battle on
the mainland. Built to take human lives, the battery will serve
as a valuable resource for peace education for the future of ourchildren.
The Grass Roots House Peace Lecture “Aftermath of Great
East Japan Earthquake” was held on Nov. 3. We received fourhigh school students and a teacher from Fukushima Prefecture
as guest speakers, who were invited by Hata High School
Seminar. The students are the members of the reading circle“Tanemaki Usagi (sowing rabbit)” based in Fukushima. In thelecture, they recited the poem composed from the poems,
essays, and diaries of elementary, junior high, and high school
students in Fukushima.
From October, we have been asking for donations of “warrelated materials in Uchinku (Kochi dialect meaning ‘one’s
house’)” mainly from the residents of Kochi. As TVs andnewspapers reported our request, we have already had many
offers. We are planning to hold an exhibition of thesematerials in March.

http://www.d3.dion.ne.jp/~okakinen
Tel&Fak： 095-820-5600
Kike Wadatsumi no koe Museum
By Taketomo Takahashi
A special exhibition of “War Against China and Fallen
Students” was held in October and November in 2011.
Twelve students’ writing was exhibited and it was published
as a booklet. A film of “Shanghai”(1938) was shown and aforum was held to think of the war from the Chineseperspective.
Daigo Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon)Exhibition Hall:Tokyo
By Kazuya Yasuda: the Secretary General of the 5th Lucky
Dragon Peace Association
It is the 58th year since the 5th Lucky Dragon boat was
exposed to radiation in the Marshall Islands and 65 years after
the boat was constructed. The fishing boat was made of woodafter Japan was defeated when there was a shortage of goods
and food. The 5th Lucky Dragon is the only boat among 700
wooden fishing boats at the time that were exposed toradiation. It is a big challenge to preserve this wooden boat
and inform people of its value, especially due to its age. Sucheducation would lead to repairing the fishing boat on a larger
scale, thus providing the necessary care in order to protect thishistorically significant boat from the damage of time.
An exhibition in spring 2012 is to show the history of theboat, its construction, a carpenter’s tools, a helm, a searchlightand so forth.
2012 is the year of the dragon and there will be a workshop
on picture books of dragons because the name of the fishingboat is the 5th Lucky Dragon. We are also planning to set up
an exhibition of modern art works by Kenji Yanobe, who
created artworks that were inspired by the 5th Lucky Dragon.
Furthermore, we are planning to establish an exhibition on
the people of the Marshall Islands in Septmeber, who were
exposed to the radiation of hydrogen bomb tests 67 times
beginning with the Bravo Nuclear test, the first U.S. test of ahydrogen bomb, on March 1, 1954 at Bikini Atoll, MarshallIslands. Islanders in the Rongelap Atoll are now returning to
the islands due to decreased levels of radiation and somehousing provided by the United States. 40 houses areavailabel, but around 300 to 400 islanders are planning toreturn to the Marshall Islands in the near future.

Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peace Museum
In the latter half of 2011, Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki
Peace Museum presented events as follows:
July: A lecture by the board of directors about Dr. Oka’s
philosophy and practice. Julian Sander, a conscientious
objector from Germany, gave the final speech. He talked
about the TEPCO nuclear power plants disaster, including his
experience of his hasty return to Germany afterwards. He
highlighted the difference between Germany and Japan
regarding the attitude toward the perception of its history andnuclear policy.
August: The 11th friendship visit to China, including Nanjing,
Shijiazhuang and Weizhuang Village.
September: An open seminar on modern history; the 2nd
term’s 1st session was given by Yoko Kasai about the Kanto
great earthquake and its influence on society.

Kyoto Museum for World Peace
By Maki Torii, Section Chief of Education & Culture
4Kyoto Museum for World Peace was founded on May 19,
1992 as the only peace museum founded at a university under
the idea that the social responsibility of university includes
creating peace and that people should be educated to create
peace actively. The number of visitors has reached almost
over 800,000 people since its opening. This upcoming May,on the 19th, will be the museum’s 20th anniversary, and thisyear we held an academic symposium for peace on November
30 as well as a special exhibition on radiation and the futureof human beings and related issues. We are also currently
planning additional future exhibits.

● Patporn Phoothong, Ritsumeikan University, Japan:“Politics of Recollection: A Case Study of Museums in
Thailand”
There was also a special session on peace education at
Ritsumeikan Junior High School and High School on October
16. Professor Toshifumi Murakami served in the role of thechairperson.

Our activities include the following:【 Special Exhibitions】
An exhibition and three lectures on Primo Levi（ 1919-1987） ,a writer who survived Auschwitz, having been held there
from October 22 to December 17. Visitors seemed to react tothis exhibit by contemplating human violence and how torecover from such an atrocity.
【 Mini Exhibitions】
Various exhibitions were held such as a photo exhibition on
air-raids in Japan and Germany, peace education at
Ritsumeikan High School and so forth.

● There was the 18th meeting of the Japan Peace
Museum Association,an organization for large peacemuseums , on November 17 to 18 at Himeyuri Peace
Memorial Museum.

Furthermore, there was a ceremonial signing of an academic
exchange agreement between Kyoto Museum for World Peace
and Arsenyev State Museum on January 13, 2012.

Himeyuri Peace Memorial Museum
This year, we hosted annual meetings for two groups of which
we are members: Okinawa Prefectural Museum Society andJapan Conference of Museums for Peace. The workshop“Memories and Remains of War and its Preservation,” by the
Okinawa Prefecture Museum Society, was held from
September 15th to 16th, 2011. The regular meeting of Japan
Conference of Museums for Peace was held from November
14th to 15th, 2011.
On August 18th, 2011, we held an informal session with 10
teachers from middle and high schools in the prefecture andthe curators from the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial
Museum to promote cooperation with the school’s education
program. We exchanged views and opinions. The school also
reported on their activities and the current status of their peaceeducation program.
On October 3rd, 2011, we invited Dr. Masatoku Nakahodo,
former professor of Ryukyu University and Councilor of thisfoundation, as a lecturer for the first Peace Research Group
meeting. Himeyuri Peace Foundation, the administrator ofthis museum, started the preparation for the new Peace
Research Center this year. Peace Research Group is a part ofthat activity which aims at deepening the foundation staff’s
understanding of the war and peace and providing a
recommendation for the framework of the Peace ResearchCenter. The second meeting featured Mr. Masahide Ota,
former governor of Okinawa.
In January 2012, the picture book “Himeyuri”, which was
published in June, 2011, and received the Okinawa Times
Culture Award for children’s books. The book was describedas one that “delivers the reality of the battle of Okinawa while
succeeding as a picture book that promotes conversation…thescenes are reenacted through the pictures and the text moves
the story forward. The organization is excellent.”【 Special Exhibition and Activities】● The 58th Anti-War exhibition and rally was held on
December 9th. Students of Ritsumeikan University weresent to battle fields and lost their lives in a mock display.
● A seminar on International Peace & Human Rights
was held on January 13, 2012 and Mr. Victor Shalay ofArsenyev State Museum gave a lecture.
● Workshops by NGOs on environmental protection
were held in December, 2011.
● Lectures were given for the purpose of educating
volunteers to work as guides eight times in February andMarch.
● The APPRA(Asia Pacific Peace Research
Association） Conference was held from October 14 to 16
in 2011. The theme was “New Agenda for Peace
Research in the Asia-Pacific.” There were sessions on
peace museums as follows:● Yeong-Hwan Kim, Peace Museum, Korea, Republicof Korea: “Cultivating a culture of peace in everyday life:
From Experiences in Korea”● Soon-Won Kang, Hanshin University, Republic ofKorea: “What they watch in the war museum and its
meaning to peace education”● Helena Meyer-Knapp, Evergreen State College,
USA: “A Dialogue between Museum Displays: Korea &Japan, Korea & the USA”
● Kazuyo Yamane, Ritsumeikan University, Japan :“Making the Asia Pacific Network of Museums for
Peace”● Chin-Jung Tsao, Taiwan Art-in Design &Construction Co., Ltd, Taiwan: “East Asian Peace
Museums and Cultural Memory: Japanese–Taiwanese
Cultural Memory in Taiwan’s Memorial Museums”● Huynh Ngoc Van, War Remnants Museum, Vietnam:“Experiences through Display of Toxic Chemicals:
Consequences of the Vietnam War”
● Syed Sikander Mehdi, Institute of Business &Technology-Biztek, Pakistan“Biztek Museum for Peace Project (BMPP)”

Japanese Network
Yorozu Tetsugoro Museum : Hanamaki City, Iwate
The exhibition “Showa Era Captured by Photographer
Shunkichi Kikuchi” was held from 23 Sep. 2011 to 29 Jan.
2012. Kikuchi was a news photographer born in Hanamaki
City. During the war, he worked in the Photography Divisionof Tohosha, the publisher of the magazine “Front,” andrecorded military units in the mainland and overseas
territories and industries on film. Immediately after the war,5

he served as a photographer for the atomic-bomb-damagesurvey group organized by the Ministry of Education andrecorded the scene at Hiroshima. After the war, he took aseries of photographs of people’s lives in farming and fishingvillages, and was also involved in scientific photography.
The exhibition consisted of six themes of “Pacific War,”“Ginza in Flames,” “Atom-Bombed Hiroshima,” “Ashes of
Defeat,” “Recovery of Peace,” and “Japanese Nostalgic
Scenery.” On display were 153 photographs including thosethat captured the devastated areas in Hiroshima, people
suffering severe burns and hair loss, energetic postwar black
markets and shacks, and cheerful men and women with thehope of rebuilding the country. A series of photographs of theever-changing Ginza streetscape during and after the war werealso included.
Tel: 0198-42-4402 Fax: 0198-42-4405
http://www.city.hanamaki.iwate.jp/sightseeing/yorozu/

destroyed. The damage was the second heaviest in Saitama.
Our mission is to pass on the facts and memories of the war to
the next generation in order not to repeat the tragedies. The
exhibition showed people’s lives when everything was inshortage and offered an opportunity to reaffirm thepreciousness of peace. Among the exhibits were substitutefood and goods, draft and campaign-related documents, ration
tokens, “duralumin” goods, and materials related to theJapanese Constitution. The exhibition consisted of several
themes: “Opening of 15 years’ War,” “National Mobilization,”“Rice Saving and Substitute Food,” “Substitute for Plates andCooking Utensils,” “Damage from the Air Raids in Warabi,”and “Postwar Food Shortage and People’s Lives.” Theexhibition catalogue is available.
Tel: 048-432-2477
http://www.city.warabi.saitama.jp/hp/menu000000200/hpg000
000120.htm

Peace Museum of Saimata: Higashimatsuyama City
The exhibition “Materials Bearing Testimony to the War –Acquisition of 2010” was held from 3 Dec. 2011 to 26 Feb.
2012. The museum collects and stores war-related informationand materials, and accepted donations of 592 precious articles
from 21 people in 2010. The exhibition consisted of four
themes of “Living a State of War,” All-Out War,” “War for
Each Individual,” “Family Letters,” and included some 100
articles from the acquisition.
Tel: 0493-35-4111 Fax: 0493-35-4112
http://homepage3.nifty.com/saitamapeacemuseum/

The Center for the Tokyo Raids and War Damage: Koto
Ward, Tokyo
Two films, “Kojitachi-no-Okaasan (Mother of War Orphans)”and “Katasumi-no-Inori (Pray on the Corner)” produced by
the Tokyo Air Raid Testimony Film Project, were shown on
August 13 along with a discussion panel hosted by the
project’s members.
A special summer event for parents and children titled“Watch, Listen and Talk the Tokyo Air Raid” was held from
August 17th to 21st. The event included a picture-show andreading of the Tokyo Air Raid stories, and a discussion panel
hosted by survivors. The participants wrote their reactions on
Uchiwa, paper fan.
A musical “Cats are Alive” of Neko-za was performed on
October 29. Masakazu Okubo, the director and script writer of
Neko-za created the musical based on the picture book of thisstory.
A symposium titled “Utilization of Materials of the Tokyo Air
Raid and the World of the Digital Map of War Damages:
Reading and Presenting the Name List of War Victims,
Survivors’ Stories and Testimony Films” was held at Meiji
University in Tokyo on November 19th. The study groups
gave an interim report and presented the challenges in using
the air raid materials and developing digital maps of war
damages.
Tel. 03-5857-5631 Fax: 03-5683-3326
http://www.tokyo –sensai.net/

Yashio City Museum: Saitama
The 26th Exhibition “Life in Wartime Reflected in Official
Documents” was held from 16 Sep. to 16 Oct. 2011. During
the war, Yashio residents were urged to increase foodproduction with less and less workforce and means of
production; the area was repeatedly hit by air raids, and manymen got drafted and died on the battlefield. The exhibition
showed people’s lives through official documents of the timecategorized under five themes: 1. “From Field to Battlefield”
on the military-draft system, 2. “Cooperation with the War” onlocal women’s associations, political organizations, andneighborhood communities, 3. “Life behind the Lines” onpressures on daily life and school life, 4. “Air Raids on Yashio
and Saitama” on air raids and evacuation drills, and 5. “Return
Home from the Battlefield” on the war dead and disabled
soldiers. The exhibition catalogue is now available.
The exhibition “Women in Wartime – From ‘Nippon Fujin(Japanese Women)’” was held simultaneously. As the war
became worse and men were inducted into the army, womenassumed a crucial role in the family with everything inshortage. Through articles taken from the magazine ‘Nippon
Fujin,’ the exhibition showed the life in wartime from thewomen’s perspective under the four themes: diet, education,
health maintenance, and daily life. It offered a good
opportunity to learn how women managed to sustain family
lives under harsh circumstances.
Tel:048-997-6666 Fax:048-997-8998
http://www.city.yashio.lg.jp/siryoukan/

Setagaya Peace Gallery: TokyoA special exhibition, “The Pacific War and Setagaya”, washeld from August 1st to 31st to display picture panels anditems that show Setagaya and its people during and after thewar.
Tel.03-3703-8100 Fax 03-3703-8100
http://www.city.setagaya.tokyo.jp/030/d00005024.html
Itabashi Art Museum: Tokyo
The exhibition titled “Ikebukuro Montparnasse” was heldfrom Nov. 19, 2011 to Jan. 9, 2012 as No.3 of the series
examining the 20th century. About 80 years ago, residenceswith studios began to be constructed around the current
Ikebukuro station. This revolutionary place was a gathering
place for art students, famous artists, reviewers, poets andpeople in theater, including Aimitsu, Aso Saburo, Terada
Masaaki, Matsumoto Shunsuke, who would meet and discuss
or debate art either in the rooms or bars of the neighborhood.

Warabi Municipal Museum: Saitama
The 22nd Peace Memorial Exhibition “Living and Diet
During and After the War” was held from 30 Jul. to 25 Sep.
2011. In 1945, Warabi City was hit by air raids three times; 50
people died and 400 houses were partially or completely
6Among them was a poet Oguma Hideo who composed a poem
“Ikebukuro Monparnasse”, comparing the region to the capitalof art, Monparnasse in Paris. In the mid 30’s, however, thedark shadow of war covered Japan and some of the artists
were drafted to draw pictures for military comfort or war
encouragement. The surrealism movement, which was popularamong young artists around the 30’s, was limited by thegovernment’s control of culture and ideas under wartime
procedure. This area was not an exception, and was severely
damaged by raids in 1945. Some artists lost not only theirstudios but also their works done before the war or even all of
their painting tools. The exhibition introduced the collectionsof artists and poets related to Itabashi such as Terada Masaaki,
Furusawa Iwami, Inoue Chozaburo and their colleagues. In
addition to paintings, sculptures, poems and other artifacts, theexhibition provided a section that allowed visitors toexperience the life-sized residence with studio. A brochure ofthis exhibition, which includes Yoshii Tadashi’s diary during
the war, is available.
Tel:03-3979-3251 Fax :03-3979-3252
http://www.itabashiartmuseum.jp/art/

The exhibition also displayed the museum-owned materials
showing wartime gag rules.
Tel: 045-661-2040 Fax: 045-661-2029
http://newspark.jp/
Aikawa Local Museum: Kanagawa
A summertime exhibition “War Memory: 66 Years Later ” washeld from Aug. 1 to 31, 2011. By tracing the war and therecovery from it, the exhibition was done to prevent the cruelrealities from being buried. It included the local history
ranging from Sagami Army Airbase (Nakatsu Airbase), thesoldiers drafted from the region and their wartime experience
to returned soldiers and the recovery of the town.
Tel:046-280-1050 Fax:046-280-1051
http://www.town.aikawa.kanagawa.jp/shisetsu/cul/cul_01.htm
lAizu Yaichi Memorial Museum: Niigata
A special exhibition “War and Yaichi” was held from Jul. 3 to
Sep. 4, 2011. It was designed to revalidate Yaichi’s arts andthe time of the Pacific War when he was living. The exhibits
included a flag of the Rising Sun onto which Yaichi
calligraphed a Manyo-ka (Japanese old poem) on and gave tohis pupil at Waseda University, Nagashima Ken, before thestudent went to the war. Also, it introduced his poems
depicting his swaying soul and the cruel reality of war andother materials, most of which were from the anthology
Sankoshu and Kantoshu that Yaichi composed during and after
the war.
In a related event, a lecture titled “War and Yaichi” was given
by a literary critic, Mr. Kitagami, at Crosspal Niigata on Jul.
24.
Tel: 025-222-7612 Fax: 025-222-7614
http://aizuyaichi.or.jp/

Kawasaki City Peace Museum: Kanagawa
A special exhibition “New Movement toward Nuclear
Abolition ― from the viewpoint of Hibaku” was held in thefirst-floor atrium from Nov. 16 to Dec. 6, 2011. It was
designed to inpirse visitors to contemplate the significance of
nuclear abolition and peace through panels of nuclear
weapons, nuclear strategy, nuclear disarmament, nuclear
cycles, and governments’ and grass-root movements toward
nuclear abolition, as well as screening of relevant movies. The
exhibits were made from two viewpoints of Hibaku, theatomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as theradiation we are facing everyday after 3.11.
Tel:044－433-0171 Fax:044-433-0232
http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/25/25heiwa/home/heiwahome/ind
ex.htmYanaizu Folklore Museum : Gifu City
An exhibition “Wartime Posters 3: Production Increase andLife” was held from Aug. 2 to Sep.4, 2011. During the war, avariety of posters were made as propaganda to support the war
and encourage the will to fight in the populace. The exhibition
showed some of them that related to production increase andlife. The posters were put up at the village office in Kawai in
Gifu prefecture. As the war lasted longer, the lack ofarmament and supply was steadily depleted, leading to strict
rationing for people on the home front. The placard depicts
the austere conditions of the time, claiming that the
production sites are also a battle field directly linked to war
front and that they require people to serve by being more
economical. The exhibits included “Make Time”, “Serve ourcountry through sericulture”, “Produce more planes”,“Produce more coals”, “Unite the whole nation”, “Personnel
wanted”, “Rice delivery” and “Production upgrade” at the“Production Increase” corner, and “Muster national spirit ofall”, “Patriotism”, “Japan National Defense League”, “Prepare
and be ready”, “Frugality and diligence”, “Concurrent
session” and “Long-term construction” in the “Frugality andLife” section. In addition, the broadcast notices for the end of
the war and some wooden dolls were on display.
Tel: 058-270-1080
http://www.city.gifu.lg.jp/c/40120461/40120461.html

Meiji University
Noborito Museum for Peace
Educational: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa
A special exhibition “Scenery of Fire Balloons 2011” was heldfrom Oct. 26 to Dec. 17, 2011. A fire balloon is a weapon thattransports a bomb via a balloon made of paper and glue,
which was developed as a decisive weapon to directly attack
American soil at the late stage of WWII. The armaments werecreated at the Noborito research center and used from 1944 to1945. The exhibition was meant to give an opportunity toreconsider the relationship between society and sciencethrough the chronicle of firebases, virus development sites andballoon paper development sites.
Tel/Fax: 044-934-7993
http://www.meiji.ac.jp/noborito/index.html
Japan Newspaper Museum (Newspark): Yokohama City,
Kanagawa
A special exhibition “70 Years after Japan-US War: War
Through the Eye of Shigeru Mizuki and Press Reports” washeld at the gallery on the 2nd floor from Nov. 5 to Dec. 25,
2011. The exhibition was to give an opportunity to reflect
what the war had brought to each person. It included
newspaper reports of the day as well as works depicting theirrationality of war as well as the feeling of hollowness thatcomes with it, as depicted by manga artist Mizuki Shigeru.

Shizuoka Peace Center: Shizuoka CityA special exhibition “How a patriotic boy watched thegrownups during the war time” was held from September 23rd7

to December 23rd in 2011. At the war time, Japanese citizens
accepted hardship such as loss of their loved people and evenhomes as well as constant starvation. Children were educatedto be military personnel. This bland-new exhibition focusedon a life of a patriotic boy who was 17 years old when the war
ended.
On October 30th, there was a field research tour by bus to visit
some of the war-related historic sites. At each sites, those who
had war experiences guided the participants. On November
23rd, a meeting to listen to the stories from a Shizuoka air raid
survivor Masanori Asahina and also from Hideo Okitsu who
witnesses the battle in China was held.
Tel： 044-433-0171 Fax： 044ー433-0232
http://homepage2.nifty.com/shizuoka-heiwa/

24th in 2011 to February 13th in 2012. It traced changes ofschool buildings and children’s daily life by displaying the
documents related to evacuation of schoolchildren and realmaterials including the blue-eyed doll as well as the copy ofthe portrait of emperor and empress and the revised
educational principle, which were left behind when theschools closed.
Tel:075-344-1305 Fax:075-344-1327
http://kyo-gakurehaku.jp/
Muko City Museum : Kyoto
From August 6th to September 4th in 2011, an exhibition“War and people’s life” was held.
Mainly the photos taken in the battle fields in former
Manchuria were displayed. In addition, there were photos of
the people’s life in Manchuria. By showing those realmaterials during the war time, it aimed to make the visitors
think about what peace is. There is a catalogue of theexhibition published, which consists of the explanations of thephotos, maps and chronological table.
Tel:075-931-1182 Fax:075-931-1121
http://www.city.muko.kyoto.jp/bunka/shiryokan.html

Azai Museum of History and Folklore: Shiga, Nagahama
The 9th annual exhibition to commemorate the end of WW
was held from August 1st to September 4th in 2011. It aimed toreview the war experiences and to share the importance ofpeaceful life with next generation. The theme was “How thesecretaries in charge of military affairs viewed the war.” Last
year, Mr. Jinpei Nishimura, who was ex. Secretary of militaryaffairs of Osatomura village passed away and left lots ofhistorical materials to the library. Some of the draft andrequisition-related items such as list of young men of
conscription age, reservists, draft notices, documents about
secretariat of military affairs, a nameplate of a soldier at thefront, and photos were displayed.
Tel:0749-74-0101
http://www.city.nagahama.shiga.jp/index/000012/002487.htm
lOsaka International Peace Center (Peace Osaka): OsakaOn 8/14/11 the exhibit “School Children Evacuation: Little
National Subjects and Children Today” was held in the firstfloor exhibit hall to honor postwar peace activism and the 20th
anniversary of the museum. Now, 66 years after the war, theevacuation of school children at the end of the Pacific War
who were separated from their parents in order to avoid the air
raid attacks has almost faded from memory. Using materials
such as the film, “Boku-chan’s War,” a video detailing the
production of “Boku-chan’s War,” and a conversation between
the director of “Boku-chan’s War,” Tsugio Okuda andProfessor Yasuo Akatsuka of Tenri University, we sought tocompare the “little national subjects” who were caught up in
the war with today’s children and to consider the meaning of
evacuation, war, and peace. In the same light, a “Candle Nightand Peace Concert” was held on August 14th, 2011 in thefirst-floor exhibit hall in the sculpture garden order to honor
the museum’s 20th anniversary and postwar peace activism.
After hearing “Oshaberi Chanson” and Tetsu Imazato’s“Never Ending Journey: from his “Paths of My Songs,” weheard memories of evacuation from those who had
experienced it and had time to consider war and peace amidst
this candlelit environment in the sculpture garden.

Ritto History Museum: Shiga
An exhibition “Foundation for peace 2011 – Letters from thebattle fields” was given from July 30th to September 4th in2011. Since 1990, this museum has been holding an annual
exhibition titled “Foundation for peace” in accordance withthe peace declaration of Ritto City. It aims to review themodern history and citizens’ life under the war time from thelocal point of view. This year the main items shown wereletters exchanged between the battle fields and the soldiers’
homelands to show what the lives at both side were like.
A booklet regarding the materials exhibited such as themilitary letters and the report of ballet fields visit activities
was published.
Tel:077-554-2733 Fax:077-554-2755
http://www2.city.ritto.shiga.jp/hakubutsukan

On Augut 6th, 2011 we held the event, “No More Hiroshima,
No More Nagasaki: Lamentations by Survivors.” In addition
to reading selections about atomic bomb survivors from
“Testimonies to Our Grandchildren” published by Shinfu
Shobo, we also heard testimonies from survivors themselves.

Oyamazaki-Cho Museum of History : Kyoto
From August 9th to 21st in 2011, the 13th “An Exhibition offoundation for Peace” was held. Materials preserved in
Oyamazaki elementary school such as a wooden plate to tell
the air-raid warning, an album donated to Oyamazaki
elementary school by a school in America and a picture bookabout Sino-Japanese War were displayed to review the historyof the local community and to confirm the importance of
keeping peace.
Tel＆Fax:075-952-6288
http://www.town.oyamazaki.kyoto.jp/contents_detail.php?co=kak&frmId=5077

From August 3rd through August 25th, 2011 we showed thefilm “Barefoot Gen” and told picture-card stories (kamishibai)
for our Children’s Festival.
Tel:06-6947-7208 Fax:06-6943-6080
http://www.peace-osaka.or.jp/
Osaka Human Rights Museum (Liberty Osaka): Osaka
From 9/6-11/6/11 we held our 66th annual special exhibit,“Modern Girls During the ‘Bluestocking’ Era.” In September
1911, the magazine for women, Bluestocking, was first

Kyoto Municipal Museum of School History : Kyoto
A special exhibition “Daily School life: the materials left by
the closed schools in Chukyo ward”was held from September
8

published. In this first volume, Hiratsuka Raicho wrote “In the
Beginning, Women were the Sun” and the poet, Yosano Akiko
wrote, “Women Who are Sleeping, Now You Must Rise andAct” as calls for women to arise. Through the “new women”
who gathered around the Bluestocking magazine, or “modern
girls,” the desire to destroy traditional customs and ways ofthinking began to expand. Through their concerns over theirbodies, sexuality, marriage and reproduction, and sexual
harassment in the work place, these “modern girls” still holdresonance with the women of today. Thus, this exhibit tocommemorate the 100th Anniversary of Bluestocking seeks torevisit the concerns and debates of the modern girls andconsider them in connection to the conditions of women
today. In regard to this, the exhibit introduced: “Bluestocking
and women’s schools;” “Bluestocking and ‘new women;’” and“the concerns of Bluestocking and contemporary women.” Anexhibit catalogue was created and on 9/17/11 a symposium,“Bluestocking and Feminism” was held in Patty Hall in which
Sayoko Yoneda, the head of the NPO Hiratsuka Raicho
Association, spoke.

this project included things such as: “Let’s learn about theatomic bomb;” “Let’s Learn about the Air Raids of Suita
City;” “Let’s Learn about how People Ate During the War;”“Let’s See how Rice was Milled;” and “Let’s Watch Videos
about Wartime Experiences.” At the same time, we also held
the panel, “Drawings from Siberia’s Internment Camps.”
Tel＆Fax:06-6387-2593
http://www.city.suita.osaka.jp/home/soshiki/divjichijinken/jinken/000338.html
Sakai City Municipal Peace and Human Rights Museum(Pheonix Museum): Osaka
From 8/4-8/10/11 we held a special exhibit created in
Hiroshima called, “The Hiroshima Atomic Bombing Exhibit”
in the large gallery of the Sakai Education Center(Sophia/Sakai) in order to teach about the reality of atomic
bombing survivors, provide a forum for public discussion of
the destructiveness of nuclear weapons, and to consider the
possibility of realizing an enduring world peace. We exhibited
atomic bombing disaster photos from the Hiroshima Peace
Memorial Museums Collection (~50 items), materials such asa charred lunch box, a melted tile, etc.(~30 items)from theHiroshima Peace Memorial Collection of Atomic Bombing
Materials, and atomic bombing drawings by Hiroshimaresidents. There was a “Paper Crane Prayer for Peace
Corner,” a “Messages for Peace Corner,” a “Peace and Atomic
Bombing Drawing Corner,” a “Reflections on Atomic
Bombing Survivors Corner,” an “Internet Corner,” and a“Corner to introduce the lives of first and second generation
atomic bombing survivors of Sakai City.” We also showedatomic bombing anime and other documentaries.

From 11/22-12/18/11 we opened the co-sponsored exhibit,“Shinran and Non-Discrimination of the Masses” in theSpecial Exhibits Hall. This exhibit was held at the Osaka
Human Rights Museum in collaboration with the Jodo
Shinshu Honganji and Shinshu Otani sects. The Shinshu Otani
Sect will hold sessions in relation to this exhibit from 12/3/111/22/12 at the Worship Hall of Nishihonganji Temple and the
Jodo Shinshu Honganji Sect will hold sessions related to theexhibit at the Nishihonganji Temple from 12/4/11-1/16/12;
exhibits for each were also opened in the Ryukoku University
Museum. 750 years after his death, there has recently been an
increased interest in Shinran, the founder of Jodo Shinshu. At
the time, Shinran first began to interact with large numbers of“the unclean and the lower classes” and promote the view thatall beings are in need of salvation without discrimination. In
addition, in a time when women were looked upon withdisdain, Shinran criticized the notion that monks should notmarry, and took a wife of his own. This exhibit intends totake a new look at Shinran’s thought and reflect upon theunique circumstances of the period in which he developed
notions of a distinct identity and anti-discrimination. It hopes
to make clear the issues that Shinran sought to overcome. In
addition, because Jodo Shinshu has strong connections withthe discriminared buraku community, Jodo Shinshu seeks forthe first time to examine the history of Buddhism and buraku
discrimination by looking at Shinran’s thoughts. As a result,
Jodo Shinshu hopes to understand how it has responded toproblems of buraku discrimination within its own past.
Furthermore, it seeks to clarify the path to human liberationby considering Shinran’s significance to our present throughthe question, “Why is Shinran relevant now?” The contents ofthis exhibit: 1. Shinran’s Life 2. Shinran in a World of
Confusion a) Going to the Mountain b) Eshin and Shinran c)
Rejecting Discrimination Among the Masses d) Rejecting
Monastic Norms 3. Shinran’s Teachings and AntiDiscrimination Among the Buraku Community
Tel： 06-6561-5891 Fax： 06-6561-5995
http://www.liberty.or.jp/

From 10/1-12/28/11 we held an exhibit, “Okinawa and
Himeyuri Students,” which featured materials provided by the
Himeyuri Peace Memorial Museum. On 3/23/1945 at the endof the Pacific War, the United States began its invasion of
Okinawa. Under intense fighting, including aerial raids andnaval bombing, civilians became involved in the land invasion
under tragic and unimaginable conditions. As a result
approximately 200,000 precious lives were lost. The true
victims of the battlefields were those ordinary civilians who
lived their lives in Okinawa. In order to consider the tragedy
of war, the preciousness of peace and the importance of life,
we have exhibited materials about the Himeyuri students (thegirls division of the Okinawa Normal School and the female
high school students of Okinawan Prefectural Women’s HighSchool) who served as nursing attendants at the Okinawa
Military Hospital as well as information about the Okinawan
battlefront.
Tel:072-270-8150 Fax:072-270-8159
http://www.city.sakai.osaka.jp/city/info/_jinken/
History Museum Izumisano: Osaka
From 7/30-8/28/11 we held the 4th annual exhibit, “War andPeace Archive Exhibit.”
This was an exhibit to introduce materials from the time inorder to think about peace as we approached the anniversaryof the war’s end on August 15. This exhibit was planned andconstructed by interns. In the exhibit we displayed a vastvariety of everyday objects from the time under the themes of“Everyday Life During Wartime”; “Wartime Culture and
Education,”; “Wartime Clothing”; “Everyday Objects of War
and Soldiers” and “Soldier’s Clothing.” We are currently
creating a catalogue for this exhibit.

Suita Peace Memorial Center: Osaka
From 8/2-8/28/11 we facilitated the project, “Come, Look,
Learn: Let’s Think about ‘Peace’ as Part of This Summer
Break’s Open Research into War and Peace”. The contents of9Tel:072-469-7140 Fax:072-469-7141
http://www.city.izumisano.osaka.jp/ka/rekishi.html

cooperatives and credit unions that exist today. In regard tothis, we used Nara as a case study and displayed materials
from Ie no hikari and the Nara Municipal City Publisher.
Tel:0742-34-2111 Fax:0742-34-2777
http://www.library.pref.nara.jp/sentai/

Minoo City Museum of Folk Culture : Osaka
From 8/5-8/29/11 we held the exhibit, “Life During Wartime.”
Now, nearly 60 years have passed since the end of the war in1945 and the generations of those who know nothing of the
war are increasing. Yet, with these generations we still shareanti-war sentiments and hopes for peace. In fact, we must
share these sentiments. In order to continue to communicate
these ideas, since its establishment in 1989 and subsequent
move in 2006, the Minoo City Museum of Folk has held its
annual “Life During Wartime” exhibit in August. In this 66th
year after the war’s end, in order to commemorate thepreciousness of peace as well as the tragedy and unhappinessof war, we again hold the “Life During Wartime” exhibit. This
exhibit is comprised mainly of donated objects from thecitizens of our city. In addition, the arrangement of thedisplays, the layout, and all aspects of the exhibit weredeveloped and directed by interns and volunteers of our city.
The current exhibit is created from the hearts of those who
oppose war and hope for peace. It is held in hopes that allwars and conflicts throughout the world will cease. We are
currently creating a catalogue of the many everyday objects
that are included in the exhibit.
Tel:072-723-2235 Fax:072-724-9694
http://www2.city.minoh.osaka.jp/KYOUDO/

Suiheisha History Museum: Gose City, Nara
From 12/10/11-3/25/12 we held the 12th annual exhibit, “TheYamato Association and Yuwa Movement: On the Eve of theEstablishment of the National Suiheisha Movement.” In 2012
it will be 90 years since the establishment of the National
Suiheisha Association and 100 years since the establishmentof the Yamato Association. This exhibit seeks to bring to lightand critically evaluate the activities of the predecessor of the
Suiheisha Association, the Yamato Association, as well as
introduce the Yuwa movement and the buraku reformmovement.
Tel： 0745-62-5588 Fax： 0745-64-2288
http://www1.mahoroba.ne.jp/~suihei/
Sanin Historical Museum: Yonago city, Tottori
From 8/6-8/19/11 we held the “Memories of War Exhibit.”Through the exhibit we hoped to convey the deep sorrow felt
by those during the war so that we can realize that the peacethat we now enjoying has been built upon the victims of war.
We displayed 150 items related to World War II drawn fromthe Sanin History Museum and Tottori Prefectural Museum
such as pamphlets which were dropped by the American
military to warn of air raids and testimonies by kamikaze
pilots. The pamphlets were dropped near the Hitoshi Squareon August 8, 1945 by the American military. Also included arephotographs of fighters dropping bombs and predictions that
Tottori would be one of 12 cities targeted. These images showthat not only was Tottori enveloped in flames, but they depict
how Tottori became the target of the bombings. The kamikaze
pilot’s note to his mother shows how one young man
struggled not become overwhelmed by feelings of despair
over his imminent death. In addition, there were materials
about how families sought to protect the home front including
photos of young school girls of Yonago City receiving target
practice training as well as young boys and girls reclaiming
uncultivated land in order to grow potatoes. Also displayed
were clothing, soap, sugar ration tickets as well as notices
about deaths of fathers, husbands and sons who died during
battle. In regard to military materials, the eating utensils ofsoldiers in Burma, a rising sun flag with the initials ofsoldiers, a hat worn by a kamikaze pilot, a thousand-stitchesbelt, and care packages sent to soldiers were displayed. In
connection with this, on 8/13/11, freelance journalist,
Takeharu Watai, gave a lecture at the Yonago Convention
Center.
Tel:0859-22-7161
Fax:0859-22-7160
http://www.yonagobunka.net/rekishi/

City Museum Ono: Hyogo
From Oct. 1 though Oct. 30, 2011, we held the exhibit, “Japan
from the Perspective of a Prisoner of War: Newly Discovered
Photographs Taken by Prisoners of War” on the second floor
exhibit hall. This exhibit displayed photographs discovered inGermany by Ono City and Kobe University during theirsurvey of the Aono Prison Camp, which showed Japan and theinteractions with local civilians as perceived through the eyesof prisoners.
Tel： 0794-63-3390 Fax： 0794-63-3462
http://www.city.ono.hyogo.jp/~kokokan/
Nara Prefectural Library Information Center : Nara
From Oct. 1 to Dec. 27, 2011 for our “Experiences of War
Publishing Exhibit,” we created, “From Industrial
Associations to Farming Cooperatives Under War: The
Revitalization of Postwar Associations and Cooperatives”
exhibit. In Japan, those associations and cooperatives that
attempted to pursue economic activities related to production,
consumption, and capital, based upon a logic of mutual aid,
were institutionalized as industrial associations during the
Meiji period based upon Ninomiya Sontoku’s Hotokusha aswell as models of German credit associations. Such industrial
associations were very active in their efforts to provide
support for exhausted rural economies and to help economic
development throughout the country. In particular, they helped
diffuse government recommendations throughout the rural
areas; within the cities, under the industrial association law,groups such as city purchasing associations (predecessors of
the cooperative) and the city credit unions (predecessors of thecity banks) were born. At the beginning of the Showa Period,
the momentum to try to resolve the various social problems
that erupted amidst economic depression through the activities
of industrial associations and cooperatives increased. The
industrial associations that were formed during the war andrevived in the postwar boom are deeply linked to agricultural

Takamatsu Civic Culture Center, Peace Museum: Kagawa
From August 3rd through 5th 2011, the twenty-first Takamatsu
City Exhibition of War Memorabilia was held in order toremind visitors of the atrocities of World War II and toprovide an opportunity to think about peace. The exhibition
included photos of children during the war and stories ofwartime experiences. A photo exhibition on Somalia where
there has been much conflict recently was also held at thesame time to introduce the current situation in that country.
The Peace Memorial Room Special Exhibition, “For Peace10

Education – Life in Wartime” was held from August 19th
through September 4th 2011.
Tel: +81-87-833-7722, Fax: +81-87-861-7724
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/1794.html

America had governed Okinawa from the postwar era until
Okinawa’s return to Japan, how Japanese people survived
under American rule, and how to think about peace. The
Third Kids’ Exhibition of 2011, “Our Human Rights – Let’s
Think About Human Rights” was held from October 10th
through November 30th, 2011. The Fourth Kids Exhibition,“70th Anniversary of the Outbreak of Pacific War – Life andPeople in Wartime” was held from December 1st, 2011
through January 31st, 2012 and was primarily concerned withhow the lives of citizens were changed by the war.
Tel: +81-98-997-3844, Fax: +81-98-997-3947
http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.jp/

Usui Peace Memorial Center : Koma City, Fukuoka
The exhibition, “Military Post and Letters for Soldiers” washeld from July 30th through September 4th, 2011. It introduced
letters connecting soldiers and their families, as well as lettersmeant to cheer the soldiers up from other children and womenin Japan.
Tel: +81-948-62-5173, Fax:+81-0948-62-5171
http://www.city.kama.lg.jp/info/prev.asp?fol_id=4209

Tsushima Maru Memorial Museum: Naha city, Okinawa
prefecture
The 17th Tsushima Maru Memorial Museum Special Event,“Life in Showa era – What did people think of and feel inturbulent times? ” was held from August 19th through 26th,
2011.
Tel: +81-98-941-3515, Fax: +81-98-863-3683
http://www.tsushimamaru.or.jp/

Iizuka city Historical Material Hall: Fukuoka
The special event, “War and Life” was held from August 4th
through 28th, 2011, exhibiting approximately 200 letters andwills written by soldiers from Chikuho who were stationed in
Burma and Iwo-Jima.
Tel &Fax: +81-948-25-2930
http://www.city.iizuka.lg.jp/rekishi/index.htm

Okinawa Prefectural Archives: Haebaru
The Special Event, “Immigrants Transcending Centuries” washeld from July 12th through December 22nd, 2011, concerning
the history of Japanese immigrants.
Tel: +81-98-888-3875, Fax: +81-98-888-3879
http://www.archives.pref.okinawa.jp/

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum: Nagasaki
The Second Special Event of 2011, “Stored Items from theAtomic Bomb Museum” was held from July 28th throughSeptember 15th, 2011. Items exhibited were donated from July2010 until June 2011. Also 28 items on display were notregularly exhibited. Because it has been 66 years since thebombing of Nagasaki, some items had to be restored before
being exhibited. The Third Special Exhibition of 2011, “8-10Nagasaki” was held from November 30th, 2011 through March
6th, 2012, and consisted of materials left by journalists who
had visited Nagasaki on August 10th, 1945 at the Japanesearmy’s command.
Tel: +81-95-844-1231, Fax: +81-95-846-5170
http://www1.city.nagasaki.nagasaki.jp/peace/japanese/abm/

Kusunuchi Peace & Culture Center： Okinawa City,
Okinawa
This peace center consists of a library and a discussion space.
The library contains reading material related to Okinawa andits past hardships, such as the records of the various battles
fought in Okinawa. The building has simple rectangular wallswith an angled roof on it, designed to let natural sunlight into
the interior rooms so that the visitors could feel hope as well
as soberness there. As the library is open to any students fortheir research activities, we have lots of young people there
during summer holidays and exam terms.
We are collecting materials regarding the history and cultureof Okinawa in order to make them available to the local
public. For further improvement of the library, we are grateful
if you could kindly provide any materials as listed below:

Sendai History Museum: Kagoshima
The small exhibition, “The Anniversary of the End of WorldWar II - War and Railroad Industry” was held from August 2nd
through September 4th, 2011. The theme was the relationshipbetween the war and the railroad industry. The exhibition
introduced the important role that the industry played during
the recent wars.
Tel: +81-996-20-2344, Fax: +81-996-20-2848
http://rekishi.sendai-net.jp/index2.htm

Municipalities’ local history records, local magazines, folkstories, sub-texts, materials for peace education, accounts of
war time experiences, materials related to the U.S. bases,
materials and books for children concerning cities and towns
and other educational materials.

Uruma City Ishikawa Museum of History: Okinawa
The special event, “The History of Post-war Education in
Okinawa and Tadao Inami Educational Materials” was heldfrom August 23rd through September 25th, 2011. The
symposium, “The History of Post-war Education – Memories
of Ishikawa” was held at Uruma City Ishikawa Regional Hall
on September 3rd 2011, inviting three panelists who had beenteachers at Ishikawa Miyamori Elementary School when a US
military jet crashed into the school on June 30th, 1959.
Tel & Fax: +81-98-965-3866
http://www.city.uruma.lg.jp/1/201.html

We appreciate if you could tell us how to get the publications
you recommend if they are not freely available.
We would pay the shipping charges if you could be willing to
donate relevant reading material..
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Kusunuchi Peace& Culture Center
Okinawa prefecture, Okinawa-shi, Akeda 1-29-10
http://www.kusunuchi.com/heiwa.html

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum: Itomancity
The special event, “Okinawa Governed by America – RyukyuAmerican Cultural Center” was held from October 10th
through December 11th, 2011. The exhibition examined how

Publication
The collection of antiwar novels, “Road In The Shade” byMiyako Kubo was published in 2011.
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Working for Peace and JusticeMemoirs of an Activist Intellectual
Lawrence S. Wittner
Univ. of TN Press
Professor Ikuro Anzai has published many books concerning
the Fukushima nuclear accident. The following are some of
his works, which are available only in Japanese, unfortunately.
Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant Accident by Kamogawa
Shuppan in 2011
The Radioactive Contamination of Food Discussed by Family
published by Dojidaisha in 2011
Now You Can Understand Internal Radioactivity by Godo
Shuppan in 2011
This is What I Want to Know about Radiation by Kamogawa
Shuppan in 2011
Radiation and Radioactivity by Natsume-sha in 2011
Easy Understanding of Radiation by Ohmusha in 2012
Ikuro Anzai’s Easy Class on Radioactivity by Godo Shuppan
in 2011
How to Protect Yourself from Radiation by Chukei Shuppan
in 2012
Toward Zero Nuclear Power – Our Choice (co-authored with
Tetsuya Iida, Ken-ichi Oshima and Uiko Hasegawa) by
Kamogawa Shuppan in 2012
Professor ikuro Anzai’s Class on Nuclear Power andRadioactivity (3 volumes) by Shin-Nihon Shuppan in 2012

Acknowledgement
The editors would like to thank Ms. Yoshiko Tanigawa, Ms.
Terumi Imai, Ms. Hisako Masuda, Ms. Tanya S. Maus, Ms.
Atsuko Takeda, Ms. Yuriko Taki, Ms. Mihoko Yasuhara fortranslating Japanese into English.
Ms. Parker Murff, an American student of Ritsumeikan
University helped us edit this newsletter and we would like tothank her for her cooperation. Thanks to their great efforts,
non-Japanese readers will be able to know what is going on in
Japan.

Notice
The unsigned articles were written up on the editor’s
responsibility, but the sighed ones do not necessarily express
the same opinions embraced by the head office of theJapanese Network of Museum for Peace or the editor of thisnewsletter.
Overseas news that used to be published in Muse will beavailable in Newsletter of the INMP (International Network ofMuseums for Peace).
http://www.museumsforpeace.org/

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