Muse No. 10
Japanese Network of Museums for Peace
Newsletter： December, 2003
The Editorial Office: Kyoto Museum for World Peace,
Ritsumeikan University56-1 Kita-machi, Toji-in, Kita-ku, Kyoto City 603-8577 Japan
Director: Ikuro Anzai.

Curator: Masahiko Yamabe

Editor: Kazuyo Yamane.

Ilustrator: Erico Tosaki

Tel: +81-075-465-8151. Fax: +81-075-465-7899.

The 3rd Conference of Japanese

http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp

Forces”by Professor Morio Minami

Network of Museums for Peace

6. “
A Project commemorating the 50th
year of the Hydrogen Bomb Test in

The 3rd conference was held on November

the Bikini Atoll and the 5th Lucky

15 and 16 at Kyoto Museum for World

Dragon”by Mr. Kazuya Yasuda of thePeace.

5th Lucky Dragon Display House

There were 42 participants.

Eleven people presented their papers as

７ .

“
The

Present

Situation of thefollows:

International

1. “
Creating Women’s War and Peace

Museums and Challenges”by Kazuyo

Museum”by Ms Eriko Ikeda
for World Peace at Ritsumeikan
and

its

Renewal” byProfessor Hideki Okada
3. “
Exhibition

on

War

at

History

Museum”by Mario Yajima from theHouse of Sharing in Korea
4. “
War Exhibitions at History Museum”
byMr.

Nobuakiof

Yamane of the Grassroots House

2. “
Ten-year history of Kyoto Museum
University

Network

Terabayashi

of

Hokkaido Pioneer Memorial
5. “
War Museum related to Self Defense

1

Peace

8. “
Invasion, Resistance and Common

Secretariat of the Japanese Network ofConcept of History in Asia”by Kim Yeong

Museums for Peace.

Hwan of the Grassroots House

will be edited mainly by Kazuyo Yamane

9. “
Peace Museum as a Peace Study

twice a year in Japanese and also inCenter”by Professor Hideo Fujita of the

English.

5th Lucky Dragon Display House

The next conference will be held in Tokyo

10. “
What I learned at Peace Museums inon November 27th and 28th with the help

Europe” by Chikako Hanaoka of theof the members of Tokyo Document

Pacific War History Museum

Center on Air Raids and War Damages

11. “Criticizing Pre-War Situation where

and the 5th Lucky Dragon Display House.

Muse newsletter

Human Rights were ignored and Human
Life was disregarded by investigating＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

corpses of dead soldiers”by Mr. Nobuteru

My

Iwabuchi of the Pacific War History

Conference dreaming of Creating a Peace

MuseumMuseumThis conference was held independently

By Eriko Ikeda: the President of thefor the first time.

It used to be held at

Committee

theof

War/Peace Museum

conference

Peace

Association of Japan for example.

Studies

Impressionsofof

AttendingCreating

the

Women’s

There

were discussions such as what to do withFirst of all, I’d like to express mychildren when exhibits are cruel, what to

gratitudefor

do with exhibits on Japan’s aggression,

conference.

Yayori Matsui made a plan

how to criticize war exhibits by Selfof making a war/peace museum where all

Defense Forces etc.

the materials on women who were forced

inviting

me

to

the

to work as sexual slaves would be
People from other peace museums talked

available.

about their activities briefly: Himeji

one year ago and we made the committee

Peace

Museum,Osaka

International

for creating the peace museum only about

Peace

Center,Tanba

Manganese

But she passed away about

six months ago.

Memorial, Tokyo Document Center on Air
Raids and War Damages and Maruki Art

We’ve been busy asking for donations,

Gallery.

sorting out materials, preserving themand thinking what kind of peace museum

As for the next year, Kyoto Museum forto make.

World Peace will play a role of themuseums and peace museums not only in2We’d like to visit other war

Itwondering what to do with women’s

was stimulating and helpful to be able tosexual violence for young people. This islisten to the people who have beena serious problem for us because we’d likeworking for museums for peace that we’dto make a peace museum on women inlike to visit.

war and conflicts.

The impressive opinion in the discussion

We have recorded testimonies of Asianwas “
The movement against the war on

women who were forced to work as sexual

Iraq spread in the world, but what roleslaves for Japanese army and also former

did Japanese peace museums play?”

Japanese soldiers who raped women.

We’d like to make our museum the one

This was done when we helped thefor protecting women’s rights and also thewomen and also worked hard to open thecenter of anti-war activities for peace.

Women’
s International Crimes Tribunal

Japan but also in other countries.

for the Trial of Japanese Military Sexual
As for war museums in Self Defense

Slavery in Tokyo in 2000.

Forces in various places in Japan, I agree

make a good archive of oral history.

on the report that “
There is no comment

Some people asked us to share the record

on Japan’s aggression and her victim side.

through the Internet, and said to us, “I’dNationalism is emphasized, but there is

like to know how to preserve the tapeno reference to war.” When we visitedrecording and present it”. Thanks to the

Yushukan Museum, it reminded me oftechnological

the report.

recording makes it possible to preserve

Japan’
s aggression is notWe’d like toinnovation,

digitaldealt with at the national war museum

materials in good conditions.

It would

and this is related to the present

be nice to think these issues together

situation of Japan that is changing to afrom now on.

nation which can start war.
There was one more impressive opinion
that made me think what to do at our
future museum.

It is possible forchildren to be deeply hurt psychologicallywhen they see exhibits that show realityof war.

It was said that there was atendencynotto makeexhibits

too

realistic. When we visited war museum

Prof. Okada, Prof. Anzai, Mr. Yamabe,in Germany this summer, they were

Prof. Fujioka and Mr. Kaji from the left

3

The

Present

SituationofWhat is the result?

Japanese

Exhibited wasMuseums: No Pursuit of the History ofJapanese People’s life during World War

International Relations in War

II and the damages caused by U.S.
air-raids.

There are almost no exhibits

By Nobuaki Terabayashi of Hokkaido

on the result of Japan’s aggression.

Pioneer Memorial

There are no exhibits on local history
which makes it possible for visitors to

I presented a paper on a questionnaire

understandentitled

during the war.

“
War

Exhibitsin

Historyinternational

relations

Perhaps there has been

Museums in Japan”conducted in 2002.

no research on international relation in

The purpose was to investigate exhibits

relation to local history.

on war after Meiji period(1867-1911) in
Some Impressions at the 3rd Conference

history, activities and how to deal withthe history of international relations.

It

was

of

supportedbytheMinistry

Makoto Yamaguchi

Education and Science and a grant was

I worked for Saitama Peace Museum foroffered.

ten years and attended the conference

There were five curators from

Hokkaido Pioneer Memorial, Sendai City

with several aims.

History and Ethnic Museum, Osaka
Human Rights Museum, Kyoto Museum

There is a plan to make Sakhalin

forMemorial.

World

Peace

at

Ritsumeikan

University.

doesn’
t belong

Historically,to

Sakhalin

Russia.

Many

Russians emigrated there because of
The questionnaire was done to prepare

Stalin’s policy.

for the real investigation that will be

trust territory of the United Nations.

done in 2003 to 2004.

I hope that it will be a

The following is

my personal opinion, not the one by otherpeople because we had not discussed theresult yet.
We sent the questionnaire to history
museum, peace museums, museums forformer army and navy as well as the
Association of the Bereaved families andmuseum in Self Defense Forces Stations.

Ms Yamaguchi and Ms Ikeda

4

Peace Museums in Japan

It has oil and natural gas and the USA,
Britain, Russia, Canada, Sweden, Japanand so forth have been developing the
project of oil and gas.

Pacific War History Museum: Iwate

How to deal withthis issue is a big problem.

The 2nd general meeting was held on
September 10 in Tokyo.

Mr. Iwabuchi

I was glad to know about the women’sand Ms Hanaoka talked about thepeace/war

International

Conference

of

Peace

gender issues and war will be finally

Museums

Belgium.

The

main

dealt with there.

Oral history is very

activities are the investigation of war

important and how to exhibit it at peaceremains, exhibitions and international

museums is a big issue.

cooperation.

museumproject

becausein

We will train curators who

can explain exhibits and also have a plan
Professor

Minami’s reportonwar

to open our website in the future.

museums in Self Defense Forces Stations(Newsletter No. 42)

made us think various questions such as
how to deal with the museums for peace.

Tel: 017-52-3000

Fax: 0197-52-4575

His material on war memorials both inJapan and Germany is very impressive.

Yuki no Shita Peace Culture Museum:Fukui

I was very impressed by Kyoto Museum
for World Peace after I visited there.

I

The

33rd

National

Conferenceof

was proud of it because it makes visitors

Recording Air-raids and War Damages

think peace issues and study them.

was

The

held

in

Toyohashi

City,

Aichi

guidebook is easy to understand and it isPrefecture. According to Mr. Tadao Kato,a good study material. The exhibits are

the director of the museum, an incredible

very good in comparison with other peacehandout was distributed.

museums.

war

It was about aexhibition called “AnotherWar

Exhibition: Hidden History that should
It is about time to renew many peace

be taught to the next generation”. The

museums. The conference gave us a goodcontent of the exhibition was incredible

opportunity to think of it one another.

because it said, “Japan did not fight a
war for aggression.

It was a war for self

defense.” Such an exhibition was held＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

not only in Toyohashi City but also inTokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukui.

5

Mr.

Kato

wrote

in

his

newsletter,incredible thing has started.
time

to

see

the

real

(Newsletter dated July 5)“An

Now is thehistory

Tel:0493-35-4111 Fax:0493-35-4112

withmaterials that support it.”

http://village.infoweb.ne.jp/-pms

Tel & fax: 0776-52-2169

Maruki Art Gallery: Saitama

Peace Museum of Saitama

There was an art exhibition on holocaust
from July 8 to September 6.

There was an exhibition on women
during and after World War II from July

A photo exhibition on children in Iraq

23 to September 15.

It was about

was held from September 9 to October 12.

women’
s life, their labor and their life

The photos were taken by Naomi Toyota

after the war.

during the war on Iraq.
(Newsletter No. 77 dated on July 11)

There was also an exhibition on social
conditions seen in the cover of magazines

Tel:0493-22-3266 Fax:0493-24-8371

from October 21 to December 7.

http://www.aya.or.jp/-marukimsn

People visited war related sites on

Warabi Municipal Museum:

September 20.
weaponSaitama

They visited the former

factory

of

the

army

in

The 14th exhibition was “Memory in the

Kamifukuoka City.

15th War: Ordinary Women’s Life”and it
was held from August 1 to September 7.

There were two meetings to listen to
people who experienced war.

A victim of

Tel:048-432-2477

the atomic bombing on Hiroshima talked
about the experience on July 19.

A man

National Museum of Japanese History:

who were interned in Siberia talked

Sakura City, Chiba

about his experience
A report on “Real Images of Modern
A Film such as “Black Rain”on a victim

Soldiers”that had been researched fromof the atomic bomb was shown on July 121996 to 2000 was published on March 31.

and “Twelve Eyes”was shown on August

The study report No. 101 on “
A Village

15.

and a Battlefield”was about over 7000

A film of “
A Violin in a Starry Sky”

was shown on September 13 and so on.

letters sent to a former elementary school6teacher, Minejiro Takahashi, in Kitakami

Okamoto and the Bikini Incident”. TaroCity of Iwate Prefecture. The report No.

Okamoto is a modern artist, a sculptor

102 on “Memorial and Graves”is about

and a writer.

thewas 84 years old.

armycemeteryofformerSanadayama.

He passed away when he
He was shocked by

the atomic and hydrogen bombs and the
Bikini incident and painted pictures on

Tel:043-486-0123 Fax:043-486-4209

the 5th Lucky Dragon, a fishing boat thatwas exposed to radiation of the U.S.

Setagaya Peace Museum: Tokyo

hydrogen bomb test in 1954.

There isTaro Okamoto Memorial in Aoyama,
There was an exhibition on the history ofTokyo and there is an article on an

war and efforts for peace after the war

interview with Ms Toshiko Okamoto, theusing photos and materials from August

director, in the newsletter No. 301.

1 to 31.
Fax: 03-3521-2900
Tel: 03-3703-8100

E-mail: fukuryumaru@msa.biglobe.ne.jp

Toshima ward Local Museum: Tokyo

Katsushika City Museum: Tokyo

Letters from soldiers to their families

There

were

archaeology on war, air-raids and theexhibited

September 28.

fromAugust6

toExhibited were soldiers’

uniforms, letters by children who werewasaspecialexhibitiononatomic bombing from July 25 to August
10.

sent to the country to escape from U.S.
air-raids, soldiers’
letters to their families,

Tel:03-3838-1101 Fax:03-5680-0849

memorandums on air-raids experiences
and artifacts in devastated areas.

Fussa Local Material Hall: Tokyo

Tel: 03-3980-2351 Fax:03-3980-5271

War Exhibition for Peace was held from
June 28 to September 28.

The 5th Fukuryumaru of the Display
Tel:0425-53-3111

House: Tokyo
The newsletter was published 301 times.
In No. 301, there is an article of“Interview with Toshiko Okamoto: Taro7

on Hiratsuka No. 1 was published by the

Korean Museum: Tokyo

Association of Recording Air-raids andA symposium on 3.1 movement for the

War Damages on March 15.

independence of Korea was held on

books will be published in the future.

March 1st.

Two more

A course on the history ofTel: 0463-33-5111 Fax:0463-31-3949

Korea was taught from March to July.
There was an exhibition of pictures on
Koreans who

Association of Preserving Undergroundwere killed in Kanto

Earthquake eighty years ago.

Shelter in Hiyoshidai: Kanagawa

Tel & fax: 03-5272-3510

A general meeting was held on May 17

E-mail: kourai@40net.jp

and Emeritus Professor Takio Nagato of
Keiou Gijuku University gave a lecture
on Hiyoshi Campus during World War II.

Kanagawa Plaza for Global Citizenship:
Kanagawa

One of the purposes was decided to
Artifacts in Nagasaki, photos on thecreate a peace museum in Hiyoshidai

victims of the atomic bombing andshelter.

original pictures of a book called That

Day in Summer by Hiroaki You were

Tel: 045-562-0443

exhibited from August 1 to 31.

http://www.geocities.HeartLand-Hanami

Theywere borrowed from Nagasaki Atomic

zuki/2402

Bomb Museum.
Asian Pacific Photo Contest on the Joy of

Peace Museum Project in Matsushiro:

Sports was held from October 10 to 26.

NaganoThe photos won a prize at a contest held
by UNESCO in 2002.

Professor

Kouji

Aikei

(Newsletter No. 17 dated October 1)

University

gave

a

of

lectureShinshuof“The

Meaning of Peace Constitution that We
Tel: 045-896-2121 Fax:045-896-2945

Should think now”on July 21.

http://www.pref.kanagawa.jp/osirase/plazParentsaandchildrenvisitedtheunderground shelter on August 10.

It is

hoped that visitors learn the reality of

Hiratsuka City Museum: Kanagawa

war and think the importance of keeping
A book of Citizens Search for the Air-raidpeace according to its newsletter No. 153.

8

220 students of Osaka Korean High

Sakuragaoka Museum: Toyokawa City,

School visited the shelter.

Aichi

17 Koreans

who work for co-op visited the shelter.

A

Korean woman said, “I was afraid of

An exhibition on a weapon factory ofhomestay in Japan.

But I found that the

Toyokawa Navy and an exhibition on life

Japanese were all kind, which I’m veryduring the war were held from July 25 toglad.

August 31.

Please come to Korea next timeand enjoy homestay.”
Tel:0533-85-3775 Fax:0533-85-3776
Tel & fax: 026-228-8415
E-mail: kibonoie@infoweb.ne.jp

Ritto History Museum: Shiga

Shizuoka Peace Museum: Shizuoka“
The Foundation for Peace 2003” wasexhibited from August 1 to 31.

It wasSixty years will have passed in 2005 after

about school where boys were sent andthere was a U.S. air-raid on Shizuoka.

trained to be soldiers.

We decided to ask citizens to draw

book was published.

An illustrated

pictures on the air-raids.
Tel:077-554-2733 Fax:077-554-2755
There are already 87 pictures on the
air-raids and they are precious materials

Otsu City Museum of History : Shiga

to know the reality of war that broke out
in the world.

They are often used at

Otsu, WarThe 33rd mini exhibition of “

school and also for visitors of the peace

and Citizens”was held from July 23 tomuseum.

August 31.

It was about the relation of

the army and Otsu town, citizens’life
Thirty-nine pictures were exhibited fromduring the war and so forth.

June 19 to October 26.
(Newsletter No. 55)

Tel:077-521-2100 Fax:077-521-2666
http://www.rekihaku.otsu.shiga.jp

Tel & Fax: 054-247-9641
E-mail: shizuoka-heiwa@nifty.com
Kyoto Museum for World Peace at
Ritsumeikan University: Kyoto
A Photo Exhibition on World Report was

9held from October 1 to 26.

and Nagasaki from July 22 to September

The photos

won a prize at a photo contest of world

14.

Photos, pictures and materials onreport in 2002 by Photos of World Report

the atomic bombing were exhibited.

Foundation.
War toys during the war were exhibitedfrom September 25 to November 16.

There was also a photo exhibition called“
Do you know the time of war in Japan?
A photo exhibition of Kouyou Kageyama”

There

was

a

specialexhibition

byfrom October 30 to November 5.

Ancartoonists on war, peace, love andillustrated book was published.

Mr.

human beings from November 25 to
December 21.

Katsumoto Saotome, the director of Tokyo
Document Center on Air Raids and War
Damages, gave a lecture of “Handing

Seminars for Peace in 21st Century were

down the story of war to the next

held by a journalist, Shouko Egawa, on

generation.” Tomohiro Kagayama, theSeptembersecond son of Kouyou Kageyama, also

Mizushima of Waseda University gave agave a lecture on his father.

lecture on the Peace Constitution on

27.

Professor

Asaho

November 22.
Photos and relics of 100 Palestinians
killed by Israel were exhibited fromMr.

August 15 to 31.

director of Osaka Castle, gave a lecture

TakeshiWatanabe,theformeron Osaka Castle and damages by the war
Osaka International Peace Center: Osaka

on August 9.

A new corner on the present situation in

Mr. Nobuteru Iwabuchi, the director of

the world was opened in May.

PhotosPacific War History Museum, gave aand charts are used and they will be

lecture of “Learning from War Remains inrenewed every two months.

New Guinea”on December 7.

Severalfilms such as “War and Youth” wereIt became possible for visitors to use ashown in December.

computer and search for materials andbooks.

If visitors search for materials,

A forum of “Peace and Human Rights:

they will be able to find a card and a

Messages from Osaka” was held on

photo of the materials in the computer.

August 17 by Osaka International Peace
Center, Osaka Human Rights Museum

There was an exhibition on Hiroshima

and

10

Asia

Pacific

Human

Rights

Mr.

KimihideAfghanistan”was held from August 19 todirectorof Osaka

31.

Information

Center.

Mushanokoji,

theInternational

Peace

lectureheandCenter,discussed

gave
with

a
There are many good peace films andthethey are shown every month at thedirectors of the three museums.

museum.
A

peace

concert

of

“
Music

beyondTel:06-6387-2593

Borders”was held by Shungo Moriyama
on October 12. There was also a peace
concert by Hayato Fujiki on November 8.

Sakai City Peace and Human Rights

He

Museum: Osakaemphasizedtheimportanceof

Okinawa in Japan.
There was a special exhibition on the
Various films for children were shown inatomicbombing

in

Hiroshima

andsummer.

Nagasaki from October 30 to November
9.

Tel:06-6947-7208 Fax:06-6943-6080
http://www.mydome.or.jp/peace

Tel: 072-270-8150

Fax: 072-270-8159

Osaka Human Rights Museum: Osaka

Children Center for Peace & Human
Rights: Sakai City of Osaka

There was an exhibition on children who
were the victims of the war and also who

A general meeting was held on May 11

played roles of supporting the war fromand Ms Kazuko Yoshioka, the director of

July 1 to August 31.

the center, make a report on the activities

Photos and relics of 100 Palestinians

inkilled by Israel were exhibited from

Shoukokumin no 20 Seiki on her life was

October 7 to 19.

published and since then she has been

2002.

Her

book

of

Zaimanbusy teaching at school.
Tel:06-6561-5891 Fax:06-6561-5995
http://www.liberty.or.jp/

The panels on school textbooks were usedin eighty places from January, 2001 to

Suita City Peace Memorial: Osaka

March, 2003.

The exhibition on war inschool textbooks was held with her
A photo exhibition of “Believing in the
Future:Childrenasrefugees

lecture at over twenty places.

in(Newsletter of “Grassroots”No. 21)

11

Fax: 072-227-1453

Itami City Museum: Hyogo

Himeji City Peace Museum: Hyougo

An exhibition of “
War and People in
Itami” was held at a corner of theAnti-nuclear Peace Exhibition was held

permanent exhibition from July 20 tofrom July 19 to August 31.

August 30.

Exhibitedwere citizens’pictures and photo posters
on the atomic bombing, paintings andTel:072-783-0582 Fax:072-784-8109

calligraphy by elementary school andhttp://www.city.itami.hyogo.jp/a-junior high school students in Himeji City.

hakubutsukan/html

A chorus contest for peace was held on
August 3 and two children’s choralsociety attended it.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

An atomic bomb

victim talked about her experiences on

There

August 17.

investigation of the atomic bombing from

was

an

exhibition

July 25 to December 15.

on

the

Papers andThere was an exhibition on US air-raids

photos related to the research were

and those who returned from Siberia andexhibited.

China from October 5 to December 23.
Tel:0792-91-2525 Fax:0792-91-2526

Paintings of trams that were destroyedby the atomic bomb were exhibited on

Kakimori Bunko: Itami City, Hyogo

August 8 and they will be displayed until
the end of July, 2004.

Citizens drew

A special exhibition of “Thinking of Life:

pictures remembering August 6th.

letters with pictures from a soldier in the(Newsletter of Peace Culture No. 150

battlefield to his wife” was held from

dated on September 1)

August 9 to September 7.

Michio Maeda,

an artist, sent his wife letters with

Tel:082-241-4004 Fax:082-542-7941

drawings.

http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/peacesite

The letters, sketches and sofor were exhibited.

The letters were

/hpcf@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp

donated to Kakie Library by his wife,
Kinuko.

Hiroshima

Museumof

Traditional

Provincial Industry
Tel:072-782-0244 Fax:072-781-9090
A special exhibition on soldiers’food andclothes was held from October 4 to12

November 3.
published.

http://www.city.takamatu.kagawa.jp/kyou

An illustrated book was

An exhibition on citizens’
life

iku/bunkabu/sbsenter/heiwa.htm.

during World War II was also held.
Grassroots House: Kochi
Tel:082-253-6771 Fax:082-253-6772
100th anti-war action was done on
Takamatsu Civic Culture Center

December 7 downtown.

It was started

Peace Memorial Museum: Kagawa

before the war on Iraq.

A questionnaire

was answered by citizens and over 90 %Photos and paintings on the US air-raidsof them are against sending Self Defense

on Takamatsu were exhibited from July 1

Forces to Iraq to help the USA.

to 6.
There were various activities such as a
Articles, photos, weapons related to thegathering to celebrate the publication of a

air-raids were exhibited at Takamatsu

bookCity Hall from July 28 to August 1.

gathering on the 72nd anniversary of theof Kou Makimura’s poetry,A

Manchurian Incident on September 18th,
War relics and articles donated bya report on a workshop of East Asia andcitizens were exhibited at a Danshi

Cambodia,

community center in Takamatsu City

concert, a gathering to think of prisoners’

from September 5 to 9.

human rights etc.

They are usually

Peace

Concert,Bio-music

kept by the peace museum.
There was a gathering to celebrate theWar-related articles kept by the museum

publication of Mr. Shigeo Nishimori’swere also exhibited at the culture center

poetry called Hana Ibara in November.

from November 18 to 24.

Dr. Klaus Schlichtmann gave a speech on

Mr. Hitoshi Takayama, an atomic bomb

the origin of the Japanese constitution

survivor of Hiroshima, talked about his

and its influence on November 3rd. It is

experiences and the preciousness of life

very encouraging that he supports theon July 4.

activities of the Association of Preserving

A film called “Prophecy”wasshown then.

Ueki Emori’s House.

Ueki wrote thedraft of the constitution, bus his house is
Other peace films for children anddeteriorating and the members are trying

parents were shown on November 22.

to ask the mayor to preserve the house.

(Newsletter of July and October)
Tel: 087-833-7722 Fax:087-861-7981

Tel: 0888-875-1275 Fax: 088-821-0586

13E-mail: GRH@ma1.seikyou.ne.jp

museum as follows:

German Museum: Tokushima“
People in other countries that wereinvaded by Japan have been ignored

The

place

where Beethoven’s Ninth

without any compensation from Japan.

Symphony was played in Japan for the

It is because the history of Japan’sfirst time was Bando Camp where

aggression has been hidden for a long

German prisoners of World War I were

time.

kept.

compensation is very irresponsible andA Japanese orchestra went toGermany in June and played the music.

The attitude of no apology andthis caused the mistrust in Japan.

This

museum was made by citizens so that
Precious materials that were kept bypeople will know Japan’s aggression

German prisoners of war for a long time

based

were donated to German museum incommemorating Mr. Masaharu Oka who

Tokushima.

contributed his life to charging that

(Newsletter No. 7)

Japan had been irresponsible.

on

historicalrealityEachcitizen supports politics, society andFax: 088-689-0909

culture though his or her power may look

doitukan@city.naruto.tokushima.jp

small.

It is hoped that each visitor willknow the reality of Japan’s aggression
and victim’s pain, and he or she will work

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

for

the

realizationofJapan’sCatholic Church in Urakami, Nagasaki

compensation and creating peace.”

City was atomic bombed in 1945 and was（Newsletter No.34）

reconstructed later.

Materials on the

church were exhibited from October 10 toTel: 095-820-5600

December 17.

Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial
Museum

Tel:095-844-1231 Fax:095-846-5170
An exhibition on life during World War II
Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peaceand Media’s Control was held from

Museum: Nagasaki

October 10 to November 30.

Newspaper,magazines, books and handouts during
It was recognized as NPO (Nonprofit

the war were exhibited, and the control ofOrganization) and the purpose is based

information among the people and how

on the ideas of the foundation of thechildren were influenced were made clear.

14

An illustrated book was published.
Tel: 098-997-3844.

Fax: 098-997-3947

Address:

http://www.peace-musem.pref.okinawa.jp

Saitama Super Arena, 8 Shintoshin,
Chuo-ku, Saitama-city, Saitama
330-9109 JAPANJohn Lennon Museum: Saitama

Tel: 048-601-0009 Fax: 048-601-0010
The John Lennon Museum has opened on

Opening Hours:

October 9, 2000, the day when John

From 11:00 to 18:00

would have celebrated his 60th birthday.

Closed On: Every Tuesday, Year-end &New Year

The John Lennon Museum has been

Admission Fee:formally approved by Ms. Yoko Ono, andAdultsis the first such museum in the world.

School/College students ¥1,000 (¥800),¥1,500(¥1,300),

High

Elementary/Junior High School students
As one of the major artists of the 20th¥500 (¥400) *Rates for handicapped

century, John Lennon affected many

people, groups of 20 or more are inpeople, not only those involved in musicparentheses.

but also people from every field around(The above information is from thethe world.

following website.)
http://www.taisei.co.jp/museum/museum_

The

John

LennonMuseume.htmlwasestablished to preserve knowledge of his
works and career.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
National Symposium of Preserving War
Remains in Oita

The John Lennon Museum is located in
the Saitama Super Arena, a palace ofmusic and sports and the central facility

The

7th

of the Saitama New Urban Center, which

Preserving War Remains was held from

opened in May 2000.

August 23 to 24 in Usa City, Oita

National

SymposiumofPrefecture. There was a base of Japan’s
You will find in the Museum a variety ofnavy and many young men were killed asmusical instruments and costumes of

special attack corps during the war.

John Lennon and various other items

There are many war remains there.

from the memorabilia held by Ms. Yokopeople attended the symposium.

350

Ono.
Emeritus Professor Keiji Nagahara of15

Hitotsubashi University gave a lecture of

Tribunal for the Trial of Japanese“
War Remains and History Perception”.

Military Sexual Slavery”produced byVideo Juku, VAWW-NET JapanHe said, “What is war in which young
people are ordered to die?
nation?

Tel & Fax: 03-3401-8944

What is a

We have to ask such questions.

＊ Greenham:

We have to use war remains to think ofMonument

history. People’s history perception will

Greenhamsculpture@hotmail.com

be heightened by knowing historical facts

www.wfloe.fsnet.co.uk

theMakingofacritically.”Books
The appeal of the symposium says, “
Let’
s

＊

Hanaibara by Osamu Taki (This is aconvey the reality of war to the next

pen name of Mr. Shigeo Nishimori,generation and promote the movement tothepreserve war remains in order to makeHousein Kochi.) It is a collection of

the public opinion that won’t allow any

poems written in Japanese.

war.

directoroftheGrassroots＊ Toward Nuclear Abolition: A History(Newsletter No. 153 of Peace Museumof the World Nuclear Disarmament

Project in Nagano, Matsushiro)

Movement,1971

Lawrence

S.

Publication and Videos

Workedfor

Manganese”
By Tanba Manganese Memorial
This is about Koreans who worked
for Manganese in Japan.

Wittner＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Video
Who

Present

University Press 2003)＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊ “Koreans-

It is inJapanese.
（Tel: 07715-4-0046 Fax: 07715-4-0234）＊ “
Breaking the History of Silence: The
Women’
s International War Crimes

16

by(Stanfordsupported by matching efforts to foster
BUILDING

A PEACE MUSEUM ON

positive changes in people’s thinking”. He

INDIA –PAKISTAN BORDER

adds: “Dialogue and education for peace

By Syed Sikander Mehdi

can help free our hearts from the impulse

Director, Refugee and Migration

toward intolerance and the rejection ofStudies Program &others.

People

need

to

be

made

Professor, Department ofconscious of a very simple reality. We

International Relations

have no choice but to share this planet,

University of Karachi,

this small blue sphere floating in the vast

Karachi –75270 PAKISTAN

reaches of space, with all of our fellow

Tel /Fax :92 –21 –4976911“
Passengers”.2

Email: sikimehdi@yahoo.com
However, though the peace–teaching andThough peace is a basic human need, notpeace–promoting role of peace marches,

many would acknowledge it so. Worse

peace demonstrations, art for peace,

still, even in the post 9/11 turbulent

peace journalism, peace research and

world

is

peace poetry are widely recognized, theinsecure everywhere, military solutions

potentials of peace museums are yet to becontinue to be resorted to while dealing

fully actualized anywhere.

of

ours,

where

everybodywith terrorism and conflicts. “At the topof the pyramid which we call civilization”

In contrast, war museums continue toobserves John Kenneth Galbraith, “thereabound in both developed and developingis the terrible fact of war.”“
We cannot”hesocieties. These glorify the past heroic

maintains, “call ourselves a fully civilized

war deeds and promote jingoism andpeople as long as that possibility exists

militarism. War is abhorred everywhere1.
and is, indeed, taken for granted”

and yet war museums proliferate. PeaceA

major reason for the given state of affairsiswishedeverywhere,

but

peace

is lack of awareness regarding the rolemuseums are not there.

In fact,

onlywhich peace thinking, peace education,a few peace museums exist and evenpeace research and peace movement may

these began to spring up since 1980s.

play in promoting peace and harmony atThis is so even though the first known

global, regional and local level. “The work

proposal to establish a peace museumof strengthening the systems of peace”,

was made 200 years ago when an

points out Daisaku Ikeda, “must beeminent physician of Philadelphia, USA,
Dr. Benjamin Rush proposed in 1798 theappointment of U.S. Secretary of peace as

17

well as the organization of exhibits toevery society and region. These are,assist him in his work for advancing the

however, vital for the South Asian region,

abolition of war3. Further, it is generally

a region well known for wars, conflicts,

agreed that the first peace museum waspolitical

established way back in 1902 when theterrorism,widespread

Polish–Russian entrepreneur Jean depoverty

gross

Bloch founded the International Museum

marginalization of the masses. Indeed,ofsuch museums are almost indispensable

War

and

Peace

in

Lucerne,violence,
and

state

and

group

prevalence

deprivationofandfor both India and Pakistan, the two

Switzerland4.

nuclear

power

peace

engagedinmuseum is of recent origin. The idea

rattling,

conflict–fuelling

really began to gain attention when apromoting. And a place where a peace

numberweremuseum focusing on the evils of war andestablished in post second world war

costs of conflicts needs to be establishedJapan. Even in a country like United

most urgently is Wagah.

States where the peace movement has

between Amritsar in Indian Punjab andbeen very strong for several decades, theLahore in Pakistani Punjab, Wagah is an

first peace museum was inaugurated asarmy outpost on the border. It has anrecently as in the year 19815.

elaborate complex of buildings, roads andNevertheless,

of

the

concept

peaceofmuseums

stateswhoremainwarmongering,sabre–

andhate–

Situatedbarriers. It is, moreover, the only land
thereforethatborderAsia

littlePakistan which is operational today andawareness of the peace role of peace“is as fabled as checkpoint charlie was inmuseums. In fact, no strong voice has

Berlinbeen raised so far for the establishment of

6.
between North and South Korea”

Littlewondercontemporary

such

South

museums

in

a

has

regioncrossing

andbetween

Panmujom

India

and

armisticewheremushrooming war museums glorify war,

Wagah, moreover, is the ultimate border

foster war fighting and promote hate,

where hate and hostility is enacted every

militarism and nuclearism.

day in the morning and evening when the
Indian and Pakistani flags are raised andPeace museum are doubtless needed inlowered near the white line painted
across the road boundary. Dating back to
August 1947 when India and Pakistan

18emerged as independent, sovereign states,

flags of the two nuclear-armed powers

this daily ritual is specially an amazing

face each other down.

spectacle of stubbornness, aggression andthe spectators. Then inside Pakistan, a

unreason. Popularly known as “Beating

guard emits. He looks in many ways

the Retreat Ceremony”, the evening

identical to his rivals. Pakistani guards

ceremony commences at 4:30p.m every

wear black uniforms; Indian, olive. Butday, seven days a week and twelve

all, broad shouldered and mustached 6months a year.

feet 5 inches or taller, and stride about in

A hush spills oversashes, cravats, and cockades like rooster
Writing in Houston Chronicle, Claudia

combs. The yell from Pakistan electrifies

Kolker gives a vivid and detailed accountboth sides. Spectators let out joyousof this ritual of hate. The description ischeers. In India, five guards marchworth quoting in full. She says7:

toward the gate. Long leg fold like pocket
knives until their knees touch noses.

“
It starts like this. The hazy afternoon

Outsized arms swing in huge parabolas.

turns saffron, and patriotic songs sweep

Then, in crisp precision, all the soldiersfrom the checkpoint, calling to theirbrake.

friends like flocking birds. Suddenly,

gates, one solider lungs forward, asking

waved in by turbaned soldiers, young

his commandant’s leave to approach thewomen clutching husband’s arms andflag. By now both crowds are on theirmen clasping bemused toddlers dashfeet.

toward their seats.

“
BharatBy 4:45p.m, 3,000

On each side of the national

mata!” Boys

and

men,

the

grandmothers and toddlers howl. In front,

whitewashed stands. Across the gate, ina sweating youth in an oxford – cloth

Wagah, Pakistan, perhaps 300 Pakistani

shirt shakes as he leads the cheers.

settle into their own stands. Though the“Victory for India!”he barks. The smallerarea falls equidistance between Lahore,

Pakistani crowd pounds a dent into the

Pakistan, and Amritsar, India, Amritsar

noise. “Pakistan! Allah Akbar!”is a tourist attraction and train transfer

One by one, the soldiers swagger toward

stop, drawing more spectators, residents

their flags. Both armies pick their guards

say.

from tribes known for Apollonian maleIndianshavemassedatop

Below them all the road unspool,cleaved at the so–called Zero Line by

beauty. But to a Westerner, the titans’gates with crescents, stars and metal

movements seem incongruous. It looks

flowers. Between them, on a path, thelike parody when one flings a gate ajar
and stomps inside, shimmying eachmassive shoulder. When his colleagues

19follow, legs catapulting vertically, it is a

Wagah is not a comic drama. It is afeet that to some visitors conjures like

serious business and its message is clear:

Kilgore Rangerettes.

Wagah is a symbolic battlefield where theguard’
sritual authentically communicates eachdiscipline is evident. When the Indiansarmy’s power to its rival. It also conveys

join the Pakistanis in the space between

the message that so far India–Pakistan

the gates, that discipline grows stunning.

relations is concerned, the military of the

As loudspeakers bid the witnesses totwo states has the final word. In addition,

stand, the rivals align beneath their flags.

the daily ritual exercises a hypnotic effect

They space the last phase of the ritualon the Indian and Pakistani visitors,

together.

spectators. It also reinforces militarism

First, they snap into two facing lines. In

and jingoism in them and induces themeach, three Indians brush shoulders withtothree Pakistanis. Iron–faced, a soldier

violence-fuellingfrom each army grasp the rope of his own

promoting role of Wagah without raising

flag. Crossed, the cords become a mighty

any question.

Buteven tooutsiders,theacceptthehate-building,andmilitarism-

X.
Inch by inch, the flags furl down. The

But since nations cannot progress in an

timing is precise; after all, anyone, whoenvironment of hate and jingoism, sincehurries would unforgivably distort the X.

states cannot acquire strength and power

In silent unison, the flags fall intoby raising war slogans and by acquiring

waiting hands. With mirror motion, thelethalweapons

flags are folded into squares. Then,cannotflourish where

sharply, like migrating geese, the guards

violence thrives and since the citizens ofabruptly wheel, split off, and file back toboth India and Pakistan have a right totheir territories. The last ones throw

life, security, development and peace,slam the gates behind them.

Wagah is perhaps the ideal place where a“”
Hin-du-stan!” India’s crowd bellows.

monument of peace, a peace museum,The ceremony is done.

may be established.

As the crowds stream from the bleachers,

Wagah, one may add, is situated in thethe few foreign tourists in their midst sit

Punjab and connects both Indian andstunned. What does it mean? How canPakistani

nations hissing war perform this daily

violence had spread like wild fire on thepas de deux?”

eve of Indian partition in 1947.

It was

the

many

only,

Punjab,passagesince

a culturewhere

throughsocietiesofpartitionwhichcaravans of the displaced had moved toThis daily display of warriorism at20

and from India. A peace museum at

Kurtz

Wagah

Turpin(eds.),Encyclopedia

depictingpartition

violenceandJennifer

Violence,

committed by the members of the three

Peace ,Conflict , 3 vols, vol.2, San Diego,

involved communities - Hindus, Sikhs

California: Academic Press, 1999, p.692

and Muslims - can help healing

4..Ibidthewounds.

5..Terrence Duffy, “Museums of war andpeace:

Two

recentJapanese

case

Further, the peace museum at Wagah

studies”,
http:www.soc.nii.ac.ip/psaj/enl

may project the heroes and heroines of

txt/duffy.html dated May 03, 2003

peace of both India and Pakistan who

6..Paul Holmes, “Tea and tedium at thehave fought gallantly for human rights,

Wagah border"

human security, peace and happiness in

http://cgi.rediff.com/cgi-programs/print/

both the countries. The museum may also

printpag.cgi. dated April 29, 2003

become a meeting place for the writers,

7.Claudia Kolker , “India-Pakistan ritual

poets, artists, singers, journalists, womenpuzzling to outsiders”,

and children engaged in peace studies,

http://www.chron.com/cs/cda/printstor

peace research and peace movements in

y.hts/world/1199614 dated April 29,

these countries and beyond. Many may

2003

argue that the idea of a peace museum on
India–Pakistan border is an idea whosetime has not come as yet. Many of thehawks in the two rivaling countries may
say that such a time would never come.
Some may like the idea and yet maintainthat it is as too idealistic, too dreamy.
But if we don’t dream dreams, how canour dreams come true?
Footnotes
1. Quoted in .Daisaku Ikeda ,“Challenge of building peace”, Japan

Times, September 11, 2003.
2..Ibid
3..Peter Van den Dungen, “
Peace
Education: Peace Museums”in Lester

21

museum

Any Photo of Peace Monument?

much

more

than

Japan’saggressive side. It seems that it is noteasy to make an exhibition on Japan’sThere is a plan to create a peace

aggression atmonument in Kochi City where over 400

because of the attacks by the rightpeople were killed in the U.S. air-raids

wingers who want to glorify World War II

during World War II.

saying that Japan liberated other Asian

Kazuyo Yamane is

one of the judges to choose one at thecontestofthedesignsofmonuments made by citizens.

public peacemuseumnations from European colonialism.

peace

It would

However, you might have also noticed

be great if any photo of peace monumentthat ordinary citizens have been trying towould be sent to her so that the judges

make an exhibition on Japan’s aggression

can see what kind of peace monuments

and look for reconciliation with people inexist in the world.

other Asian countries.

It is also hoped thatthe photos will be introduced in Muse
newsletter for the Japanese readers and

It is also encouraging that young people

also in newspapers in Japan.

in Kochi have been active to protest
against the war on Iraq and sending

Kazuyo’s Address: 2-412 Yokohama New

Japan’s Self Defense Forces to support

Town Kochi, 781-0241 Japanthe USA.

Editor’s Notes

We welcome your comments on thisnewsletter.

receive readers’comments and criticism.

As usual, news on big and public peacemuseumswasoriginally

written

It is really encouraging toinJapanese by Mr. Masahiko Yamabe, theIf you prefer Muse by e-mal rather thancurator of Kyoto Museum for World Peacethe printed one, please let me know.

at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.

Some prefer keeping Muse in CD-ROM.

Other news was written and edited by

In this case, there wouldn’t be photos andKazuyo Yamane.

illustration because it is not easy to send
them by e-mail.

I’
m sorry that there is not enough space
to inform you of various activities more.

I hope you will have a Happy New Year!

Perhaps you might have noticed that

With best wishes,Japan’
s victim’s side during the war has

Kazuyo Yamane

been exhibited especially at public peace

kayamne@sings.jp22

23