October 14, 2019

Statement by the Director and the Honorary Director of theKyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University, on
the discontinuation of the Aichi Triennale “Lack-of-Freedom-ofExpression Exhibit: Part II” and the decision of the Agency for
Cultural Affairs not to grant subsidies
Ago Shin-ichi, Director, and Anzai Ikuro, Honorary Director
Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University

On August 3, 2019, the exhibition “Lack-of-Freedom-of-Expression Exhibit: Part II” at Aichi
Triennale 2019 was canceled due to intimidation by some individuals. It goes without saying thatsuch intimidation is a big threat to the “freedom of expression” and the people’s “right to know”.
What is more worrying is that on August 2, Nagoya Mayor Kawamura Takashi criticized thecontents of the exhibition, and Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide alluded to a review of thegovernmental subsidy, and there were a series of critical references made by politicians. In the156

end, on September 26, the Agency for Cultural Affairs decided to cancel the grant to Aichi
Triennale.

are intended to suppress the free expression of individuals’ thoughts and beliefs. They mayinfringe the “freedom of expression of assembly, association, speech, publication, and any otherexpression” as provided for under Article 21 of the Constitution of Japan, as well as paragraph
2 of the same Article, on the prohibition of censorship.
Bearing in mind that some Peace Museums had been forced, in the past, to change theirexhibits, following pressures exercised by certain heads of local governments based on their

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particular historical views and values, we, the Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan号

第立命館大学国際平和ミュージアム紀要

These series of events, initiated by politicians and national organizations as public figures,

University, which is established on the fundamental idea of “facing the past with integrity,
looking at both the victims and the perpetrators of the war,” hereby express our deep concernthat such a series of events may have the effect of censorship that suppresses artistic expression
and exhibition and consequently the freedom of expression and thoughts.
With this letter, we express our dismay over the decision of the Agency for Cultural Affairs
and petition the prompt withdrawal of the cancellation of the grant to the Aichi Triennale.

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December 5, 2019

Mourning the fatal shooting of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura,Founder of Peace Japan Medical Services (Peshawar-kai)
Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University

According to reports, Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, Founder of Peace Japan Medical Services(Peshawar-kai), was shot to death on December 4, 2019 in Afghanistan, where he dedicatedhimself to reconstruction activities. The Kyoto Museum for World Peace, Ritsumeikan University,offers heartfelt condolences for Dr. Nakamura’s death and expresses deep outrage against suchsenseless violence.
From early on, our museum paid attention to the activities of Dr. Nakamura and his colleagues
and, in 2003 from May to June, organized a special exhibition “Medical Doctors Digging Wells— Activities of Peshawar-kai and the Green Ground Project” with a commemorative lecture at
Kinugasa Campus and Biwako-Kusatsu Campus. Dr. Nakamura himself gave a lecture at
Ritsumeikan University.
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21Based on the recognition that many of the refugees in Pakistan and Afghanistan become sodue to severe droughts, Dr. Nakamura worked on a large-scale irrigation project to secure water
for domestic and agricultural use. The completion of the irrigation channel in 2010 which
exceeded 25 km in total length has laid a foundation for the lives of about 100,000 farmers.
In a message that Dr. Nakamura sent to the museum for the special exhibition in 2003 hewrote, “Armed forces and political slogans cannot be measures against draughts. The foundationof peace is mutual assistance and guarantee of survival. If we are alive, there will be hope, webelieve. I will continue working silently today, despite the violent military rifles and U.S. military
aircrafts flying overhead.” The then director Ikuro Anzai (now honorary director) said, “Theremarkable activities of Peshawar-kai extending their hands and helping and creating lives,
makes us think about how we should be as human beings.”
We were greatly shocked that violence took the life of Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, a man so devoted
to creating life. Looking at the social causes that create such violence, we will continue to appeal
to the people of the world to respect the preciousness of peace in collaboration with peacemuseums around the globe, and will make efforts to develop a culture that nurtures irreplaceable
lives.

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