Muse No. 33
Japanese Citizens Network of Museums for Peace
Newsletter: September 2016
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
Translators: Mairead Hynes, Terumi Imai, Atsuko Takeda, Yoshiko Tanigawa, Kyoko Terazawa &Kazuyo Yamane
Illstrator: Erico Tosaki & Pegge Patten
Women’s Active Museum on War and“Comfort

Peace (WAM)“agreement” shows no real change in thisDirector: Eriko Ikeda

Women”

system,andfundamentally negative position.

this
As

such, the “agreement” has been the
In the words of Milan Kundera, “Thesubject of strong criticism from Korean

struggle of man against power is thevictims,

struggle of memory against forgetting.”

opinion.

Seventy years after the end of the Second

support groups, including WAM, insist

World War, “the struggle of memorythat this is not a true “resolution” to theagainst forgetting” rages on when it

problem, but the majority of the Japanesecomes to the issue of the Japanese

media has accepted this “agreement” atmilitary’s abuse of the “Comfort Women.”face value, and views the case as settled.

supportgroups,Japanese

Last year, the Japanese and Korean
foreign ministers met in Seoul, and thegovernments of both countries reached an“agreement” by which the issue of theJapanese military’s abuse of the “Comfort
Women” was said to have reached a “final
and irreversible resolution.”

However,the Japanese government has long beenerico

deaf to the cries of the victims of the1

andpublichistorians

andThis interpretation by the Japanese(CEDAW) issued a report indicating thatmedia is the result of efforts by Prime

the Japanese government has not “fully

Minster Abe, who has also worked toadopt[ed] a victim-centered approach.”amend Japan’s “Peace Constitution,” andThe

who regards Japan’s war-era militaryinternational opinion on the “Comfort

expansion as a “holy war of Asian

Women” issue continues to grow, and theliberation.” Prime Minister Abe has“Comfort Women” victims as well as

worked over twenty years to conceal andformer Japanese soldiers are nearing the

suppress the “Comfort Women” issue, andends of their lives.

his manipulation of the educational

WAM has played an important role insystem and press coverage to this end isefforts to resolve these issues, but thenothing less than brainwashing.

situation remains dire; without a true

gap

betweennationalandWe believe that

resolution to the “Comfort Women” issue,
10thWAM, which is celebrating thethe Japanese people will never be able toanniversary of its founding, spent lastdevelop a relationship of trust with otheryear opposing these efforts to suppress

Asian peoples.

evidence about the “Comfort Women”

Japanese to fulfill this responsibility, andissue, through a methodical drive to

we at WAM will continue to work ourarchive and preserve relevant materials.

hardest towards this goal.

It is our obligation as

We deepened our ties with international
support groups and victims at the 14th

Our special exhibit at WAM focuses on a

Asian Solidarity Conference, which wasdifferent issue every year; this year, we

held in Seoul in May of this year, andare looking at Indonesia.

renewed our calls for cooperation andhowever, we will turn our attention to the

support.

less-known

phenomenon

From July,of“Comfort

Women” and “Comfort Women” stations
We

have

also

exchanging

in Burma. In assembling the panels for

information and donating materials tothis exhibit, we made many unexpected

the many “Comfort Women” archive

discoveries, and we hope that you will

centers which have been opening one

have the opportunity to come by ourafter another in Korea, Taiwan, China,

museum and take a look at the exhibit.

and elsewhere. We have also been

http://wam-peace.org/en/

continuing our efforts to engage with

2-3-18 Nishiwaseda,international organizations; this March,

Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0051

the U.N. Committee on the Elimination

AVACO.bld 2Fof

Tel: +81 (03) 3202 4633

Discrimination

been

againstWomen
2

Fax: +81 (03) 3202 4634

Kokoro members sometimes guide theE-mail: wam@wam-peace.org

tours.
For further information, please look at
our HP. → http://www.npokokoro.com/

Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource
Center (Kokoro)
Director: Fumiko Isihoka
Kokoroisengaging

in

The 9th anniversary of YPM (Yamanashi

educational

Peace Museum)activities using Holocaust resources such

Director: Tamotsu Asakawa

as “Hana’s Suitcase”, “Chiune Sugihara”,[Recent News]“Anne Frank”, etc.

It has been nine years since YPM was
opened in May, 2007. We’re going to have

[A New Publication]

the general meeting and the anniversary

Fumiko Ishioka, Hiroto Oka, Walking

lecture by Hisae Sawachi, a nonfiction

along Holocaust Memories － Guide forwriter, in June 19th.

considering the past and looking toward

lecture is “Learning the past and living in

the future, Kodomono-mirai-sya (Pub.

the present.”

The title of theChildren’s future).
We’ve held the special exhibition from
Walking in the cities of Europe, welast autumn “The reality of the War

occasionally see Holocaust monuments

through experiences in the Battlefields”,

which look like just modern arts. Theyas the 70th anniversary after the war.

are next to the park where people are

We’re going to have another exhibition

relaxed, on the roadside, or by the“Considering the Constitution of Japansightseeing spot. We have discovery andand Constitutionalism” from June 4th.

hope there, wishing that the negative

The current “Abe cabinet” railroaded

history will not be faded away. We

security bills through the diet, which

published a guidebook around Berlin,

most

Amsterdam,

constitution considered unconstitutional.

Auschwitz,

andJapan,

visiting various “shapes of memory”.

of

the

scholars

majoringtheIt can be said that Japan is in peril oflosing constitutionalism now.

[Study Tours for University Students]
We biannually recruit the participants to

The problem is how we take current

Study

Main

situations and issues. Our exhibition isdestinations are Poland, Czechoslovakia,

prepared in order to study them deeply

German ／ Austria,

from historical and international points

Tours

to

Auschwitz.
andAmsterdam.
3

of view. The contents are as follow.

Professor Junosuke Yasukawa was the[Panel Exhibition]

invited1. danger of security bills and losing“Rethinking Fukuzawa Yukichi.”lecturer,

who

talkedabout

constitutionalism
2. learning what constitutionalism is

Because3. the progress of constitutionalism inanniversary of the end of the war, we

modern Japan

year

was

the

70th

welcomed China’s CCTV, Kitsurin TV,

4. the process of the establishment ofand Hong Kong Phoenix TV for an

the Constitution of Japan
5. 70 years along with the Constitutionof Japaninterview.

NHK andreporters

national

newspapers

also

from

visited.

Furthermore, graduate students from

6. the significance and international

both inside and outside the country

value of Article 9
7. criticizing

visitedtheconstitutional

severalmuseum.

One

Chinesethe ARC.

[Display and Comparison]of

ourstudent donated his Master’s thesis on

amendments of L.D.P.

articleslast

On the 21st and 22nd of May 2015, wenewspapers

helped China Association for Friendshiparound Sep. 19th, 2015

toorganizethesymposium

entitled“Without forgetting the pain of the war –This

exhibition

November

15th.

will

be

held

until

everlasting peace in our mind”. Our

We welcome your visit

Executive Board Director, Mr. Takao

and conveying your opinions.

Matsumura, Executive Board Members,
Mr. Takashi Ishida and Mr. Toshiro
Kojima, Professors Zhang Hong-bo and

Association for Returnees from China

Fujio Ogino also gave a talk at thePeace Museum

symposium. The family members of the

Nobuo Serizawa, Executive Director &deceased member of the ARC Mr. Takao

Executive Board Member

Kojima,Tetsuichi

KaheitaOkazakiKamitsubo,
also

attendedandtheWe have been holding study meetings

symposium. 21 Japanese and 28 Chinese“Learning

attendees were counted.

from

the

Associationfor

Returnees from China” after our board
meeting, which is held 3 times a year.

We will celebrate our 10th anniversary

This is open to the public, and the latest

this fall. The celebration event at Westastudy meeting was held on May 22.

Kawagoe will be held on November 13th.
4

We will continue to strive to pass on theand become interested in the issue. We

sad facts of the war.

also talk to any groups of citizens, so wegive a talk more than 600 times a year.

Please visit the Association for Returnees
from China Peace Museum webpage at

On the other hand, we also have many

http://npo-chuukiren.jimdo.com/

andproblems such as the aging of the facility,atdeterioration of the ship and the engine,

Nobuo

Serizawa’s

homepage

http://serinobu.jimdo.com/.

which

is

displayedoutside.

Daigo

Fukuryu Maru Peace Association iscommissioned to operate the exhibition
hall by Tokyo’s local government, so wehave been having meetings with thembut things do not move quickly.
Daigo Fukuryu Maru will celebrate its
70th birthday next year. It is the only
wooden ship that survived, which was
Daigo Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon

made during the post-war era in theNo.5) Display House

midst of the struggle. We would like to

Kazuya Yasuda, Chief Curator

cherish it as our industrial cultural

We celebrated our 40th anniversary in

heritage as well as the peace monument

June. 5.3 million people have visited ourin the nuclear era.

exhibition hall so far. We have renewed
parts of the exhibition “calendar of

Our association published a memorial

nuclear weapons testing” and “History ofnewsletter

Daigo Fukuryu Maru Museum”, which

Exhibition Hall – 40 years of history”,

were prepared for the 50th anniversary ofwhich includes a calendar of nuclear

the atomic bombing.

testing.

“DaigoFukuryu

Maru

It’s been 62 years since the Bikini Atoll
nuclear testing, which means that mostKawasaki City Peace Museumof the people do not know about theincident. I feel that it is important to talk

From June 6 to July 18, 2016, it is open

tofrom 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

theschoolchildrenandcollegestudents who visit us so that they can

A Series of Special Exhibits: Watching

think about the issue of nuclear weapons

the society from a Peace Studies Point of
5

View

Kanagawa Prefectural Kanagawa Sogo

Part 1 “Let’s think about a system of aHigh Schoolsociety, in which anyone wants to live.”

Yokohama Municipal Yokohama Science

What is “a society you want to live in”

Frontier High School, Student Volunteers

like? Is it a society without war, poverty,

Ferris Jogakuin University, Dr. Masaki

or discrimination? Or a society where

Yokoyama’s seminar

every child can grow happily?

KeisenJogakuen

University,

Dr.

Kiyotaka Takahashi’s seminar
As the special project in fiscal 2016, fourMore information:consecutive series of exhibits are planned

http://www.city.kawasaki.jp/250/page/000

as the title shown above.

0077607.html

The first

exhibit of the series focuses on “What isthe concept of peace studies?” “What is asocial system in which no one is excluded

Three Years since the Inauguration of

like?”

Manmo Kaitaku Peace Memorial“Howsustainablecanpeace?”

we

maintain
“What

is

a
a

Vice president: Hidefumi TERASAWA

democratic system like to realize such apeaceful society?”

This year marks the third anniversary of
the Manmo Kaitaku Heiwa Kinenkan

Samples of “A society I hope to live in”(Peaceproposed by students of junior highDevelopment

school, high school and college are also on

Mongolia) which was launched in April in

display.

2013 as the only private museum devoted
toMemorialofMuseumofManchuria

Manchuria-Mongolia

the
and

development

On July 28, a related workshop by

policy in wartime. At the remote place in

Professor

Kathy

Seisenthe mountains of Nagano, we had more

Women’s

University“A peacethan 30,000 visitors in the first year andlesson: Let’s re-think about democracy forthis year allows only 10% decrease in thea peaceful society” will be held.

Thisnumber despite not a few voices that it

event is supported by Peace Studies

was impossible to manage such a small

Association of Japan.

museum specialized to the exceptional

Matsuititledoftheme. During the years, the museum
The following groups participated in

was featured by media several times due

making the exhibits:

to the 70th anniversary of the war end,

Kawasaki Municipal Fujimi Junior High

which could thankfully lead to spread of

Schoolthe6historyofManchuria-Mongoliadevelopment that had been likely to be

The photographer set foot in the world of

avoided as an “inconvenient history.” Thenews photograph with works recording

museum has won approval for being a

the families suffering from Atomic-bomb

nonbiased organization confronting bothdiseases over ten years after the war. He

aspects of the development that wascaptured the turbulent era from various

actually involvement in aggression. As aperspectives such as Zenkyoto (university

private organization, we can only rely on

coalition)

admission fee and have a financial

contention over Narita Airport, Selfpressure but we would like to take

Defense Forces and weapons industry or

advantage of it without any regulations ofenvironmental issues. His photos taken

contents or expression and continue tobased on his belief not to give in toshare the historical fact from common

authority convey the path of postwar

people’s view and in plain words. The

Japan and remained issues of the nation.

storytellers, some of who were at the

The exhibition consisted of the photodevelopment squad in those years, share

panels he made by himself, which has

story of their experiences at the regularbeen shown in over 700 venues so far.

movement,

Sanrizuka

gathering of the museum. While their
number, however, has decreased because

From 3 through 25 June, 2016, we heldof the aging, more people from post-war

WORLDgeneration are participating as morecommemoration, Dr. Erik Somers (thevolunteer groups have been formed and

NIOD, Netherlands Institute for War,

now that we take into our heart that we

Holocaust and Genocide Studies) gave amust hand on the experiences to the next

lecture titled “How to Convey War

generation.

orMemory to Future Generations: Roles ofold-Manchuria to hear from Chinese

Photographs” on 10 June. Dr. Erikpeople last autumn, and we will continue

Somers is a history researcher at theto make an effort to gather and analyze

Netherlands Institute for War, Holocaust

more information.

and Genocide Studies in Amsterdam. He

Wevisited

China

PRESS

PHOTO

16.

For

has written a book on history andmemory of the WWII and organized
Kyoto

Museumfor

World

Peace:

exhibitions at various museums on the

Ritsumeikan University

history of the WWII. His lecture was

From April 23 through May 29, 2016, we

focusing on the role of photographs that

held

News

can visualize the past, as the witness of

Fukushima”

the war has decreased these days and it

KYOTOGRAPHIE.

is necessary to think about how and whatanexhibition

photographer
collaborating

Kikujiro
with“WILL:

7

is exhibited at museums.

of perpetration and war relic of Kochi”

For more information, please visit our(Nov.10. Keizo Idehara).

homepage.

In the wake of the borrowing, the director

http://www.ritsumei.ac.jp/mng/er/wp-musof Unit731 Museum, Mr. Kim Sung Min

eum/event/index.html

and other three came to Kochi for fivedays from March 26th to interview oldmember of Unit 543 (Hailar branch ofGrassroots House Peace Museum: Kochi

Unit731) and to attend a lecture meeting

Secretariat: Ai ABE“Unit731 and Sino-Japanese war” that is

The Museum of Art, Kochi held anarranged by Grassroots House. There

exhibition “Kochi and War: learning fromwere more than 180 visitors on March 29

photos” from 8 through 16 December,

who attended the lecture “Incriminating2015. The exhibition included “Unit731

statement of Unit731 and historical issue”

and Kochi,” “Battle of Okinawa and Kochi”

by Mr. Kim and peace dialogue between

and “Victims of Kochi,” which were

the directors of two museums. On the lastcollected over twenty years by theday,assistant director of Grass Roots House

collaborate for historical research with

Peace Museum Ms. Chisa Okamura, as

trust and friendship and signed for awell as “Now in Fukushima.” Borrowing

cooperation

rare materials and panels from The

member of Grassroots House will visit

Unit731 Museum in Harbin, China and a

the Uit731 Museum in Harbin from 11 to

NPO “Gamafuyah” that gathers bones

16,

left in the Battle of Okinawa, theofficially.

the

June

two

museums

agreement.

tocompleteagreed

Then,

the

to

the

contract

exhibition was successfully substantial
and profound. We had more than 1590

The Grass Roots House is now preparing

visitors. The exhibition was launched byfor “2016 Peace Wave in Kochi” in which

staff members of Grass Roots House andindividuals and groups in the prefecture

students of Kochi University last July.

organize an event for peace from June

They prepared for the exhibition, having

through August every year. This year’s

multiple meetings or small workshops

festival includes more than 10 events andincludingofstarts with the 34th Star Festival for

15-year war: Kochi people opposed to thePeace on June 25. The festival waswar” (Sep.2. Masahiro Okamura), “Bornfeatured on the local newspaper Kochi

and live in old Manchuria” (Sep.30.

Shimbun last year, and a large number ofHiroshi Ota), “Unit 731 and Kochi”

paper cranes were sent from the citizens(Oct.19. Keisuke Okamura) and “History

which made us happily spend for hours“Victimizer

andvictim8

stringing them together. From July 13
through 18, we will hold thealso attracts more attention in Japanese

38thsociety.

exhibition for contemplating war andpeace, which is focused on the old 44

It was a remarkable event for us toinfantry army sent from Asakura, Kochi.

welcome professor Su Kyung Park of

For details and more information on the

Pusan National University, Institute ofother events, please visit our blog.

Humanities

http://blog.livedoor.jp/kusanoie/

researcher in February and March. She
gaveaResearch

lecture

as

about

a

visiting

her

thesis“Ideological change of Nagasaki, The City
Oka

Masaharu

Memorial,

Nagasakiof “Prayer” –Peace Museumfrom Takashi Nagai to

Masaharu Oka”.

By Director Yasutoshi Takazane
Thismuseummarkedthe20th

In addition to the present exhibit about

anniversary of its foundation in Octoberthe2015. To confirm its raison d’ être andsuggested that it too is important tomission, we invited Dr. Sung So of

display about Japanese victims of the

RitsumeikanaPeace Preservation Law. Following hiscommemorative lecture titled “What is

advice, we organized a lecture meeting

East Asia? – Japan’s invasion into Asia

titled “The Peace Preservation Law andand hegemony”.

Present” in April in cooperation with the

University

to

give

foreignvictims,

Dr.

Sung

So

Nagasaki branch of the Union of Claim
Since Hashima Island or Gunkanjima

for

was

Victims of the Peace Preservation Law.

placed

on

the

World

CulturalGovernment

Compensation

Heritage List in July 2015, the number of

Website:visitors and reporters who visit us,

http://www.d3.dion.ne.jp/~okakinenforespecially from South Korea, has been
increasing. It shows that the issue ofrecognition of history is still hot. In

Nagasaki Peace Museum ~ Peace Sphere

March, the chairman of this museum wasand Gem Fire Movement ~asked by Japan Catholic’s Committee

An exhibition titled “Nagasaki Hyakunin

against Buraku Discrimination throughIsshu (one hundred tanka poems by one

Human-Rights Approaches to give ahundred poets) edited by Masakazu

lecture named “A view of Modern Japan:

Miyagawa” was held from May 24th to

through Hashima Island”. It can be said

June 19th.

that the issue of recognition of history
9

“Exhibition

ofColorful

Pictures:awhenever they faced the critical occasions.

collection of a group of painting lovers” isThirteen of them lost their lives.

being held from June 21st to July 18th.
For

more

information,visit

At present, since the current of the times

http://www.nagasakips.com/archives/cateseems to sweep us to war again, wegory/subscription/english

believe that it is important for us to

TEL： 095-818-4247

review the Himeyuri Corps teachers’
experiences. It is worth visiting foranyone. A booklet “The teachers who led

Himeyuri

Heiwa

Kinen

Museumthe Himeyuri Student Corps” was also

(Himeyuri Peace Museum)

published.

By Curator Katsumi Maedomari
We held special educational courses for
A special exhibition “The teachers whopeace tour guides and bus tour guides on

led the Himeyuri Student Corps” started

March 14th and 28th, for school teachers,

on December 22nd, 2015 to commemorate

on March 27th. The more people fromthe 70th anniversary of the end of WWII.

various backgrounds tell the story of

When it comes to the Himeyuri students,

Himeyuri Student Corps, the more theit is natural for us to focus on theyounger generation has a chance to think

students of Himeyuri Student Corps.

about what wars are like and what

However, there were eighteen teachers

happens when wars break out.

who guided the students to join the battle.
The age of the teachers was fromOne year has passed since we started atwenties to fifties. Some had started

course of “Peace lectures by the next

teaching right after graduating fromgeneration”, which aims to pass down theuniversities and others were experienced;

firsthand experiences of the Himeyuri

one of the veteran teachers wrote a letter

Student Corps’ survivors. In addition toto his family, who had evacuated away

the films of the survivors’ witnesses, thefrom Okinawa, to give suggestions for

lecturers outline the Himeyuri Student

their future life after his death.

Corps and the history of the Battle ofThe

teachers

might

have

been

Okinawa. The survivors’ thoughts after

responsible to the victims for their

the war ended are also shared in theleadership. It was true that meeting thelectures.

needs of the times, they joined the battlewith their students. However, they madeThe participants left their impressions

decisionssuch as “The lecturer gave me a different

toprotect

theirstudents
10

view from the survivors’ stories, whichmarine killed a local woman. Under theadded new aspects to what I have already

U.S. military occupation, how many

known”.

children

and

women

have

been

victimized? Now the anger of the people
This year we are planning to give peacein Okinawa has reached the limits of its

lectures for visitors in general and special

endurance. A large scale rally of moreworkshops for school teachers.

than 100 thousand participants from all

Tel: 098-997-2100 Fax:098-997-2102

over Okinawa will be carried out on June

http://www.himeyuri.or.jp

19th.
Recently, we have visitors from all over

Fukutsu-kan ―Museum of Kamejiro

Japan. The exhibition focuses on the

Senaga and the People’s History

post-war history of Okinawa. Above all, it

By Director Chihiro Uchimura

highlights the struggles of the local
people

who

have

been

persistently

On March 1, 2016 Fukutshu-kan marked

protesting against oppression under thethe third anniversary of its foundation.

U.S. military rule. The museum director

Since the opening, we have organized agives a lecture to the visitors.

variety of events such as lecture meetingsand special exhibitions. This year, as its

Since Abe government took power, thethirdanniversaryaspecialcrackdown

photographer

Bunyomovement has been getting worse. The

Ishikawa was held. Consecutive threemuseum provides and sells materials ofdays lectures were also organized.

both past and up-to-date events and facts.

exhibitionofevent,

onananti-U.S.

base

We will keep making efforts as a unique
June 23rd is “Memorial Day” of Okinawa.

museum which specializes in post-war

To commemorate it, a special exhibition

history of Okinawa. We are lookingof news photographer Hiroaki Oshiro isforward to many visitors.

expected. He has long been recording theTel: 098-943-8374, Fax: 098-943-8375

life of the Okinawan people, who haveWebsite:been suffering from the aftereffects of the

http://senaga-kamejiro.com/about.html

Battle of Okinawa. He is also planning to

Email: info@senaga-kamejiro.com

give a lecture at the gallery.
On May 20th this year, another tragedy

Sakima Art Museum: Okinawa

happened in Okinawa. A former U.S.

From May 11th to July 18th, a special
11exhibition of Georges Rouault’s block

It was the first war exhibition held by theprint works was held along with thelocal museum.

standing exhibition of “Okinawa Panels”

Tel＆ Fax：0143-88-1339

by Iri and Toshi Maruki.

http://www.city.noboribetsu.lg.jp/docs/201
4120800042/

Frenchpainter,GeorgesRouault(1871~1958), is regarded as one of the

Muroran City Folk Museum: Hokkaido

greatest artists in the 20th century. Using
bold and black lines with brilliant colors,

A special exhibition on war and peace

he created his own spiritual world.

was held from August 1 to Oct. 4. About

TEL 098-893-5737 FAX 098-893-6948

150 artifacts on war damage were

Website: http://sakima.jp

exhibited such as US air raids ofE-mail: info@sakima.jp

Muroran, etc.
Tel：0143-59-4922 Fax：0143-59-3715
http://www.city.muroran.lg.jp/main/org1400/documents/2015_08p2-3.pdf

Aomori Modern Literature Museum:
Aomori City
Special Exhibition of WWII
as the 70th Anniversary in 2015

A special exhibition on writers in Aomori

Masahiko Yamabe

before and during WWII was held from
July 18 to Sep. 23, 2015. Five writers

The following articles are summarized insuch as Osamu Dazai were introduced

English for non-Japanese readers.

such as their manuscripts and magazines.
There was also a special exhibition on

Noboribetsu

City

Local

Museum&literature in Aomori after WWII and

Culture Museum: Hokkaido

Aomori’s reconstruction in October 2015.
Tel：017-739-2575

There was a special exhibition on war

http://www.plib.pref.aomori.lg.jp/top/mus

and Noboribetsu from July 17 to Sep. 23

eum/

in 2015.

72 articles related to WWII

donated by citizens were exhibited such

Sannohe History & Folk Museum

as remains of three soldiers, records ofwomen’s association, war damage, etc.

An exhibition on war memory through12artifacts was held from July 18 to Aug. 30

Tel＆ Fax：0194-78-2938

in 2015. Tools in life used during WWII

http://nodamurafan.jp/event/41246/

were exhibited and it was possible tounderstand the background of the time.

Sendai City Reconstruction Memorial

Tel：0179-22-2739 Fax：0179-20-1102

from War Damage: Miyagi

http://town.sannohe.aomori.jp/wordpress
There

was

an

exhibitionon

Hachinohe Clinic Machikado Museum：reconstruction from war damage during

AomoriWWII on July 3-12 in 2015.
Tel：022-263-6931

A photo exhibition was held from July 11

Fax：022-262-5465

http://www.hm-sendai.jp/sisetu/sensai/

to Sept. 6 in 2015. Old photos on urban
districts, people’s life and communities

Akita City Aburaya Collection: Akita

were displayed.
Tel：0178-32-7737

There was an exhibition on life during

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/machikado/enjoy/

WWII from June 25 to Aug. 30 in 2015.
Exhibited were newspaper, posters, andMorioka Letter Museum: Iwate

articles used during the war.
Tel：018-893-4981 Fax：018-893-4982

Old

lettersfrombattlefields

wereexhibited from June 23 to Oct. 19.

http://aburaya-collection.or.jp/

It

was not possible for soldiers to write
letters freely because of censorship, but

Tsuchiura City Museum: Ibaragi

the situation during World War II andtheir love to family is expressed in their

There was an exhibition on war memory

letters.

in Tsuchiura from Oct. 24 to Dec. 6 in

Tel：019-604-3302

2015.

http://www.mfca.jp/tegami/jigyo

Tel：029-824-2928 Fax：029-824-9423
http://www.city.tsuchiura.lg.jp/page/pageNoda Village Library：Iwate

007772.html

A history exhibition was held from Aug. 7

Tochigi

Prefecture

to 31 in 2015. Former Noda Elementary

Utsunomiya City

Art

Museum:School was strafed by two US fighters
during WWII.

Real bullets, newspaper

There was an exhibition on art in thearticles, etc. were displayed.

1940s from Oct. 31 to Dec. 23 in 2015.
13

Many artists created art works glorifying

There

was

an

exhibition

on

WWII, but their attitude and art works

reconstruction after WWII from Oct. 31 towere changed after Japan’s defeat in

Dec. 13 in 2015.

1945.

such as Torahiko Terada and Kafu Nagai

Tel：028-621-3566

were exhibited as well as materials on

http://www.art.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/

conscription, diaries, works by Osamu

Well known writers

Tezuka, etc.
Tel：03-3818-7221

Oi Local Museum: Saitama

https://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/rekishikan/
There was an exhibition on life during

event/images/icn_tenji_tokubetsu.gif

WWII from Oct. 3 to Dec. 6 in 2015.
Articles on education during the war, an

Setagaya Literature Museum: Tokyo

arms factory, preparation for US air raids,
women’s life, etc. were displayed.

An exhibition on writers 70 years after

Tel：049-263-3111、Fax：049-263-3091

WWII was held from Oct. 10 in 2015 to

http://www.city.fujimino.saitama.jp/doc/2

April 3 in 2016. How writers described

014102500014/

big changes before and after WWII wasdisplayed.
Tel：03-5374-9111 Fax：03-5374-9120

Toshima Ward Local Museum: Tokyo

http://www.setabun.or.jp/exhibition/collec
tion.html

Anexhibition

on

black

marketin

Ikebukuro and reconstruction after WWII

Koganei City Cultural Treasure Center:

was held on Sept. 14 - Nov. 29 in 2015.

Tokyo

About 1200 shops called black market
were created after the end of WWII.

An exhibition on life during WWII was

While they were regarded as the dark

held from Nov. 3 to Dec. 20 in 2015.

side of the devastated society, they

Mementos by a suicide unit from Koganei

supported

were exhibited as well as materials usedpeople’s

life

and

reconstruction.

during the war.

Tel：03-3980-2351

Tel：042-383-1198

http://www.city.toshima.lg.jp/129/bunka/b

http://www.city.koganei.lg.jp/kakuka/shog

unka/shiryokan/oshirase/2015aki.html

aigakushubu/syougaigakusyuuka/siryou/
bunnkazaikakari/bunkazaisenta.html

Bunkyo Local History Museum: Tokyo14

An exhibition on citizens’ life during andafter WWII was exhibited from Oct. 6 toKodaira City Kodaira Local

Dec. 6 in 2015.

Village: Tokyo

Many munitions

factories were built in Fuchu, a suburb ofTokyo during the war. Confused social

An exhibition on life during WWII was

situation and citizens’ life was displayed

held from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15 in 2015.

using official records.

Records glorifying war and articles used

Tel：042-335-4393

in daily life were exhibited.

https://www.city.fuchu.tokyo.jp/bunka/ibe

Tel：042-345-8155

nto/bunka/MemoryOfWarInFuchu2_2nd.

http://kodaira-furusatomura.jp/

html

Fax：042-360-4401

Old Tama Seiseki Memorial: Tokyo

Mitaka City Public Hall Sansan Museum

There was an exhibition of Tama Seiseki

An exhibition related to WWII in Mitaka

Memorial from Oct. 24 to Dec. 14 in 2015.

City was held from Aug. 11 to 15 in 2015.

It was possible to know about old

Old letters, photos, etc. kept at Citizens’

exhibition memorial during WWII andhouses were displayed.

Tama City.

Tel：0422-29-9868P Fax: 0422-43-6146

Tel：042-337-0900 Fax：042-337-0900

http://mitaka.jpn.org/kokaido/

http://www.city.tama.lg.jp/shisetsu/17997/019230.html

Takushoku University: Tokyo

Hino City Local Museum: Tokyo

There was an exhibition on students who
were sent to battlefields and killed during

A peace exhibition was held from Oct. 10

WWII from Nov. 2 to 27 in 2015. Photos

in 2015 to Jan. 11in 2016.

and films on students were shown.

Articlesrelated to life during WWII, soldiers sent

Tel：03-3947-7140

tohttps://www.u-presscenter.jp/modules/bul

battlefields,

children,

etc

were

displayed.

letin/index.php?page=article&storyid=87

Tel：042-592-0981 Fax：042-594-191549

http://www.city.hino.lg.jp/museum/
Chuo University: Tokyo
Furusato Fuchu History Museum: Tokyo

There was an exhibition on war and Chuo
University from Oct. 13 to 25. A student
15

made a song of sorrow at parting because

An exhibition on Sumo and war was held

students were sent to battlefields to befrom Oct. 20 to Dec. 18 in 2015. Sumo

killed in action.

wrestlers were also sent to battlefields

graduation

This song is sung at

ceremony

today.

Itisduring war against China, Russia, WWI

important for students to appreciate thatand WWII.

they can study in a peaceful society.

Tel: 03-3622-0366

Chuo

http://www.sumo.or.jp/sumo_museum/dis

University

contributed

todemocracy after the end of WWII such asplay/list

opening the university to women in 1946
and also education by correspondence inSenshu1948.

Kanagawa

A symposium and an exhibition

University:

KawasakiCity,

on “WWII and Chuo University” were
held on October 21 in 2015, the day when

There was an exhibition on Senshu

the ceremony was held for students sent

University and students who were sent toto battlefields in 1943.

battlefields from Nov. 6 to Dec. 5 in 2015.

Tel：042-674-2050

Since students majoring social science

http://www.chuo-u.ac.jp

were sent to battlefields, most of thestudents

Hosei University: Tokyo

were

sent

from

SenshuUniversity.
Tel:03-3265-5879 Fax：03-3265-5923

An exhibition on students who were sent

http://www.senshu-u.ac.jp/univguide/hist

to battlefields was held from Nov. 16 to 21

ory/museum/_14413.html

in 2015.

A Peace Monument made ofstone was built in 1995. A peace rally

Meiji University: Noborito PE Museum

was held on Nov. 21 in front of themonument and participants watched theThere is Noborito Institute Museum for

exhibition and also listened to lectures on

Peace Education at Meiji University. An

students who were sent to battlefields

exhibition on Noborito Institute was heldfrom Hosei University.

from Aug. 5 2015 to March 26 2016.

Tel：03-3264-6502 Fax：03-3264-6504

Balloon bombs, toxic weapons, biological

http://daigakushi.ws.hosei.ac.jp/index.ht

weapons, fake money were made andml#hpb-container

used in battlefields.

The institute wastaken over by US military after Japan’s
defeat. Evidence was destroyed to cover
Sumo Museum: Tokyo

facts,

which

exhibition.
16

wasdisplayedattheTel: 044-934-7993

using photo panels from Aug. 1 to Sept.

http://www.meiji.ac.jp/noborito/index.htm

27 in 2015.

l

Tel：052-442-8522
http://www.city.ama.aichi.jp/event/3353/0
Sanjo City History & Folk Industry

05725.html

Museum in Niigata
Higashiura
An exhibition on life during WWII was

Town

Local

Museum:Unohana Museum in Aichi

held from Aug. 11 to Sep. 13 in 2015.
Sanjo City was not air raided by US

There was an exhibition on war andbombers, but people were mobilized topeace from Oct. 21 to Nov. 29 in 2015.

work for military industry and their life

There was not a big air raid by US

was hard.

bombers in Higashiura town, but about

Tel：0256-33-4446

Fax：0256-33-7060

1600 men were sent to battlefields andhttp://www.city.sanjo.niigata.jp/shougaig

400 soldiers were killed.

akushu/rekimin/page00080.html

Tel：0562-82-1188
http://higashiura-guide.jimdo.com/

Nagano Library: Nagano

Mie Prefecture Library: Tsu City

There was an exhibition on materials

There was an exhibition on literature insuch

as books, newspaper, magazine,

Mie from Oct. 10 to Nov. 15 in 2015.

etc. that were prohibited to publish

Books and manuscripts by well known

because of censorship during WWII fromwriters such as Ranpo Edogawa and Kozo

Aug. 1 to Sep. 13 in 2015. There was no

Takeuchi were displayed as well as

freedom of speech during the war, but

novels, poetry, haiku, etc.

this is not a matter of the past because

Tel：059-233-1181 Fax：059-233-1191

freedom of speech is in danger today.

http://www.library.pref.mie.lg.jp/associati

Tel：026-228-4500 Fax：026-228-4933

on/exhibition/index.htm

http://www.library.pref.nagano.jp/

Ama

City

Miwa

History&

Folk

Museum: Aichi

Shiga Prefecture Peace Memorial

There was an exhibition on war and life

There was an exhibition on air raids by17

US bombers and evacuation from Oct. 3

25 2015 to Jan. 10 2016. An emphasis

to Dec. 20 in 2015.

was put on human rights of prisoners of

put

on

12,000An emphasis waschildren

who

were

war. There was a lecture on Japanese

evacuated from Osaka City to Shiga

POWs on Dec. 10.

There was also a

Prefecture.

lecture on the role of IHL on Dec. 17.

Tel：0749-46-0300 Fax：0749-46-0350

Tel：075-753-3274 Fax：075-753-3277

http://www.pref.shiga.lg.jp/heiwa/heiwam

http://www.museum.kyoto-u.ac.jp

useum/
Shiorian: Kyoto City
Higashikonoe Oodako Hall: Shiga
There was an exhibition on kimono which
There was an exhibition on war during

glorifies war from March 11 2015. It is

WWII from Oct. 29 to Nov. 30 in 2015.

possible to see war propaganda in

Exhibited were toys, cards, coloring books,

kimono.

etc. (63 kinds of toy: 516 articles)

Tel：075-241-0215 Fax：075-241-0265

Tel:0748-23-0081 Fax:0748-23-1860

http://shiori0an.com/

http://oodako.net/
Himeji City Peace Museum: Hyogo
Joyo City History & Fold Museum(Gori Museum): Kyoto

There was an exhibition on Himeji before,
during and after WWII such as downtown

There was an exhibition on Joyo City andbefore the war, the results of the US air

war from Oct. 17 to Dec. 20 in 2015. The

raids of Himejim black markets after theexhibition was made of articles onwar, people’s life, etc.

soldiers, life during WWII, war and Joyo

Tel:079-291-2525 Fax:079-291-2526

City and war remains in Joyo City.

http://www.city.himeji.lg.jp/s50/heiwasiry

Tel: 0774-55-7611 Fax:0774-55-7612

o/_8293/_32761.html

http://www.city.joyo.kyoto.jp/rekishi/tokut
enn%20new.html

Kasai City Buried Cultural Properties
Archive: Hyogo

Kyoto University Comprehensive
Museum: Kyoto

There was an exhibition on life and war
from Aug. 12 2015 to March 31 2016.

There was an exhibition called “Living ｔ

Tel：0790-42-4401

hrough War like a Human Being” under

http://www.city.kasai.hyogo.jp/04sise/11os

the co-sponsorship of the ICRC from Nov.

ir/osir1508/osir150825b.htm
18

Fax：0790-42-4401

Nara University LibraryNaruo Library: Hyogo
There was an exhibition on WWII from
There was an exhibition on war memory

Jan 26 to March 21 in 2015. It was donein Nishinomiya from Aug. 7 to Sept. 2 infrom Japanese viewpoints by showing

2015.

Japanese flag sent to soldiers, etc.

Aug. 5 & 6 are the days when

Nishinomiya City was air raided by US

Tel: 0742-44-1251 Fax: 0742-41-0650

bombers.

http://library.nara-u.ac.jp/nara/21gou.pdf

Photos were displayed andvictims’ voices were shown in films.
Tel: 0798-45-5003

Tottori Prefecture Museum

https://tosho.nishi.or.jp/cgi-bin/cttcgi/info_back_content.cgi

There was an exhibition on Tottori and
WWII from Dec. 5 2015 to Jan. 11 2016.

Kobe University Library Archive:Warremains

Kobe City in Hyogo

There

were

were
also

introduced

lecturesonalso.
draft,

children’s evacuation, war remains and
There

was

an

exhibition

on

Kobe

popular songs during WWII.

University during WWII from Oct. 26 toTel：0857-26-8044 Fax：0857-26-8041

Nov. 6 in 2015.

http://site5.tori-info.co.jp/p/museum/exhi

Tel：078-803-5035

bition/planning/36/

http://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/NEWS/event/201
5_10_26_01.html

Tottori Prefecture Archives
There was an exhibition on children’s

Nara Prefecture Library & Information

evacuation during WWII from Aug. 11 toCenter: Nara City

31 2015.
Tel：0857-26-8160

There

was

an

exhibitiononUS

Fax：0857-22-3977

http://www.pref.tottori.lg.jp/251002.htm

Occupation Forces and Nara from Oct. 12015 to March 30 2016.

Photos on

Museum of Forest Izumo Yayoi

Japanese life taken by Americans weredisplayed.

There was an exhibition on citizens in

Tel：0742-34-2111 Fax：0742-34-2777

Izumo and WWII from Oct. 31 to Dec. 21

http://www.library.pref.nara.jp/collection_in 2015.

sentai/exhibition

war remains in Japan because they could
19

There were also lectures onplay important roles in peace education
after people who went through WWIIOgi City History Museum: Saga

passed away.
Tel：0853-25-1841

Fax：0853-21-6617

There was an exhibition on life during

http://www.city.izumo.shimane.jp/www/co

WWII in Ogi City from July 11 to Sep. 6

ntents/1244161923233/index.html

2015.
Tel：0952-73-8809 Fax：0952-71-1145

Hiroshima City Local Libraryhttps://www.city.ogi.lg.jp/main/17931.htm
lThere was an exhibition on citizens in
Hiroshima and WWII from Oct. 17 2015
to Jan 11 2016.

Miyagi Prefecture Archives: Miyagi

Tel ： 082-253-6771

Fax：082-253-6772

There was an exhibition on life during

http://www.cf.city.hiroshima.jp/kyodo/htm

WWII and Miyagi from July 21 to Aug. 31

l/00top/topfrm.htm

in 2015.

Tel ： 0985-26-7003

Fax ：0985-28-8760
Nokonoshima Island Park:

http://www.pref.miyazaki.lg.jp/somu/kan

Fukuoka City

ko/bunka/20150723181137.html

There was an exhibition on soldiers’

Okinawa Peace Memorial Museum

letters to their families during WWII
from August 2015.

There was an exhibition on Okinawans in

Tel：092-881－2494

Taiwan and the Philippines before andhttp://www.fukuokabrand.com/bbs_datas/

during WWII from Oct. 9 to Dec. 10 indetail/415

2015.

People in Okinawa had a hardtime during WWII and Okinawans in
Zenrin Map Museum: Fukuoka

Taiwan and the Philippines also had a
hard time.

There was an exhibition on war damage

There

in maps from July 21 2015 to March 31“Okinawa

2016. An emphasis was put on Tokyo,

Constitution: Okinawa under the rule of

Nagoya, Osaka and North Kyushu.

US and Human Rights” from Dec. 4 2015

Tel：093-592-9082

to Feb 14 2016.

http://www.zenrin.co.jp/mapgallery/speci

Tel：098-997-3844

al.html

http://www.peace-museum.pref.okinawa.j
p/
20

was

also

an

without

exhibition
theonJapanese

Fax：098-997-3947

morale. Those who had severe burns had

Special Article

never been treated, and the survivors had
to see their slow agonizing deaths.

US Flyer POWs Revisited & Met Locals
by Yukako Ibuki: US-Japan Dialogue on

Mr. Scott Downing(96), the Nose GunnerPOWsof the B29 Mary Anne II, had been
downed in the fields of Inzai-city, Chiba

From Dec. 6 to 14, 2015, five ex-US flyer

Prefecture, came over with his son Stu.

POWs revisited Japan as the seventh

He said, “A Japanese died.” Mr. Yogorogroup of invitees through the “Grass

Saitoh(92), who lost his father in the

Route Invitation of the US POWs forblast of the crash, stepped forward andPeace and Exchange” by the Minister of

shook hands with him, and smiled gently.

Foreign Affairs of Japan. Besides the

Scott said, “You are my friend.” He told toofficial visits to Minister of FA, US

reporters, “I have nothing to forgive.

Ambassador Kenney and so on, they

Being concerned, now I’m all right.”

visited the Center for Tokyo Raids andOn their visit to the Center on Dec. 9, I

War

in

entered the Exhibit Room with Mr. Fiske

Ameyoko-cho, and made an overnight

Hanley(96), who had been engaged in thetrip, in three groups, to their crash points,

Great Bombing of Tokyo on March 9-10,

meeting the locals survivors of those

1945, and Ms. Haruyo Nihei, a witness ofdays.

the Center. I introduced Haruyo that she

Damages,

Peace

Park

survived at the bottom of a pile of charredThose

flyersPOWs

beenbodies, being encouraged by his father

engaged in Indiscriminate Bombings of

who was over her. She was eight. Mr.

Citizens had been told, “You are ‘Special

Hanley, who was 25, kept saying, “It was

POWs’ and, therefore, are not qualified tobad! Bad, bad!” At the entrance of thereceive protection as POWs.” Most ofroom was displayed the incendiary bombthem had been held squashed in thewith illustrated explanation. He himself

wooden ‘stable’ of the Tokyo Headquarter

told us in details. First, he thought theof Military Police along the moat intraining scenes photos of the Citizens

Otemachi. They were interrogated with

Fire Fighters as soldiers training for the

torture for the US-side information of

Final Battle on Japan Proper. However,bombings,

starvation,

after recognizing the difference by theirdarkness, insanity, at random crueluniform, his attitude towards the exhibit

violence by guards and dehydration: allbecame real intense. Looking at thewere threats to their humanity andphotos that were taken on March 10,

suffered

who

from

had

21

“Awful! I saw this from high up the sky,
but everywhere it was in frame.” Finallythey sat down side by side.
Haruyo: I’m Japanese, but I was always
afraid of the Kempei, the Military Police.
When I said, “I’m afraid of air raids!”,
they told me, “Never say that. You’ll be＊taken by the Kempei.” Mr. Hanley had
endured their torture, and we could meet

Mr. Hanley and Haruyo

like this today. I’m very glad about that.

＊Mr. Saitoh being introduced to Scott by
Director

Hanley : We are survivors, aren’t we? Are

MiyamotooftheCitizens

Activity Center of Inzai-city

you a Buddihist?
Haruyo(alittlesurprisedathisquestion) ： I’m not.
Hanley： I’m Christian. I don’t know ifMuseums for Peace Abroad

you are Buddhist or not, but the only God
up above saved us. Do you think why?

It is possible to know about museums forHaruyo : Why? In that sense, we are thepeace abroad on the INMP website, butsame, aren’t we?

here is news on Bradford Peace Museum.

They

both

keep

telling

their

war

(This is from its newsletter, so it is notexperiences, and tragedy and destruction

written here.)of war to next generations.

Birds & Trees Spirit by Pegge Patten

22

Publication
A Magician who became Santa Claus:
Dr. Kanai and his Friends by Yoichi

Bertha Von Suttner: A Life for Peace

Tsunashima and Painted by Yukiko Abe

by Brigitte Hamann

Nakanishu Shuppan in 2011

Japanese version published by Akashi
ShotenMr. AkioKanai, an optometrist and thepresident of Fuji Megane(glasses) and his

Bertha Von Suttner: A Life for Peace byfriends have been giving glasses to refugees,

Brigitte Hamann was translated into Japanese

which is much appreciated by them.

by Osamu Itoigawa, Mitsuo Nakamura andMorio Minami. Bertha von Suttner warned a

I could see! They smiled: Glasses todisastrous war over 20 years before World War

Refugees- Akio Kanai’s Story by Yoichi

I and published a novel called Lay Down Your

Tsunashima. Published by Hakurosha

Arms! She was the first winner of the Nobel

in 2007

Peace Prize as a woman. The novel was alsotranslated into Japanese by Osamu Itoigawa,
Mitsuo Nakamura and others and its readers
Response to Muse Newsletter

waited for the publication on her life in

From Abroad

Japanese.

Dr. Peter van den Dungen and Dr. Erik
Somers of the NIOD (Institute for War,
Holocaust and Genocide Studies) sent
their impression on Muse newsletter
thanking

translators

whoJapanesenews

Englishvolunteer.

23

into

translateasaEditor’s Note

INFORMATION

Ikuro Anzai
9th INMP Conference to be held in

Mr.Masahiko Yamabe, one of the

Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK) in

editorial members of “Muse”, made acomprehensive

April 2017

surveyontheactivities of more than 200 museums
The 9th International Conference offor peace in Japan in commemoration

Museums for Peace will take placeof

10th-13th April 2017 in Belfast,

termination of WW2. He wrote a very

Northern Ireland.

If you aredetailed article of the result of his

interested in participating in it,

survey in Japanese version of Muse

please contact the INMP by Nov. 1.

33, which was very roughly outlined

http://www.museumsforpeace.org/prin this English version from page 12ojects/inmp-conferences/2017-belfas

to page 20. Yamabe suggested by his

t-northern-ireland.html

article that there are so many

If you have any difficulty in English,

folkloreplease contact the INMP Japan

museums, art museums, libraries,

Office:

etc.

the

70th

anniversary

museums,ofthehometown

other

than

Office.

museums”

which

TEL：075-741-7267

impressive exhibitions for peace in

FAX：075-741-7282

such commemorative occasions. He（In the afternoon on Mon., Wed.,

recently hints that he will not be able

Anzai

Science&Peace

so-calledorganize“peacevery

to make such an inclusive survey

and Friday）

because he has been getting old. We
will have to prepare successors ofpeace museum movement in Japanand elsewhere in order to further
developourverymeaningfulactivities for broadening culture ofpeace.

24