Halmoni Shares her Story- Osaka- Nov 28th/Kyoto Nov 29th

The Shogen Shukai (The Evidence Assocication) and the Kyoto division of the All-Japan organization to find a Proper Settlement for the Former Military Comfort Women invite "comfort women" from Asia to share their experiences with the people of Kansai every year. This year's guest will be survivor Ms. Kan Iltchul from Korea, who will bravely share her horrifying experience being coerced into becoming a war time "comfort woman" (ianfu) by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.

Ms. Kan Iltchul was born in 1928 and now lives in a small city near Seoul Korea in the "House of Nanumu (Sharing)." This house was founded in 1992 to be a safe place where former Korean "comfort women" could share their mutual experiences and support each other. Mr. Ippei Murayama, a young Japanese staff member working at the house will accompany her to Kansai. There will also be a movie screening at a different venue of My Heart Will Not Lose, a film about Sonshindo Halmoni, who was taken to China as a "comfort woman" She brought a lawsuit against the Japanese government for the atrocities committed against the "comfort women" during and around WWII.

The "comfort women" system was constructed during World War II as an explicit attempt to protect Japanese troops from venereal disease and shield women in conquered territories in Asia from rape by Japanese soldiers. The system would eventually enslave 50,000 to 200,000 women living in all parts of East Asia and Australasia to become victims of infectious disease and violence while not achieving any of the system's original objectives. Not all women sent overseas to serve the Japanese soldiers were abducted, however, once made a part of the forced prostitution system for the military, they were treated like indentured slaves based on a historical and institutional precedent marking women as second-class citizens. Towards the end of the war, "comfort women" were forced to provide free sex for kamikaze corps and to intercept telegraphs across enemy lines in the place of soldiers. Many "comfort women" were murdered because they were considered a liability or embarrassment if captured by the enemy. The Japanese government has yet to issue an official apology for the suffering that former "comfort women" faced and continue to deal with in their everyday lives.

Last year's events were haunted by the presence of extreme-right wing groups including Zaitokuka intent on disrupting the event and this year they have posted information on their website this year proclaiming "Let's pulverise the terrorists of the soul!"

Nov 28th, Sat. (Osaka)
Listen to the voices of the former "Comfort Women" and Settle the Issue in Law Now!
Host: Shogen Shukai (The Evidence Association)
● 2:00(open 1:30)～4:30pm (Japanese)
●1000yen (general)/500yen (students)/Free(all JH students and younger)
★Osaka Kitaku Center- Large Hall
Access: Right in front of JR Tenma Station, Subway Ogimachi
★In addition to the talk there will be a mini Concert by a Zainichi Duet!♪
◇Contact: 080-6185-9995
http://www.jca.apc.org/ianfu_ketsugi/index.html

Kyoto
Nov 29th, Sun.
All-Japan organization to find a Proper Settlement for the Former Military Comfort Women　（Kyoto Division)
● 2:00(open 1:30)～5:00pm (Japanese) sign language interpretation available.
● Large Meeting Room, Hitomachi Kouryuukan.
http://www.hitomachi-kyoto.jp/access.html
●500yen (general)/300yen (students)/Free(18 or younger; all HS, JH students)
●5:30pm～ Friendship meeting, at the same venue.
◇Contact:090-9981-6608
http://shogenkyoto.blog70.fc2.com/
welcomeharumoni@hotmail.com

Nov 28th, Sat and Nov 29th, Sun (Osaka)
Movie Screening: My Heart will not Lose
●11/28-7:30pm
●11/29- 11:00am
●500 yen
(proceeds will go towards the construction of a Women and War Human Rights Museum
★Day Center- Heartful Momodani (Map)

Actualize Ainu Self-determination Workshop @Kyoto Sunday, November 22nd- Featuring Kawamura Kenichi and Oki Dub Band member Kano Rumiko!

Pressured by the United Nations adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Japanese government is finally making a move to renew their policies about Ainu people. In deliberating these policies, it is paramount that the policies are not be decided in favor of Wajin, the majority Japanese, but rather understood as an issue of Ainu people’s self-determination. When it comes to the issues of Ainu people, shouldn’t Ainu people themselves be in charge of making decisions?

We have invited two Ainu guests from Yaunmosir (the island of Hokkaido) who have been active in various Ainu activities. We hope to learn and think deeply about the rights of indigenous people and the relationship between Japan and the Ainu people while also enjoying Ainu songs and dances.

Date: November 22^nd (Sunday)

Time: 17:30-20:00 (17:00 Open)

*There will be a dinner with the guests after the event. Please stay and socialize if you are interested.

Guest: Ainu rights advocate Mr. Sinrit-Eoripak-Ainu (Kawamura Kenichi) & Musiciaon Ms. Kano Rumiko (from the world reknowned Oki Dub Band)

SIMULTANEOUS ENGLISH TRANSLATION PROVIDED

Venue: Kazenone (7-2 Shimoyanagi-cho Tanaka Sakyo-ku Kyoto 606-8204)

Organized by Ainu-Okinawa wo Kangaeru Kai and other volunteers

Blog in Japanese: http://blog.namako.versus.jp/

email: ainu.okinawa@gmail.com

(Correspondence in English, Spanish, and Japanese. We will have a go at other languages)

Fee: 1000yen, 500yen (student discount, etc. please ask if you have special circumstances)

Below you'll find Sam Dreskin tagging the billboard displayed at Hyakumaben in front of Kyoto University.

The government has neglected to recognize the Ainu as indigenous people for years because recognizing their indigeneity means coming to terms with Japanese history, in particular, the Japanese colonization of the Ainu people and their land. This recognition comes in conflict with Japan’s desires for control over the distribution of resources, as confronting Japan’s colonial history comes part and parcel with providing apologies, compensation, and other rights.

The United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted in 2007 and it was publicly recognized in the eyes of international society that indigenous peoples around the world are entitled to indigenous rights. The declaration marks a breakthrough since Columbus’ colonization of the Americas- a global trend to revitalize collective indigenous rights.

In accordance with these international trends and pressures, the Japanese government recognized the Ainu people as indigenous people last year. The government has created a consultative body on Ainu issues and is in the midst of drafting new policies. However, their report is by no means satisfactory; although some constructive suggestions have been made, the report does not discuss the need for an apology and compensation for Ainu people.

Before discussing each policy recommendation, we have to ask why Wajin have the right to decide the future of the Ainu people. In the consultative body, there was only one Ainu representative. If Ainu people are not allowed to make decisions about their issues by themselves, if we look away from the issue of self-determination, then can we really assure the true revitalization of their rights?

Mao Ishikawa- The people living around the U.S. Bases in Okinawa November 7-14th.

Kaze no Ne is hosting a photo exhibition of Mao Ishikawa's photographs of Okinawan islanders living around the US Bases from November 7th to November 14th.*.

Okinawawan photographer Mao Ishikawa, and author of Okinawa Soul (pictured below) is known to be one of the first female photographers to break into to the male dominated field.

According to Eyecurious:

Mao Ishikawa grew up on the islands of Okinawa, which meant a childhood where the US military was a major and unavoidable presence. Speaking about her relationship with the American military, she has said, “I have two hearts in one body,” describing her love for American soldiers and hatred of the American government.

 The 50 photos displayed at the exhibitoin, provide insight into the Okinawan self-determination movement to discontinue Futenma Airfield reconstruction plans.


At present, 75% of the funding for U.S. bases on Japanese territory comes directly from the Japanese government. This revenue would better serve Okinawan citizens if it were redirected to create a self-sufficient Okinawan economy, rather than relying on military colonization.


This exhibition marks the first time that Ishikawa's photos will be presented in Kyoto.

*Kaze no Ne is closed on the 9th and 10th.

075－721-4522

Japanese map available here. 

The event is brought to Kyoto by  Kyoto Action.

Actualize Ainu Self-Determination Event @Kyoto 11/22(Sunday)

Sunday, November 22, 2009 at Kaze no Ne
6:30pm to 8:00pm (Social dinner to follow!)
More details coming soon...