A lawsuit was held over the pros and cons of Nagoya City's refusal to pay a portion of the costs related to an exhibition themed on "freedom of expression" at the Aichi Triennale, an international art festival held five years ago. The Supreme Court decided to dismiss the city's appeal by the 7th, and the judgment ordering the city to pay more than 33.8 million yen has become final.
The Aichi Triennale, an international art festival held five years ago, had a corner exhibiting the theme of "freedom of expression," including a statue of a girl symbolizing the comfort women issue and a video collage of Emperor Showa. Due to a series of terrorist threats, the exhibition was temporarily suspended.
Nagoya City, where Mayor Takashi Kawamura was serving as acting chairman of the executive committee, did not pay a portion of the contribution, which amounted to over 33.8 million yen, because it was deemed extremely inappropriate to spend public funds.
The executive committee filed a lawsuit demanding payment from the city, and the Nagoya District Court in the first instance and the Nagoya High Court in the second instance ordered the city to pay more than 33.8 million yen, stating that ``payment of contributions cannot be refused.'' The city has filed an appeal.
Presiding Judge Michiharu Hayashi of the Third Petty Bench of the Supreme Court decided to dismiss the city's appeal by the 7th, and the judgment ordering the city to pay the costs has become final.