The 'Peace Girl Statue', which symbolizes the comfort women victims of the Japanese military, was officially displayed in Tokyo for the first time in seven years.
The 'Exhibition on Freedom of Expression, Tokyo Executive Committee' (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Committee) held 'Exhibition on Freedom of Expression Tokyo 2022' at the Kunitachi Citizens Arts Hall Gallery in Kunitachi City, Tokyo on the 2nd.
It is the first time in 7 years and 3 months since January 2015 that the 'Unfreedom of Expression Exhibition', which exhibits the Statue of the Girl of Peace, etc. has been held in Tokyo.
Originally, the executive committee was going to hold this exhibition at a private exhibition hall in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo in June of last year, but the exhibition hall had to postpone it as it was reluctant to rent a place due to interference and intimidation from right-wing groups.
This exhibition, which was held 10 months after the postponement, was held in a public facility with the cooperation of relevant local governments.
As the news of the event was announced, it is said that a total of about 100 protest calls and e-mails flooded the city of Kunitachi and the management of the exhibition facilities.
Today (2nd), the first day of the exhibition, right-wing groups held a disruptive protest by mobilizing vehicles and loudspeakers to make noise around the exhibition hall.
Some right-wingers were driving around the exhibition hall and unexpectedly got out of the vehicle and tried to enter the exhibition facility, but were stopped by the police stationed around the exhibition hall.
In addition to the Statue of Peace, the exhibition, which will be held until the 5th, exhibited 'Laying Layers - Korean Japanese Military Comfort Women Left in China' and 'Hugging Won Geun (遠近)'.
'Hugging Perspective' is a video work that shows the burning of a silkscreen work of Emperor Hirohito (1901-1989).
In addition, a number of works related to Korea were introduced, such as 'Memorial Monument to the Forced Arrest of Koreans in Gunma Prefecture'.
The Unfreedom of Expression Exhibition has suffered from constant threats and protests from the Japanese right wing for exhibiting a statue of the Peace Girl and a mockery of former Emperor Hirohito.
When the statue of the Peace Girl was shown in the special exhibition 'The Unfreedom of Expression and After' of the 'Aichi Triennale' held in August-October 2019, a fax came saying, 'If the statue of the girl is not removed, I will visit the exhibition hall with a gasoline can'. As threats and protests continued, the exhibition was stopped after three days.
When the Unfreedom of Expressions Exhibition was held in Nagoya last year in 7 years, the event was halted because a substance presumed to be firecrackers was delivered.
Co-CEO Okamoto explained the reason for holding the exhibition under difficult circumstances, saying, "If the exhibition cannot be held due to intimidation, I think it is also a problem related to Japan's democracy."
(Photo = Yonhap News)