Asia-Japan Women's Resourse Center

2 U.S.sailors convicted in gang rape case in Okinawa

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:27:23 +0900

On March 1st, two U.S. Navy sailors were found guilty of raping a woman in Okinawa on 16 October 2012 and sentenced 9 and 10 years in prison in Naha District Court.

The incident provoked fresh wave of protests in Okinawa. Although a curfew was imposed on all U.S.soldiers by the U.S.military, a lot of accidents and crimes were caused during the curfew, moreover ten soldiers and civilian workers were arrested during about four months after the curfew. These incidents cast doubt on the effectiveness of this preventive measure.

Japanese Authorities' jurisdiction over crimes committed by American soldiers are limited, because of the U.S.-Japan-Status-of-Forces Agreement. This may lead American soldiers to feel be protected by the U.S.government, even if they commit crimes. In fact, the defendant who was sentenced to nine years said that he was scheduled to be transferred to Guam, so he thought he would not be accused of rape. His testimony reflects how seriously the U.S.soldiers consider crimes. Unless the Japanese government reconsiders the U.S.-japan-Status-of -Force Agreement, the Okinawa people will never be released from fear of crimes.

For more details, see:
●2 U.S. navy sailors convicted in Okinawa rape
●Loose curfew fails to keep U.S. service members in check< Asahi Weekly>
●AJWRC Protests in Okinawa

AJWRC Protests in Okinawa

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:37:02 +0900

To Prrime Minister: Yoshihiko Noda
17th October,2012

Two military servicemen were arrested for raping and robbing a woman in Okinawa. Looking back to other cases in the past, a 14-year-old Japanese girl and a Filipino woman raped in Februrary 2008, and recently, a Marine Corpse corporal was arrested for molesting a woman in August 2012. There are no words to express the outrage we feel. How many times must we repeat our protests against the U.S. military before we are heard.

Despite pledges made by both the U.S. military and the Japanese government to put a stop to such incidents, many sexual crimes continue to be commited, a state of affairs that shows, much like the continue deployment of Ospreys, that the Japanese government has placed a priority on strengthening its military relationship with the United States at the expense of the Okinawa people. We need to consider earnestly the discrimination and colonialist attitudes toward the Okinawa people that have led to this flagrant lack of democracy.

Military rule in the Japanese and the U.S. government has resulted in increased acceptance of violence toward women. Many sexual crimes, including the two sexual crimes in 2008, have not been tried in Japanese courts, and the soldiers were not punished. In addition, victims are rarely given any compensations. The U.S.-Japan-status-of-Forces Agreement has placed limits on Japanese jurisdiction in Okinawa, and consequent to this secret agreement, the power of the Japanese courts has effectively been relinquished. The attitude of acceptance sexual violence and the legal system which dosen't consider women's right make people being blind. The government can't notice many victims that are consisted of children and women in Okinawa, and also the government support the U.S. bases positively.

We can't accept the U.S. bases, and forgive any sexual crimes anymore. We demand fair investigations, severe punishments to the assaulters, and an apology to the victim. We also demand the government to reconsider The U.S.-Japan-status-of-Forces Agreement, and pull the U.S. bases and Osprey out of Japan.
For more details:
●2 sailors arrested in alleged rape in Okinawa
●US sailors accused of okinawa rape confesses

AJWRC’s youth group is looking for models for Fashion Show!

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 05:04:34 +0900

Audition for fashion show models.

Asia-Japan Women’s Resources Center’s youth group is now holding a fashion show on December 8th 2012 for 16days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign.

This fashion show reflects the continuing gender bias of violence to women from the past to the present, and explores how women’s rights can be protected by society. We are now foe looking for models to audition for this fashion show.

We are not looking for catwalk models. We welcome applications from candidates of all ages, shapes, sizes, gender, nationalities, physically challenged or not.
Auditions are necessary since the number of places for each section of the show is limited. Staffs from the design and production team will adjudicate.
We sincerely hope this audition proves to be an enjoyable experience for the attendees. So feel free to join this audition!
Please understand that all models would be unpaid volunteers.

Audition Info.
Date: November 10th (SAT) 14:00-17:00 (15min /person)
We will announce exact audition times only after receiving your application.
Place: SHIBUYA
We will announce exact location details only after receiving your application.

About fashion show:
Main Theme “Violence against women”
Section 1 “Intersections of violence against women and militarism in Okinawa”
Section 2 “Issue of comfort women”
Section 3 “Daily abuse”
Section 4 “Nuclear weapon/Nuclear power/War and Peace”(From 16days campaign 2011)

Show date：　　　　　December 8th (SAT) star reception 17:30. Show starts at 18:00. (all models come by 14:00)
Location: Event Space RIPPLE
(Seibu-Shinjuku line “Kamishakujii Station” 5min by walk)
We are holding reception party after the show.

Please send an e-mail or postal mail to Asia-Japan Women’s Resources Center with your information below;
1) Name
2) Address
3) Phone number
4) E-mail address
5) Your photo (whole figure)
* Picture taken by mobile phone is ok. If you are sending by e-mail, please send as attachment.

Send your information and any questions to:
Asia-Japan Women’s Resources Center (Youth Group personnel)
14-10-211 Sakuragaoka,Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0031
E-mail: ajwrc @ ajwrc.org
Phone: 03-3780-5245　FAX:03-3463-9752

About the “16days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign”
This 16days from November 25 ( Day against Violence Against Women ) to December 10th ( International Human Rights Day ) is a call to the world for the elimination of all forms of violence against women such as Domestic Violence ( DV ), date rape, rape, violence, sexual harassment, hate speeches, and any action or language that is abuseful, discriminative or degrading to women. Even in Japan not just women but men also are the victims of various form of abuse. Let’s take action now to stop these abuses and to support the victims of abuse.

Other activities
The youth group has made a page on Facebook regarding 16days campaign against Gender Violence. Please join and give us LIKEs! You can also see the show in 2011 “Fashion Resistance to Militarism – dress Nuclear weapon/Nuclear power/War and Peace” from here.
http://www.facebook.com/16nichikancampaign

(Nov.5) Former UNSC President speaks on gender perspective in security policies

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:26:02 +0900

The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security adopted in 2000 stipulates the need to integrate gender perspectives in security policies and to promote women's participation in peace building process. Mr. Anwarul K. Chowdhury, the former president of SC when the Resolution 1325 was adopted, will speak on the need of Member States to implement the Resolution through national action plans (NAPs).

Date&Time: November 5, 2012, Mon. 1-3pm.
Venue: Room #102, Members Office Building of the House of Representatives (1 min.walk form Subway Sta. Nagatacho)

Statement: AJWRC condemns politician's remarks on the "Comfort Women"

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 12:55:15 +0900

AJWRC condemns the series of Japanese politician’s remarks to deny responsibilities over the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery System

As the land dispute with Korea escalates, several Japanese politicians are claiming that there is no evidence of forceful mobilization of thousands of “Comfort Women” or sexual slaves of the Japanese military during World War II, and that the Statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono in 1993 to officially recognize state responsibility for the crime should be retracted. On August 21, Toru Hashimoto, Mayor of Osaka City claimed “this is Japanese way of thinking, there is no exact evidence that the comfort women were dragged off. The Rep. of Korea must show evidence if they regard the position as questionable”. He went on to say that “whether the Japanese military managed the brothels and whether the “Comfort Women” were taken under coercion are quite different matters.” Referring to the Kono Statement in 1993, Hashimoto argued “his ambiguous expression is the root cause of the controversy”, “it just expressed the acknowledgement. It is wrong ethically that the Korean side consider the statement as evidence to support taking the women by force”. Following Hashimoto, other hawkish politicians including Shintaro Ishihara, the Governor of Tokyo, Hakubun Shimomura of the LDP, and Shinzo Abe, former Prime Minister also spoke words to the same effect. These remarks of politicians are intended to trivialize the massive sexual violence committed against thousands of women and to deny state responsibility by way of interpreting the terms “coercion” and “evidence” extremely narrowly.

Trivializing “coercion”

In his remarks like “there is no evidence that the comfort women were taken away by force or threats” and “whether the Japanese military managed the brothels and whether the comfort women were taken under coercion are quite different matters”, Hashimoto tries to focus on only whether there was direct use of physical force or threats by the Japanese military in mobilizing women as “Comfort Women”. However, it makes no sense to argue about the use of force or threats during mobilization, ignoring the whole system of recruiting, transferring and managing women under the Japanese military. In Korea, then under the colonial rule of Japan, private entrepreneurs with requests from Japanese military recruited women and young girls in many cases by deception under the guise of better job or education opportunities. There were also lots of cases of trafficking and coercion, and several Korean victims testified that they were forcefully dragged off with direct involvement of Japanese officers. One cannot also forget the fact that victims of the sexual slavery system were not only from Korea. Women in the areas occupied by Japanese military were taken to the brothels with literally violent force by the Japanese military. In the “Comfort Stations” or brothels, women and girls were daily exposed to physical and sexual violence, without freedom and any means to escape. How could those politicians still claim that they bear no responsibility? It is the kind of logic of a rapist who may insist that it was not rape since he did not use any force or threats but only deceived the victim to bring her to a room, even though he locked her in and forced her to have sex with him. After all, those women and girls had extremely limited freedom and means to act on their own free will under Japanese colonial rule and military occupation. They were forced to be “Comfort Women” against their will in either case, whether it was mainly private entrepreneurs who recruited women or there was direct involvement of Japanese military, police or colonial bureaucrats. When Japan is urged to face the state responsibility for setting up and managing the system of sexual violence against thousands of women, those politicians are trying to trivialize the issue into the question of means of mobilization and thus trying to avoid facing responsibility. To allow their remarks to go unquestioned is to allow present-day sexual violence too.

Negligence of the “evidence”

Hashimoto claims “there is no evidence that the comfort women were taken under coercion by the Japanese military” based on a 2007 document of the Abe Cabinet, which was made in response to the questions submitted by Kiyomi Tsujimoto, a member of the House of Representatives. This document only tells that no description to indicate direct involvement of the Japanese military or officials in forceful mobilization of women was found in documents investigated by the government between 1992 and 1993. “On the so-called Comfort Women”, the report of the government investigation published in 1993, concluded that “women were recruited, transferred and managed against their will under involvement of the then military” after reviewing not only the documents of the Japanese military and government, but also testimonies of victims, former soldiers and officials, as well as documents and researches in Japan and abroad. In other words, while the government investigation in 1993 drew the conclusion from various evidence including official documents and testimonies, Hashimoto insists that only official documents can be “evidence” and ignores all other evidence, even though he as a lawyer should be well aware that documents are not the only trustworthy “evidence” to be adopted by a court.

Furthermore, the 2007 Cabinet document only referred to description that indicates “direct involvement” of Japanese military and government in forceful mobilization of “Comfort Women”. It is not a mystery that no such description was found among official documents of then Japanese military, considering that forceful mobilization of women as sexual slaves was considered illegal under then international laws and that the Japanese military systemically destroyed a large amount of related documents when they lost the war. However, there are actually a number of official documents which indicate that it was the Japanese military that set up the “Comfort Stations”, requested private entrepreneurs to recruit women, and managed those women.

Even after the publication of the government investigation in 1993, a number of researchers and organizations in Japan and abroad have conducted researches and studies to reveal how the large-scale systematic sexual assault institution was created and managed under the control of Japanese military. Parts of those researches were submitted as evidence in the 10 lawsuits filed by the victims from South Korea, China, Taiwan and Philippines in Japanese courts. In the 8 cases among them, the courts certified the facts of rights violation while dismissing the claim for state compensation. At the United Nations, the Commission on Human Rights adopted the report by Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women in 1996, and the Commission on Human Rights Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities adopted the report by Ms. Gay J. McDougall, Special Rapporteur on “Systematic Rape, Sexual Slavery and Slavery-like Practices during Armed Conflict” in 1998, and many other UN human right bodies recognized the fact of human rights abuse under the “Comfort Women” system. And of course, there are numerous testimonies by survivors, former soldiers and witnesses collected and researched by researchers and civil organizations. In spite of this enormous amount of research and study conducted by the government, researchers, organizations, judiciaries and international bodies as well as testimonies by survivors, former soldiers and witnesses, those politicians still claim “there is no evidence”, indicating that they are too ignorant of history or that they are intentionally ignoring the evidence to trivialize the issue.

The Kono statement as a minimum manifestation of political responsibility

The Statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono in 1993 was not his personal baseless opinion as claimed by Governor Ishihara and other hawkish politicians, but an expression of the state acknowledgement of the issue based on the government investigation conducted in 1992-93. The government investigation at that time was limited and the Kono statement was insufficient to take full responsibility for fact findings and redress for the victims. Yet at least the Kono statement did not try to trivialize the issue by arguing whether there was “forceful mobilization in a narrow sense” like those hawkish politicians. It acknowledged that “recruitment, transfer, control, etc., (of the “Comfort Women”) were conducted generally against their will, through coaxing, coercion, etc.” and that “undeniably, this was an act, with the involvement of the military authorities of the day, that severely injured the honor and dignity of many women”. While it is deeply regrettable that successive governments did not fulfill the commitments expressed in the statement to “face squarely the historical facts instead of evading them, and take them to heart as lessons of history” and to “engrave such issues in our memories through the study and teaching of history”, the Kono statement has remained as the minimum manifestation of state responsibility by the Japanese government up to today. To dismiss this minimum statement would mean that Japan denies the crimes it committed in the past, turning its back on the universal principle of human rights, which is also one of the principles of the Japanese Constitution. It also means to deny justice for the survivors of the sexual slavery system, lose the trust of the international community and deny the human rights of all people living in Japan.

It is our own responsibility as Japanese citizens to face the fact that this country committed massive sexual violence against thousands of women and girls under colonial rule and military aggression, and to build a society that will never repeat such a crime. One cannot avoid facing it using the land disputes with neighboring countries as an excuse. We call on our fellow citizens to fight against nationalism, violence against women and colonialism with us.

September 6, 2012
Asia-Japan Women’s Resource Center (AJWRC)

Harassment against "Comfort Women" Photo Exhibition: Show Your Support

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 17:48:04 +0900

The photo exhibition of Korean survivors of the "Comfort Women", once almost forced to be canceled, is eventually taking place at the gallery of Nikon Co. in Shinjuku, Tokyo, as originally scheduled from June 26 to July 9. However, not only racist/nationalist groups, Nicon Co. is also increasing pressure against the photographer Mr. Ahn Se-hong.

The exhibition “Layer by Layer: Korean women left behind in China who were comfort women of the Japanese military” is to display the pictures that Mr. Ahn have taken in the past years visiting Korean women who were drafted as sexual slaves under Japanese rule and abandoned in China when the war ended in 1945. The Nicon Co., the camera maker, suddenly told Mr. Ahn and the organizer of the exhibition in May to cancel the exhibition after receiving protest calls and mails from right wingers. However on appeal by the artist, the Tokyo District Court ordered Nikon on June 22 to open the exhibition as originally planned. While the Nikon reluctantly agreed to make the gallery available to Mr. Ahn, they immediately made an appeal against the court order, and the lawyers for the company put various conditions, limiting free use of the space.

On the opening day morning, there was heavy security check on visitors, and right wingers came in the exhibition hall to harass the organizers making noises. Furthermore, Nikon Co. prohibits any sales of postcards and books and even demands removal of flowers presented by visitors. Such harassment by Nikon against an artist is unacceptable as a gallery owner and a camera maker. Please show your support to the exhibition by telling Nikon Co. to stop harassing Mr. Ahn and the organizers and to respect freedom of expression.

Photo exhibition of wartime slavery victims forced into cancellation

Sat, 02 Jun 2012 15:11:46 +0900

A photo exhibition on "comfort women", victims of wartime sexual slavery system of Japanese military was canceled after the gallery owner received attacks from right wingers.

The exhibition was scheduled to be held at exhibition gallery in Shinjuku, Tokyo, run by Nikon Corp., the camera company, from June 26 to July 9, to display 38 works of photographer Mr. An Se Hong who visited Korean victims who had been left behind in China by Japanese military.

According to Mr. An, Nikon Corp. called him to tell that they decided to cancel the photo exhibition.

Although Nikon did not give any specific reason for cancellation, they admitted that they received protests for hosting the exhibition. There have been a number of hostile comments on the Internet bulletin boards, such as "A boycott of Nikon products should be organized" and "Let's make protesting phone calls to Nikon in chorus to make it give up the treacherous act."

Although the decision by Nikon is unacceptable, the Japanese Government should be reminded that it is responsible for protecting free speech and educating the general public about the facts of the "comfort women." Rather than making efforts to provide individual victims with sincere apology and redress, the Japanese government has been busy protesting against "comfort women" memorials set up in Korea and in the U.S.A. Such attitude of the Government is allowing increasingly violent assaults of right wing groups.

news articles:Mainichi Shimbun, May 24 2012, Nikon axes comfort women photo exhibition

Series Workshop: Exploring intersections of gender/sexuality

Thu, 24 May 2012 10:36:59 +0900

Series Workshop: Understanding Feminism in Basic English

What is a Family? What is a Woman/Man?

Exploring Intersections of Gender/Sexuality

Date and Time
June 22, June 29, July 20, and July 27(Friday)7-9pm

What is a family? What is a marriage? And what is a woman/man? This series seminar will provide you a space to think and talk about some of key questions of feminist and queer movements in English. Let us explore how gender and sexuality is interrelated, and how we can build collective action for change.
*Please note that this workshop is designed for English learners in beginning level.

Lecturer: My Person
My Persson is a long-time activist who works on issues related to feminism and queer, gay and lesbian transgender liberation. She has been questioning norms of gender and sexuality in her work as a DJ and performer. She has spent a great deal of her career working in higher education, focusing on preventing discrimination and harassment for staff and students. She is currently a lecturer on issues regarding gender and sexuality at Shibaura Institute of Technology, Tokyo.

Program

1st Session (6/22, Fri）Room:Ailis,8th Floor
Introduction
In the first session, let us know each other and hear expectation, questions and suggestions of other participants. Following guidance on the seminar, we will discuss some of key concepts of feminism, including gender, sexuality, sisterhood and empowerment.

2nd Session （6/29, Fri）Seminar Room 2, 3rd Floor
What is a family? Who counts as family?
Who do you think your family members are? Feminist/queer movements have challenged traditional concept of “family” and expanded/changed it. Let us explore alternative forms and choices of family.

3rd Session （7/20, Fri）Seminar Room 2, 3rd Floor
Why does marriage still matter?
Why is marriage still important in many societies? Who can get married and not, and why? The U.S. President Obama has supported gay marriage. What does this mean?

4th Session （7/27, Fri）Seminar Room 7, 3rd Floor
How do we make changes?
The last session will focus on the next step. How do we practice what we have learned? Let us discuss different ways you can get organised and work for change.

Venue
Shibuya-ku Bunka-Sogo-Center-Owada （5min. walk from Shibuya sta.）→access map

Admission
General:1500yen/session (4500yen for all sessions)
AJRWC member:1000yen/session (3000yen for all sessions)
Students and those below 29: 500yen/session (1500yen for all sessions)

Contact
AJWRC (ajwrc@ajwrc.org)

(6/7) Workshop on the "Perfect Body" with Filmmaker of The Illustionists

Mon, 21 May 2012 10:24:48 +0900

The Perfect Body -- Temptation or a Threat?

Discussion with Director of The Illustionists

The Illusionists is a documentary about the body as the “finest consumer object” and the pursuit of ideal beauty around the world. Taking an opportunity that the filmmaker Ms. Elena Rossini will visit Japan for interviews, AJWRC holds a discussion workshop with Ms. Rossini and audiences in Japan over the commercialization of bodies, ideas of beauty and gender in Japanese contexts. A part of the film The Illusionists will be presented in the session.

About the Film
The preoccupation over physical beauty is as old as time; what is different today is the central role that the pursuit of the perfect body has taken: it has become our new religion. A beautiful body is seen today as key for personal and also, more importantly, economic success for both women and men. The fast-paced culture brought on by globalization and the new economy has created a new paradigm of self-making: individuals are increasingly pushed to re-invent themselves. The key anxiety of the 21st century is the fear of disposability.

The beauty industry is constantly expanding and has now found two new targets: little girls and men. A revolution is under way in the perception that these two groups have of themselves.

The Illusionists will explore these themes through the testimonies of sociologists, historians, advertising executives, magazine editors, scientists, and authors in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

For more details about The Illusionists, click here

Date and Time　2012, June 7th, 7-9 pm.
Venue　Tokyo Women's Plaza (5 min. walk from subway Omote-Sando Sta./ 10min. walk from JR/Subway Shibuya Sta.)→[map]
Admission1000yen/500yen for AJWRC members

*Presentation by Ms. Rossini will be provided in English.

Contact:Asia-Japan Women's Resource Center (AJWRC)： ajwrc@ajwrc.org

Latest issue of "Voces from Japan" is now published!

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:59:30 +0900

AJWRC has published the latest issue of its English journal, featuring "Women Struggling through the Triple Disasters." One year since the triple disasters -- the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis -- hit the Northern area of Japan, women are struggling for reconstruction processes where dignity of all survivors are ensured. For details, please see:http://www.ajwrc.org/eng/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=38&cid=4