Ahn Sehong's "Layer-by-Layer Project" - Gallery Furuto, Tokyo through Sept. 9

Photo: Photographs of the Soul. Courtesy of Ahn Sehong

Ahn Sehong's "Layer by Layer Project: Military Sexual Slavery by Japan During the Second World War" is being exhibited (the second time this year) at Gallery Furuto in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward through Sept. 9.

The exhibition features 36 black-and-white pictures of 12 Korean women who were abandoned in China, after being forced into Japanese military sexual slavery during the Pacific War.

The first exhibition, at Nikon Gallery, encountered rightist backlash, a pattern used to repress controversial views in Japan since the postwar period. Tomoko Otake's Aug. 19 article at The Japan Times details Ahn's experience and gives voice to the photographer's compassionate and humanitarian motivation, just as he gives some voice to these displaced, forgotten victims of military sexual violence and war:

"This is not an issue of Japan-Korea relations," he said. "It's an issue of how war can infringe on the human rights of women who are the most vulnerable members of society. Japanese prostitutes were also taken (to other parts of Asia) as comfort women, and their rights were significantly trampled upon as well."

Toyohiro Mishima's Sept. 4 article at The Asahi explains how the second exhibition came about through the support of Kozo Nagata, a Musashi University professor and Kazuo Tajima, the manager of Gallery Furuto.

Twelve of the photographs are available for viewing at Ahn's website, Photographs of the Soul.

Naofumi Nakato: Hunger Strike Protest against V-22 "Osprey" aircraft in Ginowan City, Okinawa

(Photo: Naofumi Nakato)

Residents of Ginowan City, Okinawa are engaged in a hunger strike protest of the planned U.S. military deployment (low altitude testing and flight training) of V-22 "Osprey" aircraft.

They were recently joined by renowned Okinawan activist and Buddhist monk Shoichi Chibana, who traveled from his home in Yomitan to be with the elderly hunger strikers (who survived the Battle of Okinawa as children and have resisted the violence, noise, weapons testing, war training, environmental destruction, and toxic pollution of the U.S. military occupation for over six decades).

In an interview with Kyodo (published at The Japan Times) earlier this year, Chibana questioned the U.S. plan to station the test "Osprey" aircraft at the Futenma Marine Air Base in Ginowan City: "Why do they think Okinawans can accept what residents in Iwakuni and Shizuoka rejected?"

Nippon Myohoji: "Walk of Life" (命の行進 2012)

(空から一条の光が玄題旗に降り注ぎ、雲に、紫の帯になって、映っているようです！At the Kagoshima Prefecture Sendai nuclear power plant, before fasting, the priests engage in a prayer walk for purification from the sea. A streak of light from the sky fell on the flag from the sky, the clouds turned purple. Photo: Walk of Life on Facebook)

In early February, Nippon Myohoji Buddhist priests began a "Walk Of Life" across Japan, stopping at all the country's nuclear plants to offer prayers to the sacred grounds of each of these locations. Their final stop will be the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on August 6.

This photo was taken in Kagoshima, at the southern tip of Kyushu.

Petronella Ytsma: "Legacy of an Ecocide: Agent Orange Aftermath"

(Photographs: Petronella Ytsma: Legacy of an Ecocide: Agent Orange Aftermath)

"Legacy of an Ecocide: Agent Orange Aftermath"

Petronell Ytsma - Artist Statement

My work is concerned with social justice and ecological issues from an artistic perspective. Primarily through the lens of my Hasselblad, which allows the ‘unhurried visit’, I explore remnants and legacy, memory and mirror, and reflect on the civil contracts inherent between image maker, giver and viewer. Images from this body of work about intergenerational effects of Agent Orange on a specific population comprise a cautionary tale, a never-ending highly controversial one fraught with myriad complexities. As maker and viewer, they confirm my sense of being in the world and are for me the embodiment of a prayer.

From 1961 to 1971 the United States engaged in what can only be described as an ecocide - the most extensive and systematic use of chemical warfare in the history of mankind, for the stated purpose of defoliation in Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia. Much was done in secret, with full denial, and with little thought to long-term consequences on troops, local populations or environment. The most toxic of the chemicals employed was Agent Orange containing high levels of Dioxin. The Vietnamese interpret this as a reclamation chemical to ‘bare the leaves of plants for making VN to become a place of fallow hill - empty house.’ Estimates of 80 million litres (12 million gallons) were systematically used, impacting about 25% of the land in South Viet Nam. It is also estimated that 4.8 million people were exposed, at least 3 million symptomatic and 85% of families having 2 or more children affected.

In 2007, and again in 2008, I spent several months in Viet Nam, researching and documenting issues surrounding Agent Orange/Dioxin. I visited various ‘hot spots’, interviewing government and community officials, 75 families and several long-term care facilities, documenting many children afflicted with a wide array of disabilities attributable to effects of Dioxin. Images are some of the portraits of second and third generations affected by this war that ended about 40 years ago.

The relevancy of this work lies in the fact that we remain a hegemonic power heavily invested in war and chemical industrial complexes. We fool ourselves into believing that other people’s children are not as precious, or human, as our own. These images serve both as a glimpse of the legacy we left, but more importantly, they are my testimony to the children, their families and to the mystery of what makes us human. For them and millions of others, that war is not over. They cannot close their eyes to it and simply move on. I believe it is vital that we meet their eyes and look into this mirror. May these images deny the wish to erase the past and ‘the other’ from memory.

Constellation Earth - Nagasaki

Iris in Kyoto

Iris in Kyoto. Photo: Jen Teeter

Nuclear-Free Protester in Fukui

(Photo: Ken Rodgers, KJ on FB)

Grandmothers protest South Korean military seizure & demolition of farms & homes in Gangjeong, Jeju Island

Grandmothers in Jeju Island demonstrate against the state seizure and destruction of farmland and homes in Gangjeong Village, and a biodiverse coast (home of Jeju Island's endangered red crabs) and soft coral habitat to make way for a miltary base. Photo: Fielding Hong

Yamada 3.11 Remembrance Project Invites Solidarity Through Photos

Project Members in the town of Yamada-cho, Iwate prefecture
As the one-year mark since Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster approaches, a group of Tokyo-based activist filmmakers have launched a remembrance project based upon their travels to the town of Yamada-cho in Iwate prefecture, which was hard hit by the disaster. There, they have forged relationships with local individuals living in shelters and temporary housing units through simple, life-affirming actions such as cooking, singing, and sharing laughter and tears together during numerous trips to the region over the past year since the disaster struck.

Inspired by the solidarity vigils led by the Women in Black peace activists worldwide, the project invites individuals from around the world to share their thoughts on this occasion simply by sharing a meaningful photograph. Spearheading the project are the members of a filmmaking organization known as Feminist Active Documentary Video Festa (FAV).

From the project website:

YAMADA PROJECT: PHOTO RE-MEMBERING

　　　　‘Photo-graph’ is to draw with light

Pick a place and stand while you embrace your thoughts over the 3.11 Great Eastern Japan Earthquake/Tsunami, care for your loved ones or your hopes and dreams. When, where and how would you stand?

This project calls for anyone to take a photo while thinking of one’s own “Yamada” that is dear to you. The photos are strung together on the web like an infinitely spread quilt. You can join by simply taking a photo and sending it to us. Anyone is welcome to join!

Please take a picture of yourself standing and send it to yamada@renren-fav.org. The photos will be shared at http://www.renren-fav.org/yamada/eng/. The posting period is unlimited. You’re welcome to send your photos once or periodically.

Yamada Project:

This project began as one of the members of FAV visited the tsunami affected town of Yamada in Iwate Prefecture soon after the Great East Japan Earthquake in order to volunteer to cook for the evacuees. The project is comprised of two separate activities, photo + film. The film project is motivated by a wish to keep in touch with the survivors and is built on a cycle of filming and screening in Yamada. “Yamada” is a common name in Japan that could be any place or anyone. Where or who is it that would be dear to YOU? The photo project has developed in this period leading up to one year after the disaster, so as to photograph this moment in which one stands with thoughts of each of our “Yamada.” The photographs are strung together like an infinitely spreading quilt on the web. The idea of “standing in silence” was inspired by the Women in Black standing action.

Women In Black:

A world-wide network of women committed to peace with justice and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and other forms of violence. It is not an organization but a means of communicating and a formula for action. It s actions often take the form of women wearing black, standing in a public place in silence.
http://www.womeninblack.org/en/vigil

Feminist Active Documentary Video Festa (FAV):

FAV brings to you a collection of outspoken and larger-than-life films from a feminist perspective. Started in 2005, it’s a creative space made possible by organizers, film-makers, and audiences working together.
www.renren-fav.org

** PLEASE SEND YOUR PHOTOS AND SPREAD THIS WIDELY **

The blog of FAV member Miho Tsujii includes a video and English-translated lyrics of the moving song "Here Lives My Heart" by vocalist Fumika Takahashi, which was written on behalf of tsunami survivors.

An event will be held at 7pm on Weds Mar 28th at Waseda Hoshien Liberty Hall where Takahashi will perform, and FAV members will screen their footage from Yamada-cho.

- Kimberly Hughes

Makoto Arakaki: Photographs of the Okinawa Prefectural office sit-in

(Rally at Okinawa Prefecture office building. Photograph: Makoto Arakaki)

Mark Selden, editor of The Asia-Pacific Journal, notes that Okinawans have created the most vibrant and sustained grassroots movement for democracy and peace in the Asia-Pacific, comparable only to the Korean movement in intensity, longevity, and creativity.

Makoto Arakaki's photographs of the late December sit-in at the Okinawa Prefecture's administration building captures the intensity of not only this latest moment in history, but also of the breadth and depth of the entire Okinawan Movement, now in its sixth decade.

Okinawans, including prominent elected political leaders and journalists, engaged in a successful 24/7 sit-in at the Okinawa Prefecture administration building to prevent the delivery to the Okinawan Prefectural officials of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the DC-Tokyo U.S. Marine base proposal. Part of the EIA did reach the office in a surreptitious 4 a.m. backdoor delivery, but not the entire document.

According to sociologist Masami Mel Kawamura, the Japanese government wanted "to rob the Okinawa prefectural government of precious time for preparation of "Governor's Comments" on the EIS while distracting the media's attention. According to the EIA law and ordinance, Governor's Comments for the airport plan should be issued within 45 days after the submission of EIS while for the reclamation plan they should be issued within 90 days."

The EIS alleges that the destruction of Oura Bay and Henoko to make way for offshore runways for military aircraft would not result in any significant environmental impacts to Oura Bay's biodiverse sea life, including the federally protected Okinawa dugong.

GANGJEONG PEACE PHOTO STUDIO open from Dec. 28, 2011 -Jan. 3, 2012

Seoul-based photographer David Fox:

These young and fully inspired university students are going to open "GANGJEONG PEACE PHOTO STUDIO" from Dec. 28 ~ Jan.3.2012.

The JOONGANG Universiry Photo-documentary team "THE FIELD" had their summer with GANGJEONG and had host several photo-exihibition with their deep depth photography about GANGJEONG and it's struggle against naval base.. This winter, they will do other experimental documenting efforts: "The Peace photo studio"

Everyone in GANGJEONG can visit peace studio for the family,id,snap or any kind of photography which who want and need in the professional quality and grade. The entire studio lighting equipments will be carried out with them. Also in peace photo studio, every products which GANGJEONG PEACE CORP are selling now will be taken pictures by them.

Feel free and hope everyone can join us. For the peace of GANGJEONG.

Christmas Tidings of Peace & Goodwill at Henoko Outdoor Gallery in northern Okinawa

(Photo: Henokohama Tsushin blog

Late Autumn in Nikko

Kim Hughes' photos of Nikko in late autumn

Music and Art Peace Academy art exhibit and T-shirt contest for a sustainable future ~ Friday, November 18th @Tokyo

MAPA (Music and Art Peace Academy) will be holding a collaborative art event at M Event Space in Daikanyama on Friday, November 18th to promote a sustainable world. Artists are encouraged to submit their own original artwork that represents sustainability from October 21st to November 10th, 2011. All art forms are welcome - painting, digital art, collage, photos, recycled artwork- anything! All proceeds will be donated to the Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World coordinated by Peace Boat scheduled for January 14-15, 2012 in Yokohama.

As explained on the homepage for Parties for Peace, a groundbreaking group that envisions stimulating events which utilize art, music, and dance as a platform to "help raise awareness and fundraise for important International campaigns to promote environmental awareness, human rights and sustainability":

The MAPA project invites individuals, organizations, musicians, artists, photographers, designers, writers, actors, videographers and promoters who are interested in social and environmental issues to work together to promote a culture of peace through music and art and join the Peace Boat global voyage for the Music and Art Peace Academy onboard.

Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non- governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment. Peace Boat seeks to create awareness and action based on effecting positive social and political change in the world.

MAPA is also accepting entries for their Tshirt and Eco-bag design contest! They will choose one design to print on their Tshirts to be displayed at the event on the 18th of November.

To have your work displayed at the event or to enter the T-shirt contest, simply simply send your proposal for the event or T-shirt design to Emilie McGlone at parties4peace@gmail.com by November 10th.

Momiji-gari ("Searching for red leaves")

John Einarsen's In the Realm of the Bicycle up for People's Choice Award!

 Congratulations to John Einarsen for the nomination of his recent book of photography, In the Realm of the Bicycle, for a People's Choice Award.

The photographer (and KJ's founding editor, stylish art director) uses photography as a medium to expand and deepen perception. In this book, the focus is bicycles in Japan's ancient capital, but the field of vision is infinite:

Each encounter I had with a member of this vast race revealed an individual with a personality all its own, the result of a history at once common and mysterious. Inevitably, I came to see them as they really were: creatures who populated the niches and nooks and corners and alleys of neighborhoods and streets and lives....

Most of the images in the book were taken in Kyoto over the years.

Cycle Kyoto adds this note:

Each photo in In the Realm of the Bicycle is a haiku, a brief fleeting moment that contains a larger truth.

To view a sample some of the pages, go to: blurb.com.

The cover of In the Realm of the Bicycle is by long-time KJ graphic designer Tiery Le.

The Kyoto Journal: Perspectives From Asia (a/k/a KJ) emerged from Kyoto's international cultural milieu during the 1980's; the iconic English-language quarterly will embark a new incarnation online in September.

Hiroshima Ground Zero 1945 @ Int. Center of Photography, NYC, May 20-Aug. 28, 2011

(Photo: Hiroshima Ground Zero 1945 I International Center of Photography, May 20-Aug. 28, 2011)

Hiroshima: Ground Zero 1945 Public Panel Discussion

ICP, 1133 Avenue of the Americas
Wednesday, August 17, 7:00pm
General Admission: $5. Free for ICP Members and Students
RSVP online.

Panelists: Erin Barnett, Adam Harrison Levy, Greg Mitchell

What can a suitcase, found in a pile of trash, tell us about Hiroshima and its legacy?

The suitcase was found eleven years ago by a man out walking his dog in Watertown, Massachusetts. Inside were 700 photographs of post-bomb Hiroshima. The images depict an annihilated city: twisted girders, imploded buildings, miles of rubble. This was the original Ground Zero, a term first used in 1946 to describe the epicenter of the blast.

Since then, accounts by survivors of the bombing have been published, documentaries have been produced, and historians have fiercely debated the decision to drop the bomb.

And yet, the photographic record of what took place in Hiroshima has long been absent. A U.S. military film crew, which shot the only color footage in the city (and focused on the human effects of the bomb), found that their images would be suppressed for decades. Our lack of visual evidence of the atom bomb's effect has helped us to deny its devastating impact. Think of photographs of Auschwitz after it was liberated and a series of powerful images come to mind: haunting pictures of war's destructive impact. But think of Hiroshima and what comes to mind is the mushroom cloud. Terrifying in its way, with its bulbous head and towering stem, it is nonetheless an abstract image freed of human agency and human consequence.

Join us for a discussion on how the ground-breaking images that make up the Hiroshima: Ground Zero 1945 exhibition at ICP were discovered and how the moving footage shot in post-bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki was censored by the U.S. government. Panelists include Greg Mitchell, the author of Atomic Cover-Up: Two U.S. Soldiers, Hiroshima & Nagasaki, and The Greatest Movie Never Made (2011) and co-author (with Robert Jay Lifton) of Hiroshima in America: Fifty Years of Denial (1995), Assistant Curator of Collections Erin Barrett, and writer and freelance documentary film producer and director Adam Harrison Levy.

Emily Wang: A raining morning in Gangjeong

"A Humble Determination in the morning"

晨雨 於 江汀洞。
A raining morning in Gangjeong.

因晨雨之故，每日例行的祈福跪拜由海灘移到棚內。
Because of raining this morning,
the regular 100-bow ceremony moved to the tent.

(Text and Photo: Visual artist Emily Wang's exquisite Jeju Island-based blog, From Los Palos)

John Einarsen: In the Realm of the Bicycle

John Einarsen says this about his new book of photographs:

Each encounter I had with a member of this vast race revealed an individual with a personality all its own, the result of a history at once common and mysterious. Inevitably, I came to see them as they really were: creatures who populated the niches and nooks and corners and alleys of neighborhoods and streets and lives....

Most of the images in the book were taken in Kyoto over the years.

Cycle Kyoto adds this note:

Each photo in In the Realm of the Bicycle is a haiku, a brief fleeting moment that contains a larger truth.

To view a sample some of the pages, go to: blurb.com.

John Einarsen is the founding editor & art director of Kyoto Journal, an iconic English-language quarterly that emerged from Kyoto during the 1980's, about to embark a new incarnation online.

The cover is by Tiery Le.