02. From Japan: September 2007 Archives

Rumiko NISHINO, Museum director
Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace
【The article below is the same as the article that appears in the eighth issue of the CGS Newsletter.】

Since the Comfort Women Resolution (H. Res 121) was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives, Prime Minister Abe has repeated his denials regarding the enforcement of the Imperial Japanese Army, while continuing to uphold the Kouno Statement. However, after criticism from the victim nations and the international community, including the US media, Prime Minister Abe suddenly changed his attitude. He “apologized” to President Bush during his visit to the US and President Bush “accepted his apology.” What is the meaning of this strange dialogue between Prime Minister Abe apologizing to President Bush, a non- victim of the comfort women issue, and President Bush “accepting” his apology? What does such an “apology,” which ignores the actual victims, achieve?

Aika TAIRA
Representative, Kiristo-no-Kaze

Kiristo-no-Kaze (Winds of Christ) is a gathering for Christian sexual minorities. It is not the first of its kind, but ours is the first to prevail; others seem to have been short-lived for various reasons. Our first meeting came about quite by chance. Amongst a gathering of homosexuals one day, there happened to be some Christians and the conversation turned to our need for a space in which we could pray and hold church services in peace. We wanted to be able to give thanks to God for our sexuality in the belief that it has been bestowed upon us by Him – rather than having to repent, or pray to God to change our sexuality. We started to hold prayer meetings for Christian sexual minorities. As our desire to hold a service in a church grew stronger, a church in Tokyo allowed us the use of their premises, and this gave rise to the first Kiristo-no-Kaze congregation. The gathering was tentatively named The Gay Christian Association, but in response to calls from lesbians and transgenders, it was later changed to Kiristo-no-kaze, taken from the name of a NY-based newsletter for Japanese Christian sexual minorities.

Mameta ENDO
Rainbow College
【The article below is the same as the article that appears in the eighth issue of the CGS Newsletter.】

The Tokyo gubernatorial election was held at the beginning of April, 2007. The big issue of this election was whether or not Shintaro Ishihara, the Tokyo governor, would be re-elected again for a third term in office. Ishihara did indeed win the election. Upon hearing the news, I was so disappointed that I clutched my head in my hands and did not even have the energy to turn off the television.

Takako NIWA
Graduate Student, ICU
【The article below is the same as the article that appears in the eighth issue of the CGS Newsletter.】

On April 20, 2007, the Cabinet Office held a hearing on the 51st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (February 26 to March 9, 2007).

Yugi YOSHINO
Graduate Student, Ritsumeikan University
【The article below is the same as the article that appears in the eighth issue of the CGS Newsletter.】

In late March I filed a law suit against Osaka Medical College (OMC) after a failed surgical breast excision operation that was part of my treatment for GID (Gender Identity Disorder). I wish to express my thoughts and feelings regarding the trial, and to shed light upon issues pertaining to GID medical care. I must stress beforehand that I do not presume to represent or speak on behalf of all GID sufferers.

Makiko ISERI
Undergraduate Student, ICU
【The article below is the same as the article that appears in the eighth issue of the CGS Newsletter.】

The repeated denials of Prime Minister Abe has again highlighted the issue of “Comfort Women” in Japan. Here, I will consider the perception and teaching of this issue in Japanese schools with reference to my practice-teaching rounds at my alma mater girls’ high school last June.

ICU graduate
【The article below is the same as the article that appears in the eighth issue of the CGS Newsletter.】

“You are pregnant. The expected date of delivery will be December 1st.”
Wow. Toiling through the new personnel training this spring, it had never occurred to me that this larger-than-life episode could happen to me. I was quick in deciding to go ahead with my pregnancy, but my decision was obviously not met with a warm reception at work. In my subsequent dealings with the company, I was brought face to face with the harsh reality of the Japanese working environment for women and witnessed firsthand the unenlightened views of the Japanese corporate world with regard to pregnancy and child rearing.