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Thursday, December 31, 2015

most comfort women were born from female-deprecating culture in ignorant Korean home

【韓国メディア】 慰安婦の多くは、無知蒙昧な朝鮮家庭による女性卑下文化の産物。挺対協が行う不純な遊び、中断させるべき[05/29] [転載禁止]©2ch.net
http://yomogi.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/news4plus/1432894859/

1 :LingLing ★@転載は禁止:2015/05/29(金) 19:20:59.15 ID:???
■挺対協が展開する不純な慰安婦遊び、中断させなければ
―慰安婦問題を韓米日安保協力体制を破るために、悪用している

『解放前後史の再認識(※2006年発刊)』第1冊434-476ページにはサンフランシスコ州立大学のソ・ジョンヒ教授の貴重な論文が掲載されている。以下に要旨を紹介する。

植民統治の最後の10年(1935-45)は朝鮮の産業革命期だった。 農民たちは土地から追放されて、労働階級が胎動して、人口の流動性が増大し、都市社会が広く拡散されて、女性界では、いわゆる新女性に対する羨望が拡散されていたそんな時期だった。1917年、李光洙(イ・グァンス)の小説『無情』 が連載された。 この小説は新文明の普及書だった。西欧の新文明が流入して、開化思想が広がり、 新青年と新女性を恋愛の表象とした新小説だった。1935年、沈薫(シム・フン)の常緑樹は息苦しくて、 せせこましい農村を啓蒙するための啓蒙書だった。当時の農村の人々の考えがどれほど固陋で原始的かを赤裸々に描いた。 慰安婦もこのような開化期時代の産物だったのだ。

190人の慰安婦を調査したところ、88%に当たる168人がまさに脱農村時期の1937-44年の間に慰安婦になった。 都市を欽慕する一種のゴールドラッシュが盛んだった時代に、家庭を飛び出した娘が、 人身売買団のよい餌食になったのである。181人の慰安婦を調査した結果、そのうちの4分の1以上がすでに家族と離れて家政婦、工場労働者、食堂、妓生の家、接待婦などとして働いていた途中、慰安婦になっており、66%程度が満州、台湾、中国などに搬送されていった。

慰安婦へ行くことになった場合は、家庭をすでに出ていた女性だけに該当するのではなかったかった。
家庭で親や兄たちから暴力を受けていた若い娘たちが暴力を避けて逃げ、それで人身売買団の罠に引っかかったりもして、学びの新たな岐路を探して広くなった世界に逃げてくるというのが、即ち人身売買団の犠牲になって慰安婦の道に入ることもあった。 当時、人身売買団の手先は大部分が朝鮮人たちであり、軍隊慰安婦を経営する人たちの中には朝鮮人たちもかなりいた。

慰安婦に行く道は二つのルートがあった。 家庭-労働市場と慰安婦業所に行く過程があり、直に家庭-慰安婦業所に行く過程があった。 このような過程を促進した媒体が人身売買団であり、人身売買団に捕らえられた環境は、つまり、女性に対する家庭内暴力や虐待、そして学びに対する羨望を無条件に抑圧する無知蒙昧な朝鮮家庭の女性卑下文化のためだった。

ソ・ジョンヒ教授は、家庭から直に慰安婦という穴に落ちた恨多き慰安婦6人のケースを挺対協資料で簡単に見つけ出した。 こうしたことにも挺対協は、この事実を知りながらも慰安婦問題を政治問題として浮上させるために、社会に誤った認識を拡散させた。

挺身隊の主張によれば、全ての慰安婦は家庭にいた慎ましい娘たちだったが、ある日突然、日本巡査たちが押しかけてきて強制的に捕まえて、日本軍が運営する遊郭に入れたというのである。 ソ・ジョンヒ教授によると、これは事実ではない。 ソ・ジョンヒ教授が調査した6人の慰安婦の事例はこれを理解するのに明白な資料になる。

以下にソ・ジョンヒ教授の事例を要略して紹介する。(>>2以降に)

ソース ニュースタウン(韓国語)
http://www.newstown.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=207410



(朝鮮の親が娘たちを慰安婦に追いやった代表的な事例)

1)ムン・ピルギ(※2008年死去。):挺対協が毎週日本大使館の前で主催するデモに常に参加している女性である。彼女は18歳になった年の1943年後半から2年の間に満州の軍慰安所で働いた。1945年、解放を迎え、平壌 - 開城 - ソウルを経て故郷に行ったが、すぐに故郷を離れ、晋州 - 木浦 - 光州-全州を回りながら独身で過ごしていたという。

彼女は1925年、慶南金陽郡で2男9女をもうけた小さな商店(雑貨屋)で生まれた。子供の頃、最もしたいことが勉強だった。父は「女子が勉強すれば、キツネ(※「狡猾」の意味)にしかなるものはない」と怒った。母がこっそり一升の米を売って、普通学校に入れてくれた。一週間も経たずに、父が娘を教室から連れ出し、本を燃やしてしまった。それでも、怒りが収まらず、娘を死にもの狂いで殴って家から追い出してしまった。本家に行っていたが、もう勉強をしないという約束をした後、家に帰ってきた。

勉強ができなかったことが恨になった状態で、9歳から家事をして、畑仕事もして、綿畑の草取り、繭紡ぎもした。雑貨屋で売るサツマイモも蒸した。農作業をするたびに、ご飯を炊いて野に運んだ。そんな1943年の秋のある日、村に住む日本の手先役をする50代のおじさんが、勉強も出来てお金も稼ぐことができる
場所に送ってくれるというで、ついて行った。18歳だった。その男と日本人巡査が彼女をすぐ車に乗せ釜山に連れて行った。長い髪を切ってチマチョゴリを脱がせワンピースを着せた。そして、他の4人の女性たちと一緒にそのまま満州に移送された。この物語を含めて、以下のすべての話は挺対協が編纂した「証言集」 に収録されている。

この女性は、毎週水曜日12時に日本大使館の前に出て、日本が自分を強制的に連行して慰安婦にしたと謝罪と被害補償を要求しているのである。この慰安婦の遊びは、スパイの妻であり、挺対協の常任代表ユン・ミヒャンが運営している。問題は、この元慰安婦女性にではなく、挺対協にある。

2)イ・サンオク:この慰安婦の父は慶尚北道達城郡達城面長だった。作男をもうけ、農業をして富農でもあった。9歳の時に学校に入ったが、兄が「小娘を学校にやって、使い物になるのか」と学校に行けないよう
にして、本を焚口に入れて燃やしてしまった。それでも学校に行こうとしたところ、殺すと言って脅迫した。
隣家のお姉さんが学校に通うのがとても羨ましく見えて、その年、母にも知らせず、ソウルに逃げ出した。

叔母が学校に行かせてくれたが、兄が叔母に執拗な圧力を加えた。叔母の家を出てトンビという家に入った。9人の娘たちがいたが、この女の人たちはみんな自身の父によって売られてきた。 15歳の彼女が最も幼かった。この9人が行く所について行ってみると、下関だった。彼女らを引率した軍属が10人の生娘
たちを渡した所は、まさに朝鮮人夫婦が運営する軍の遊郭だった。彼らは、娘たちとは何の関係もなく、金を取り交わした。

この元慰安婦の女性は、日本語を話すために、日本軍の病院で働いて給料も受けた。日本軍医が彼女を可哀想に思って朝鮮に帰そうと思ったが、その日、爆撃を受けふいになった。この女性も、女性への家庭内暴力のために遊郭に追いやられたケースであった。


3)イ・ドゥクナム:この慰安婦は1918年生まれである。彼女は1939年から3年は中国で、そして他の3年はスマトラで慰安婦生活をした。学校に行きたかったが、父は飲んだくれであり、賭博師であり、理由もなぶん殴った。

「家にいることが死ぬほど嫌だった」17歳で嫁就に行けと言われたが、彼女はこれを売られることだと考えた。
近くの友人と一緒に俸給を受け取ることができる仕事を見つけるために、列車に乗って仁川紡織工場に行った。それが慰安婦への道だった。

4)キム・オクシル:この慰安婦は1926年に平壌市内、10里なる村で生まれた。現在はキム・ウンリェとして知られている。彼女の父親も勉強しようとする娘に過酷な鞭打ちをした。 11歳の時、近隣の友人がハングルも教えてくれて歌も教えてくれるところがあるといって一緒に行ったが、何日かして父に見つかった。

「小娘の分際が文字を学んでどこに書くんだ、恋愛手紙でもしようというのか! 」叱る父親が怖くて、祖母の後ろに隠れたが、脚を折ると言いながら殴りつけた。その後、父を見たくないので家を出た。ある日、おばさんから平壌では妓生が最高と言われた。きれいな服を着て、きれいな輿に乗って通うという妓生になりたくて妓生ハウスに行って養女となった。わずか一週間で父に見つかった。 「この小娘は先祖の恥、村の恥沢山かかせて歩き回って」と殴られ、家に押し戻された。そして靴下工場に飛び出した。そこから3年、タバコ工場で4年働いて、やがて人身売買団に引っ掛かった。

5)ペ・ジョクガン(※2004年死去):この慰安婦は1922年生まれである。この娘は自殺までも図ろうとしたほど母親からひどい虐待を受けた。廣木工場で働くことにしてくれるという地元の人の嘘に騙されて家を出たのが、 すぐに中国行きになった。中国のあちこちの慰安所を渡った。 1946年家に帰ってきたが、母は冷淡だった。
母が臨終の時、娘を探したが、彼女は行かなかった。

6)ソン・シンド:この慰安婦は1922年生まれで、母親からひどい虐待を受けた。 16歳の時から食べていくために多数の職を転々としていく中、良い仕事を探してくれるという近隣の人の誘惑に嵌って、中国に行ってから1938年から1945年まで慰安婦生活をした。日本人兵士が結婚しようとして日本に同行したが、彼は 日本に到着するやいなや、彼女を捨てた。



(政治目的のために慰安婦悪用する挺対協)

この6つの事例はごく一部のものに過ぎないが、当時の朝鮮の社会像をよく映している。 これらを悲劇的な奈落の底に追い込んだのは、日本巡査ではなく、彼女たちを生んでくれた父と母、兄たちだった。 当時、社会は開化の風に乗っていた。 若い娘たちは外の世界への憧れや、家庭における暴力の間で脱出を選択しており、その脱出は、そのまま人身売買団への進入を意味した。

このような事情をめぐって、「当時、朝鮮の娘たちはみんな家庭にあり、日本巡査たちが家庭に攻め寄せてきて娘たちを強制的に連れて行った。 謝罪を行い、補償をせよ」このように叫んでいるのだ。 もちろんシム・ミジャの場合のように、日本巡査が教室などから強制的に連れて行ったケースもある。 しかし、シム・ミジャお婆さんの証言や上の社会像を見れば、たいていの慰安婦は、家庭内暴力と無知から脱出して人身売買団に引っかかった娘だったという考えを抱かせる。

上6つのケースはすべて挺対協が作成した文章にある内容だ。 すべての事情をよく知っていながらも、挺対協は慰安婦を政治的目的で街に広めている。 ムン・ピルギは毎週水曜日に大使館前で「私の青春を補償せよ」 とデモをしているが、挺対協が編纂した「証言録」によると彼女は日本に要求するものはひとつもない。

解放前後史の再認識、第1冊2部は「植民地下の女性の人生」という主題を扱っている。 ここには日本大阪産業大学のふじながたけし(藤永壮)教授、米シカゴ大学のチェ・キョンヒ教授、サンフランシスコ州立大学のソ・ジョンヒ教授の書き込みが膨大な分量の論文で掲載されている。

この三者の論文を見れば、韓国の挺対協の主張がどれほど荒唐無稽なものかを一つ一つ知ることができる。
さらに、論文が引用した根拠資料を見ると、日本人たちの調査が大変多い反面、韓国人の調査が非常に乏しい。

韓国国内の学者は、この分野についての研究をせず、挺対協は客観性が欠如した感情的主張をしてきた。
ゆえに、この分野を研究する多くの国際学者たちに恥晒しな結果をもたらしたということが、これらの資料に示されている。



まず、ふじながたけし(藤永壮)教授の文「上海の日本軍慰安所と朝鮮人」の内容を紹介したい。

(日本軍慰安所の元祖、上海 慰安所)

1.沖縄に居住した朝鮮人元慰安婦の証言を記録したルポルタージュなど十数冊の本が日本で発行された。慰安婦問題が日本に衝撃を与えたのは1991年8月から慰安婦たちが相次いで自らの存在を明らかにし始め、次いで日本政府を相手に補償を要求した訴訟を展開したことから胎動した。 資料上確認され
たところによれば、1932年上海慰安所が一番先に現れたものであり、日中戦争開始後、この地域での慰安婦の数が最大規模だったため、上海慰安所は他地域のモデルになったはずである。 したがって、上海慰安所の環境を研究することはその意味が非常に大きい。

上海には個人的な稼ぎのために日本人売春女性(からゆきさん)が海外に出た最も典型的なケースである。
上海駐在日本領事館は1880年代からからゆきさんに対する取り締まりに乗り出した。 これは公娼制度の導入を意味した。 公娼制度の設置の動機は1)強姦防止、2)軍の士気高揚、3)、性病予防、4)防諜 であった。

当時、上海での朝鮮人女性の実態は、こうであった。上海で朝鮮人女性ダンサーが出現した。 カフェで働く女給も出現した。 朝鮮人が運営する私娼もあった。彼女らは、新興接客婦で仕方なく売春をした。
こうした女性らは不況のためにますます多く上海に集まってきた。1936年当時、上海には朝鮮人女性ダンサーが37人、彼女らは、風俗を混乱させたという非難も受けた。日本人が経営する飲食店やカフェなどで働く朝鮮人女給は48人、彼女らはお金を稼ぐために密売淫をして主人と半分ずつ分けた。 この頃、上海
には290人の朝鮮人私娼も存在した。 私娼というのは公娼と認められることができなかった所だった。

満州事変(1931年9月)の時に現れた慰安婦は基本的に売春婦出身であり、その中には朝鮮人女性が一部含まれていたが、日中戦争の中期である1940年頃には朝鮮の娘を強制的に連れて慰安婦をやらせた「性的奴隷」なども新たに出現した。

日中戦争が全面化した後、慰安所が大量に開設される時期に慰安所経営者の中に朝鮮人の名前がかなりあった。

日本軍が開設していた慰安婦は1)軍職営慰安所、2)軍が監督・統制する軍専用慰安所、3)民間売春所を兵士用に指定した所(民間、軍共用)、4)純粋な民間専用の慰安所(軍が通っても、それは個人的な事)。4番目のタイプの慰安所は、日本軍慰安所とは何らの関係がない。 1932年3.14者上海派遣軍高級参謀オカベナオサブロウ(岡部直三郎)の日誌には、このような文言がある。

「この頃、兵士たちが女を探してあちこちさまよって淫らな話を聞くことが多い。 これは避け難いことなので、むしろ積極的に施設を作ることが良いと判断。」

上海派遣軍参謀副長のオカムラヤスジ(岡村寧次)はこう回想した。
「慰安婦問題を考える。 斯く言う私はお恥ずかしいですけど、慰安婦案の創設者だ。 昭和7年(1932)の上海事変の際に、二、三件の強姦罪が発生したので、派遣軍参謀副長だった私はそこの海軍を倣って長崎県知事に要請して慰安婦団を招いた。 その後強姦罪が完全に止まったために嬉しかった。」

1932年当時、上海の日本人の風俗営業現況は次のようである。 料理屋3カ所、飲食店72、喫茶店13、
海軍慰安所17、クラブ2、ダンスホール1、芸妓134、舞踏女170、酌婦166。

(上海の日本人の売春の歴史)

「明治元年(1868年)から明治14-15年(1881-1882)のころまで上海駐在日本人の数は10-100人がせいぜいであり、1年に平均5-6人ずつ増加した。 大体、男3分1、女3分の2だった。 女性の6-7割は外国人を相手に売春をした。 彼女らが日本の売春の先駆者かもしれない。 モリサキカズエ(森崎和江)の著書『から
ゆきさん』では明治15(1882)に上海に800人の売春婦がいたと指摘した。 日本女性達がたちまち増えた上海では領事館がこれを国家の羞恥とみなして捕らえて500-600人を本国に送還した。 それでも依然として200人程度は隠れていた。」


(結論)

売春の歴史は、どの時代、どの国でもみな暗い歴史として連続されてきた。 我が国でも1961年5.16革命以前までの売春は違法で統制された。 それで売春は密かに家庭に浸透し、性的暴行や殺人などの悪い形で広がっていった。 ゆえに、朴正熙の最高会議は公娼制を採択した。 家庭に入り込んでいた性犯罪や性病
等が非常に効果的に改善された。上の論文の一部を見ると、当時、日本も道徳と品位と性的の需要をめぐって、様々な考えを持ったと推測され、当時の彼らの悩みも、今も私たちが解決しないまま抱えている悩みと一致したと考えられる。

今の私達の社会を見てみよう。 韓国社会はおそらく世界で上位圏に属する性的風紀紊乱共和国だ。
国家を率いてゆく席はあるが、その席に座っている人たちは、無能と利己心でお互いに噛みつくことで1年365日を過ごしている。 このようなやり方で幾年を更に費やされたら、我々は北朝鮮に飲み込まれてしまうだろう。もし今、北朝鮮に飲み込まれると、私たちの国の女性、国民は70年余り前に日本人から受けた苦痛とは比較さえできない悲惨な扱いを受け、命さえ失うことになるだろう。

昔の祖先の愚かさで、強大国に飲み込まれたのは事実だ。 もし日本に飲み込まれずに、中国やロシアに飲み込まれたのなら、ロシアの慰安婦の境遇や中国の慰安婦の境遇は、日本の慰安婦の境遇よりも良好だっただろうか。 私は絶対ないと思う。 それなら、慰安婦問題で日本を恨むよりも、愚かなまねをして国を奪われた私達のご先祖さまを恨まなければならないだろう。

しかも、ソ・ジョンヒ教授が指摘したように、ほとんどの慰安婦は無知蒙昧の韓国の父と兄たちの虐待が生んだ産物だったのだろう。 このような性格の問題を持って針小棒大して歪曲し、慰安婦問題を韓米日安保協力体制を破るために悪用していることは一日も早く停止されなければならない。しかも、挺対協指揮部は、北朝鮮とスパイに深くかかわっている人たちが掌握しているではないか。直ちに、毎週水曜日に日本大使館前で繰り広げている水曜集会から中断させなければならない。 恥ずかしくてたまらない。

おわり




정대협이 벌이는 불순한 위안부 놀음, 중단시켜야
위안부 문제를 한미일 안보협력 체제를 깨기 위해 악용하고 있다
지만원 박사 | j-m-y8282@hanmail.net
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승인 2015.05.23 23:01:55
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'해방전후사의 재인식' 제1권 434-476쪽에는 샌프란시스코주립대학의 소정희 교수의 귀한 논문이 실려 있다. 아래에 요지를 소개한다.



식민통치의 마지막 10년(1935-45)은 조선의 산업혁명 시기였다. 농민들은 토지로부터 추방되고, 노동계급이 태동하고, 인구의 유동성이 증대하고, 도시 사회가 폭넓게 확산되고, 여성계에서는 소위 신여성에 대한 선망이 확산됐던 그런 시기였다. 1917년 이광수의 소설 '무정'이 연재되었다. 이 소설은 신문명의 보급서였다. 서구의 신문명이 유입되고, 개화사상이 확산되고, 신청년과 신여성을 연애의 표상으로 삼은 신소설이었다. 1935년 심훈의 상록수는 답답하고 고리타분한 농촌을 계몽하기 위한 계몽서였다. 당시의 농촌 사람들의 생각이 얼마나 고루하고 원시적이었는가를 적나라하게 묘사했다. 위안부 역시 이러한 개화기 시대의 산물이었던 것이다.

190명의 위안부를 조사했더니 88%에 해당하는 168명이 바로 탈농촌 시기인 1937-44년 사이에 위안부가 되었다. 도시를 흠모하는 일종의 골드러시가 한창이었던 시절에 가정을 뛰쳐나온 여식들이 인신매매단의 좋은 먹이감이 된 것이다. 181명의 위안부를 조사한 결과 그중 4분의 1 이상이 이미 가족과 떨어져 식모, 공장 노동자, 식당 및 기생집 접대부 등으로 일하고 있다가 위안부가 되었고, 66% 정도가 만주, 대만, 중국 등으로 이송되어 갔다.

위안부로 가게 된 경우는 가정을 이미 탈출해 있던 여성에게만 해당되는 것이 아니었다. 가정에서 부모나 오빠들로부터 폭력을 당하고 있던 어린 여식들이 폭력을 피해 달아났다가 곧장 인신매매단의 덫에 걸려들기도 했고, 배움의 신기루를 찾아 넓어진 세상으로 도망쳐 나온다는 것이 곧 인신매매단의 희생양이 되어 위안부의 길로 들어서기도 했다. 당시 인신매매단의 앞잡이는 대부분 조선인들이었고, 군대 위안부를 경영하는 사람들 속에는 조선인들도 꽤 있었다.

위안부로 가는 길은 두 가지 경로였다. 가정-노동시장-위안부업소로 가는 과정이 있었고, 곧바로 가정-위안부업소로 가는 과정이 있었다. 이런 과정을 촉진한 매개체가 인신매매단이었으며, 인신매매단에 걸려들 수 있었던 환경은 곧 여성에 대한 가정폭력과 학대 그리고 배움에 대한 선망을 무조건 억압하는 무지몽매한 조선 가정의 여성비하 문화 때문이었다. 소정희 교수는 가정에서 곧바로 위안부라는 구덩이로 떨어진 한 많은 위안부 6명의 케이스를 정대협 자료에서 쉽게 찾아냈다. 이러함에도 정대협은 이 사실을 알면서도 위안부 문제를 정치 문제로 부각시키기 위해 사회에 그릇된 인식을 확산시켰다.

정신대의 주장에 의하면 모든 위안부는 가정에 있던 조신한 여식들이었는데, 어느 날 갑자기 일본 순사들이 들이닥쳐 강제로 붙잡아다가 일본군이 운영하는 유곽에 집어 넣었다는 것이다. 소정희 교수에 의하면 이는 사실이 아니다. 소정희 교수가 조사한 6명의 위안부 사례는 이를 이해하는데 생생한 자료가 된다. 이하 소정희 교수의 사례를 요약 소개한다.

조선의 부모가 딸들을 위안부로 내몬 대표적 사례

1) 문필기 : 정대협이 매주 주한 일본대사관 앞에서 주최하는 시위에 늘 참가하는 여성이다. 그녀는 18세가 되던 해인 1943년 후반부터 2년 동안 만주의 군위안소에서 일했다. 1945년 해방을 맞아 평양-개성-서울을 거쳐 고향으로 갔지만, 이내 고향을 떠나 진주-목포-광주-전주를 떠돌며 독신으로 살았다고 한다. 그녀는 1925년, 경남 진양군에서 2남 9녀를 둔 구멍가게에서 태어났다. 어렸을 때 가장 하고 싶은 것이 공부였다. 아버지는 "가시내가 공부하면 여우 밖에 될게 없다"며 화를 냈다. 어머니가 몰래 쌀 한 말을 팔아 보통학교에 넣어주었다. 일주일 안 돼서 아버지가 딸을 교실에서 끌어내고 책을 불태워 버렸다. 그래도 화가 풀리지 않아 딸을 죽어라 패고 집에서 쫓아내 버렸다. 큰 집에 가 있다가 다시는 공부를 하지 않겠다는 약속을 한 후 집으로 돌아왔다.

공부 못한 것이 한이 된 상태에서 9살부터 집에서 살림하고, 밭일도 하고, 목화밭을 매고, 물레질도 했다. 구멍가게에서 파는 고구마도 쪘다. 농사일을 할 때마다 밥을 해서 들로 날랐다. 그러던 1943년 가을 어느 날, 마을에 사는 일본 앞잡이 노릇을 하는 50대 아저씨가 공부도 하고 돈도 벌 수 있는 곳으로 보내주겠다 해서 따라 나섰다. 18세 였다. 그 남자와 일본인 순사가 그녀를 곧장 차에 태워 부산으로 데려갔다. 긴 머리를 자르고 치마저고리를 벗기고 원피스를 입혔다. 그리고 다른 네 명의 여인들과 함께 곧장 만주로 이송됐다. 이 이야기를 포함해 아래의 모든 이야기들은 정대협이 엮은 '증언집'에 수록돼 있다.

이 여인이 매주 수요일 12시에 일본대사관 앞에 나와, 일본이 자기를 강제로 연행해 가서 위안부로 삼았다며 사죄와 피해 배상을 요구하고 있는 것이다. 이 위안부 놀음은 간첩의 처이자 정대협의 상임대표인 윤미향이 꾸려가고 있다. 문제는 이 여인에 있는 게 아니라 정대협에 있다.

2) 이상옥 : 이 위안부의 아버지는 경상북도 달성군 달성면 면장이었다. 머슴을 두고 농사를 짓는 부농이기도 했다. 9살에 학교에 들어갔지만 오빠가 "계집애를 학교에 보내서 어디다 쓰느냐"며 학교를 못 가게 하고, 책을 아궁이에 넣어 태워 버렸다. 그래도 학교에 가려 하자 죽인다고 협박했다. 옆집 언니가 학교에 다니는 게 너무 부러운 나머지 그해 어머니에게도 알리지 않고 서울로 도망갔다.

고모가 학교를 보내주었지만 오빠가 고모에게 집요한 압력을 넣었다. 고모집을 나와 소리개라는 집에 들어갔다. 9명의 처녀들이 있었는데 그들은 모두 그들의 아버지에 의해 팔려왔다고 했다. 15세인 그녀가 가장 어렸다. 이 여인들이 가는 곳으로 따라가 보니, 시모노세끼 였다. 그들을 인솔한 군속이 열 명의 처녀들을 넘긴 곳은 바로 조선인 부부가 운영하는 군 유곽이었다. 그들은 이들 처녀들과는 아무 관계없이 돈을 주고 받았다. 이 여인은 일본말을 한다는 것 때문에 일본 군병원에 일하면서 봉급도 받았다. 일본 군의관이 그녀를 가엽게 여겨 조선으로 돌려보내려 했지만 그날 폭격을 맞아 허사가 됐다. 이 여인 역시 여성에 대한 가정 폭력으로 인해 유곽으로 떠밀린 케이스 였다.

3) 이득남 : 이 위안부는 1918년생이다. 그녀는 1939년부터 3년은 중국에서, 또 다른 3년은 수마트라에서 위안부 생활을 했다. 학교에 가고 싶었지만 아버지는 주정꾼이자 노름꾼으로 이유 없이 마구 때렸다. "집에 있는 것이 죽기보다 싫었다" 17세에 시집을 가라 했지만 그녀는 이를 팔려가는 것으로 생각했다. 이웃 친구와 함께 봉급을 받을 수 있는 직장을 찾기 위해 기차를 타고 인천 방직공장으로 갔다. 그게 위안부로 가는 길이었다.

4) 김옥실 : 이 위안부는 1926년 평양시내에서 10리 되는 촌에서 태어났다. 현재는 김은례로 알려져 있다. 그녀의 아버지 역시 공부하려는 딸에게 가혹한 매질을 했다. 11세 때, 동네친구 하나가 한글도 가르쳐주고 노래도 배워준다는 데가 있다 해서 같이 가서 며칠 있다가 아버지에 들통이 났다.

"에미나이 세끼가 글 배워서 어디에 쓰갔네, 연애편지질이나 하려구 그러나!" 매를 든 아버지가 무서워 할머니 뒤에 숨었지만 다리몽둥이를 부러트린다며 때렸다. 그 후 아버지가 보기 싫어 집을 나왔다. 하루는 아주머니들로부터 평양에서는 기생이 최고라는 말을 들었다. 고운 옷 입고, 고운 가마 타고 다닌다는 기생이 되고 싶어 기생집으로 가서 양녀가 됐다. 불과 일주일 만에 아버지에 들켰다. "이 에미나이가 조상 망신, 동네 망신은 다 시키고 돌아 다닌다"며 매를 맞고 집으로 압송돼 왔다. 다시 양말공장으로 뛰쳐 나갔다. 거기에서 3년, 담배공장에서 4년 일하다가 드디어 인신매매 단에 걸려들었다.

5) 배족간 : 이 위안부는 1922년생이다. 이 여인은 자살까지도 기도했을 정도로 어머니로부터 모진 학대를 받았다. 광목공장에서 일하게 해주겠다는 동네 구장의 거짓말에 속아 집을 나간 것이 곧 중국행이 되었다. 중국의 여러 위안소들을 떠돌았다. 1946년 집으로 돌아왔지만 어머니는 냉담했다. 어머니가 임종할 때 딸을 찾았지만 그녀는 가지 않았다.

6) 송신도 : 이 위안부는 1922년 생으로 어머니로부터 모진 학대를 받았다. 16세 때부터 먹고 살기 위해 수많은 잡직들을 전전하다가 좋은 직장 구해주겠다는 이웃의 꼬임에 빠져 중국으로 갔다가 1938년부터 1945년까지 위안부 생활을 했다. 일본인 병사가 결혼하자고 하여 일본으로 동행했지만, 그는 일본에 도착하자마자 그녀를 버렸다.

정치 목적을 위해 위안부 악용하는 정대협


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이 6개의 사례들은 극히 일부의 것에 지나지 않지만 당시의 조선의 사회상을 잘 비추어준다. 이들을 비극적인 나락으로 내 몬 것은 일본 순사가 아니라, 그녀들을 낳아준 아버지와 어머니와 오빠들이었다. 당시 사회는 개화의 바람을 타고 있었다. 어린 처녀들은 바깥 세상에 대한 동경과 가정에서의 폭력 사이에서 탈출을 선택했고, 그 탈출은 곧장 인신매매단으로의 진입을 의미했다.

이런 사정들을 놓고, "당시 조선 여인들은 모두 가정에 있었으며, 일본 순사들이 가정으로 쳐들어 와서 처녀들을 강제로 끌어갔다. 사과를 하고 보상을 하라" 이렇게 소리치고 있는 것이다. 물론 심미자의 경우처럼 일본 순사가 교실 등에서 강제로 끌어간 경우들도 있다. 하지만 심미자 할머니의 증언이나 위 사회상을 보면 대부분의 위안부는 가정폭력과 무지로부터 탈출했다가 인신매매단에 걸려든 여식들이었다는 생각을 갖게 한다.

위 6개의 케이스는 모두 정대협이 작성한 증언록에 있는 내용들이다. 모든 사정들을 잘 알고 있으면서도 정대협은 위안부들을 정치적 목적으로 거리에 내돌린다. 문필기는 매주 수요일마다 대사관 앞에서 "내 청춘을 보상하라"고 시위를 하지만 정대협이 엮은 '증언록'에 의하면 그녀는 일본에 요구할 것이 하나도 없다.

해방전후사의 재인식 제1권 2부는 '식민지 하의 여성의 삶' 이라는 주제를 다루고 있다. 여기에는 일본의 오사카산업대학 후지나가다케시 교수, 미 시카고대학 최경희 교수, 샌프란시스코주립대학의 소정희 교수의 글이 방대한 분량의 논문으로 실려 있다.

이 세 편의 논문을 보면 우리 정대협의 주장들이 얼마나 허황된 것들인가를 낱낱이알 수 있다. 아울러 논문이 인용한 근거자료들을 보면 일본인들의 조사가 매우 많은 반면 한국인들의 조사가 매우 빈약하다. 국내 학자들은 이 분야에 대해 연구하지 않았고, 정대협은 객관성이 결여된 감정적 주장을 해왔다. 때문에 이 분야를 연구하는 수많은 국제 학자들에게 망신스러운 결과만 초래했다는 것이 이들 자료에 시사돼 있다. 먼저 후지나가 다케시 교수의 글 '상하이의 일본군 위안소와 조선인'의 내용을 소개하고자 한다.

일본군 위안소의 원조, 상해 위안소

1. 오키나와에 거주한 조선인 전 위안부의 증언을 기록한 르포르타주 등 십여 권의 책들이 일본에서 발행됐다. 위안부 문제가 일본에 충격을 준 것은 1991년 8월부터 위안부들이 잇따라 자기 존재를 밝히기 시작했고, 이어서 일본 정부를 상대로 보상을 요구한 소송들을 전개한 데서 태동했다. 자료상 확인된 바에 의하면 1932년 상해 위안소가 가장 먼저 나타난 것이며, 중일전쟁 개시 이후 이 지역에서의 위안부 수가 최대 규모였기 때문에 상해 위안소는 타 지역의 모델이 되었을 것이다. 따라서 상해 위안소 환경을 연구하는 것은 그 의미가 매우 크다.

상해에는 개인적인 돈벌이를 위해 일본인 매춘여성(가라유키상)이 해외로 나간 가장 전형적인 케이스다. 상해 주재 일본영사관은 1880년대부터 가라유키상에 대한 단속에 나섰다. 이는 공창제도의 도입을 의미했다. 공창제도의 설치 동기는 1)강간방지, 2)군의 사기앙양, 3)성병 예방, 4)방첩이었다.

당시 상해에서의 조선인 여성 실태는 이러했다. 상해에서 조선인 여성 댄서가 출현했다. 카페에서 일하는 여급도 출현했다. 조선인이 운영하는 사창도 있었다. 이들은 신흥접객부로 어쩔 수 없이 매춘을 했다. 이러한 여성들은 불경기로 인해 점점 더 많이 상해로 모여들었다. 1936년 당시 상해에는 조선인 여성 댄서가 37명, 이들은 풍속을 혼란시켰다는 비난도 받았다. 일본인이 경영하는 음식점, 카페 등에서 일하는 조선인 여급은 48명, 이들은 돈을 벌기 위해 밀매음을 하여 주인과 반반씩 나누었다. 이 무렵 상해에는 290명의 조선인 사창도 존재했다. 사창이란 공창으로 인정받지 못한 곳이었다.

만주사변(1931년 9월) 때 나타난 위안부는 기본적으로 매춘부 출신이며, 그 중에는 조선인 여성이 일부 포함돼 있었지만, 중일전쟁 중기인 1940년 무렵에는 조선일 여인을 강제로 데려다 위안부를 시킨 '성적 노예'들도 새롭게 출현했다. 중일전쟁이 전면화 된 이후 위안소가 대량으로 개설되는 시기에 위안소 경영자 중에 조선인 이름이 꽤 있었다.

일본군이 개설했던 위안부는 1)군직영위안소, 2)군이 감독-통제하는 군전용 위안소, 3)민간매춘소를 병사용으로 지정한 곳(민간, 군 공용), 4) 순수한 민간 전용 위안소(군이 다니더라도 그건 개인적인 일). 4번째 형 위안소는 일본군 위안소와는 아무런 관계가 없다. 1932년 3.14자 상해 파견군 고급참모 오카베 나오자부로의 일지에는 이런 글이 있다.

"요즘 병사들이 여자를 찾아 여기저기 헤매고 다닌다는 추잡한 이야기를 듣는 일이 많다. 이는 피하기 어려운 일이므로 오히려 적극적으로 시설을 만드는 것이 좋다고 판단..."

상해 파견군 참모부장 오카무라 야스지는 이렇게 회상했다.

"위안부 문제를 생각한다... 이렇게 말하는 나는 부끄럽지만 위안부 안의 창설자다. 쇼와 7년(1932)의 상하이 사변 때 두 세 건의 강간죄가 발생했으므로 파견군 참모부장이었던 나는 그곳 해군을 본떠 나가시키 현지사에게 요청하여 위안부단을 불러들였다. 그 후 강간죄가 완전히 그쳤기 때문에 기뻤다."

1932년 당시 상해의 일본인의 풍속영업 현황은 다음과 같다. 요릿집 3개소, 음식점 72, 다방 13, 해군위안소 17, 구락부 2, 무도장 1, 예기 134, 무도녀 170, 작부 166.

상해 주재 일본인의 매춘 역사

"메이지 원년(1868년)부터 메이지 14-15년(1881-1882) 무렵까지 상해 주재 일본인 수는 10-100명이 고작이었으며, 1년에 평균 5-6명씩 증가했다. 대개 남자 3분 1, 여자 3분의 2였다. 여성의 6-7할은 외국인을 상대로 매춘을 했다. 이들이 일본 매춘의 선구자일지 모른다. 모리사키 가즈에저서 '가라유키상'은 메이지 15(1882)에 상해에 800명의 매춘부가 있었다고 지적했다. 일본 아가씨들이 금새 늘어난 상해에서는 영사관이 이를 국가의 수치로 간주하고 붙잡아 500-600명을 본국으로 송환했다. 그래도 여전히 200명 정도는 숨어 있었다."

결 론

매춘의 역사는 어느 시대 어느 나라에서나 다 어두운 역사로 연속돼 왔다. 우리나라에서도 1961년 5.16 혁명 이전까지 매춘은 불법으로 통제됐었다. 그래서 매춘은 은밀히 가정으로 스며들었고, 성폭행과 살인 등의 나쁜 형태로 확산돼 갔다. 이에 박정희의 최고회의는 공창제를 채택했다. 가정으로 파고들던 성범죄와 성병 등이 매우 효과적으로 개선됐다. 위 논문 일부를 보면 당시 일본도 도덕과 품위와 성적 수요를 놓고 많은 생각들을 했던 것으로 짐작되며, 당시 그들의 고민도 지금 현재에도 우리가 풀지 못한 채 끌어안고 있는 고민과 일치한 것으로 생각된다.

지금의 우리 사회를 보자. 한국 사회는 아마도 세계에서 상위권에 속하는 성적 풍기문란 공화국이다. 국가를 이끌고 나가는 자리들은 있지만, 그 자리에 앉아 있는 사람들은 무능과 이기심으로 서로 물어 뜯는 일로 1년 365일을 보내고 있다. 이런 식으로 몇 년을 더 낭비하면 우리는 북한에 먹히고 말 것이다. 만일 지금 북한에 먹히면, 우리의 여성 국민들은 70여 년 전에 일본인들로부터 당한 고통과는 비교 조차 할 수 없는 비참한 취급을 받다가 생명마저 잃게 될 것이다.

옛날의 선조들이 못나서 강대국에 먹힌 것은 사실이다. 만일 일본에 먹히지 않고 중국이나 러시아에 먹혔다면 러시아의 위안부 처지나 중국의 위안부 처지는 일본의 위안부 처지보다 더 양호 했을까? 나는 절대 아니라고 생각한다. 그렇다면 위안부 문제로 일본을 원망하기 보다는 못난 짓을 하다가 나라를 빼앗겼던 우리 선조를 원망해야 할 것이다.

더구나 소정희 교수가 지적한 바와 같이 대부분의 위안부는 무지몽매한 한국의 아버지와 오빠들의 학대가 낳은 산물이었다 할 것이다. 이런 성격의 문제를 가지고 침소봉대하고 왜곡하여 위안부 문제를 한-미-일 안보협력 체제를 깨기 위해 악용되고 있는 것은 하루라도 빨리 정지돼야 한다. 더구나 정대협 지휘부는 북한과 간첩에 깊이 연루돼 있는 사람들이 장악하고 있지 아니한가. 당장 매주 수요일마다 일본대사관 앞에서 벌이는 수요집회부터 중단시켜야 할 것이다. 창피해 못 살겠다.

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22 :<丶`∀´>(´・ω・`)(`ハ´  )さん@転載は禁止:2015/05/29(金) 19:30:25.18 ID:oJgI5Vlm
↓2014年5月30日の朝ナマ「日韓問題」の話

47 名前: キドクラッチ(埼玉県)@転載は禁止[] 投稿日:2014/06/22(日) 07:50:04.90 ID:ugsbdSeg0 [1/2] (PC)
"割と面白かったのがアジア女性基金の責任者だった下村満子。
どうせサヨクの花畑オバサンだろうと思ってたんだけど、慰安婦が基金を受け取るのを妨害した
挺対協とゲストの韓国人を批判しまくってたw

「あなた方はインテリで慰安婦の方々に実際に会ったこともないんでしょう、慰安婦を盾に日本を
批判できればいいんですよね」みたいなことを丁寧な言葉で繰り返し言ってたw 
聞き取り調査しただけあって「慰安婦には色々な経緯の人がいて売春婦もいたし、自ら進んで
慰安婦になった人もいた」とか、「昔はケガレ扱いして韓国社会は彼女らを差別してた」とか、
韓国人には致命的なことを色々とw

基本的には花畑のオバサンだけど、そんな人でも韓国政府や韓国人にはかなりムカついて
嫌悪してると実際に見て驚いた。
以前は味方だった日本人にも嫌われ始めてる韓国人バカスw

56 返信: フライングニールキック(埼玉県)@転載は禁止[] 投稿日:2014/08/31(日) 23:45:17.01 ID:TfAxpVeh0 [2/2] (PC)
>>21
朝ナマ続き。
田原総一朗がゲストの韓国人(男二人と金慶珠)に「結局、韓国人は日本に慰安婦問題を
どうしてほしいの? 安倍さんが謝る? お金を払う?」と聞いたら「そういうことじゃない、
金なんか要求してない、慰安婦と韓国人の心情を理解して名誉回復を…」とか綺麗事言い出したら
下村満子が激おこw

ならなぜアジア女性基金の金を受け取らせなかった? なぜ金を受け取った慰安婦を叩いた?
慰安婦の意見を聞いたのか? あれから随分大勢の慰安婦が死んだが、いつまでゴネ続ける? 
そんなことは慰安婦は望んでない、お前らの勝手な意見を慰安婦の意見にすり替えるな、などなど。


291 :<丶`∀´>(´・ω・`)(`ハ´  )さん@転載は禁止:2015/05/29(金) 20:56:09.90 ID:jnNaO5B3
>>273
普通に検索で出て来るよ
読んでもまったく腑に落ちないだろうが

1924.2.4黄海道(ファンヘド)鳳山郡(ポンサングン)で生まれる。父は両班(ヤンバン)(注)出身のソンビ(儒学者)だった。
12歳の時、鳳山小学校へ通い、16歳の時、先生に「日本の地図を作ってくれ」と依頼され、アサガオの花を並べた地図の刺繍を作る。
その刺繍に対して警察官から「どうしてサクラでなくアサガオなのか」と難癖をつけられ警察署に連行される。
その後、父が独立運動家だと言われ拷問を受け、気を失い、気がついたら福岡の慰安所だった。
以降、慰安婦を強いられ日本で終戦を迎える。

http://sikoken.blog.shinobi.jp/%E6%85%B0%E5%AE%89%E5%A9%A6%E8%A8%BC%E8%A8%80/%E6%B2%88%E7%BE%8E%E5%AD%90%EF%BC%88%E3%82%B7%E3%83%A0%E3%83%BB%E3%83%9F%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%EF%BC%89


沈美子(シム・ミジャ)
1990/04/11 (Wed)
◆◆◆ 沈美子(シム・ミジャ) ◆◆◆
【生い立ち・慰安婦になった経緯等】

1924.2.4黄海道(ファンヘド)鳳山郡(ポンサングン)で生まれる。父は両班(ヤンバン)(注)出身のソンビ(儒学者)だった。12歳の時、鳳山小学校へ通い、16歳の時、先生に「日本の地図を作ってくれ」と依頼され、アサガオの花を並べた地図の刺繍を作る。その刺繍に対して警察官から「どうしてサクラでなくアサガオなのか」と難癖をつけられ警察署に連行される。その後、父が独立運動家だと言われ拷問を受け、気を失い、気がついたら福岡の慰安所だった。以降、慰安婦を強いられ日本で終戦を迎える。

1991.12月に提訴された「アジア太平洋戦争韓国人犠牲者補償請求訴訟」に1992.4月に第2次原告の一人として参加する。同裁判は2004.11月、最高裁棄却により敗訴が確定した。

(注)両班・・・高麗・李朝時代に、官僚を出すことができた最も上の支配階級。


【慰安所までの移動時の公権力・軍の関与等】

警察署に連行された後、拷問を受けて気を失い、気がついたら福岡の慰安所に入れられていた。


【考察】

同女は警察に、電気を流されたり、爪に針を差し込まれたり、焼きゴテを押し付けられたり等の拷問を受けたと証言していますが、如何にもな拷問で胡散臭い内容です。

果たして、日本地図をアサガオにしたくらいで警察に連行されるものでしょうか。サクラは現在でも、日本の国花の1つとして親しまれていますが、別に法律で定められているわけでもありません。当時の状況が分からないので何とも言えないところですが、それくらいで警察に難癖をつけられたと言うのは非常に疑問です。ムクゲにしたと言うのなら、まだ理解できなくもないですが。


また、「裁判の訴状」(以下「裁判」)と「<証言>従軍慰安婦・女性勤労挺身隊」(以下「証言」)の内容を比べると下記の通り、相違点が見受けられます。

<警察官による強姦>
○「裁判」・・・同女を警察の宿直室に連行した警察官は、耳を強く噛んだりして抵抗する同女に怒り、殴ったり蹴ったりして強姦を遂げる
○「証言」・・・強姦されそうになった時、警察官の耳を思い切り噛んだら、驚いて宿直室を飛び出していく
→ 強姦された話が、されなかったことに変更されています。

<拷問をした警官>
○「裁判」・・・同女を連行し強姦した警官
○「証言」・・・同女を連行し強姦しようとした警官と別の警官

<慰安行為を開始する時期>
○「裁判」・・・福岡で気がついて、その翌日から
○「証言」・・・明記されていないが、少なくとも気がついてから3日間は慰安行為は開始していない
→ 朝鮮半島中部から福岡までの移動途中に全く意識が戻ることがないほどの拷問を受けたのに、意識が戻った翌日から慰安行為を開始するのはおかしな話です。3日間は休んでいたことに変更されています。
なお、「裁判」では「ある軍人が沈美子も連れ出そうとしたが、同室の女性の一人が、『私が代わってあげる。』と言って、その軍人の相手をしてくれた。しかし、沈美子も、それによって仕事の中身がわかり、同室の女性に迷惑をかけるのもわるいと思ったので、翌日から慰安婦の仕事をするようになった。」と記述されています。16歳だった同女は、やけにあっさりと慰安婦を受け入れています。

<拠点の移動>
○「裁判」・・・福岡約1年半→神戸約8ヶ月→大阪(終戦まで)
○「証言」・・・ずっと福岡。神戸、大阪、和歌山、流山へはあくまで福岡からの出張。和歌山にいた時に終戦。
→ 「証言」では、和歌山と流山の慰安所が追加され、ずっと福岡を拠点としていたことになっています。しかも、「私はここに一年半いました」と福岡に1年半しかいなかったという「裁判」と同じ情報が残っていて、証言内容が矛盾しています。

<慰安婦になった理由>
○「裁判」・・・「沈美子がそこにいたあいだに連れてこられた女性のほとんどは朝鮮女性であり、目的を全く知らされずに連れてこられた人たちであった。慰安所に来るまで、彼女らのほとんどは、工場の仕事と思っていた」
○「証言」・・・「九割が『工場に就職させてあげるから』とだまされて連れて来られ、一割が私と同じように学校で捕まえられた人でした。『国語(日本語)を使わなかった』『学校の神社に参拝しなかった』とか、『『皇国臣民の誓い』を暗唱できなかった』という事で捕まった人もいました」
→ 「証言」では「ほとんど」以外の人たちが慰安婦にさせられた理由を具体的に記述しています。確率的には、私が今まで見てきた証言者の中に「学校で捕まえられた人」が2、3人いなくてはおかしいのですが、今の所、該当する人はいません。

<日本兵の残虐行為>
○「裁判」・・・「性行為を拒否して殴り殺された」
○「証言」・・・「銃で女の陰部を撃ってそのままトラックで行ってしまった」、「銃剣で女の乳房を切った兵隊もいました」、「三人の女が脱走を図って捕まり、殺された」
→ 慰安所での日本兵の残虐行為に統一性がなく、「証言」ではエスカレートしています。

<天皇陛下の命令>
○「裁判」・・・「天皇陛下の命令で、朝鮮の女はみな慰安婦にさせられる」
○「証言」・・・「天皇陛下から命令がくだって、朝鮮の女たちを面(村)・市・邑から『慰安婦』として徴発する」
→ 双方とも同女を贔屓にしていた将校の言葉として記載されていて内容は同じですが、朝鮮女性が強制連行されたのは天皇陛下の命令だったそうです。如何にも恣意的な捏造です。


なお、慰安婦裁判の原告にもなっている同女ですが、「韓国挺身隊問題対策協議会・挺身隊研究会」が編纂した「証言 強制連行された朝鮮人軍慰安婦たち」(明石書店)には証言が載せられていません。(以下の内容は「『自虐史観』の病理(P.153~165)」藤岡信勝・文春文庫を参考にしました)

同証言集(P.22)には、最終的に証言を載せたのが19人だった経緯について記載されており、まとめると以下の通りです。

○韓国挺身隊問題対策協議会に申告された人数・・・110人(1992.12末現在)
内、生存者・・・55人
内、連絡可能な者・・・40人
内、以下の者を除いた人数(=証言が掲載された人数)・・・19人
①自分の経験を語りたがらない人
②証言がそのたびごとにひどくくいちがったり、話の前後があわず、調査が難しい人

同女は、同証言集の発行時に生存しており、また、裁判の原告になっていることから、連絡が不可能だったとか、「自分の経験を語りたがらない」はずがありません。つまり、②に該当して、「証言がそのたびごとにひどくくいちがった」ので、証言集には載せられなかったのです。

なお、裁判の原告になって以降、家族等の状況の変化で証言ができなくなったとも考えられなくもないですが、その後の韓国での水曜集会(※)にも参加しているようですし、2004年の最高裁の判決時も傍聴席にいたようです。その可能性はないでしょう。

※水曜集会・・・毎週水曜日に、韓国の日本大使館前に集まって行われている抗議活動


【信憑性】

同女が証言する慰安婦になった経緯は甚だ疑わしいもので、しかも、韓国挺身隊問題対策協議会・挺身隊研究会が編纂した証言集からも落とされてしまっています。信憑性はないでしょう。


【資料等】
年月 資料名等 著者 出版社
内容等
1992.4 裁判の訴状 ***** ****
原告沈美子(シン・ミジャ。以下、「沈美子」という。)は、一九二四年二月四日、朝鮮黄海道の農村で出生し、鳳山国民学校に通学していた。
一九四〇年三月一五日、当時鳳山国民学校の担任であったミリイチ先生が沈美子の家に家庭訪問をした際、木槿の絵を下絵にした朝鮮地図の掛け軸が玄関に飾ってあるのを見て、「よくできている」と褒めてくれた。そして、こんどは花をつけた日本地図の刺繍を作ってほしいと、沈美子に言った。
沈美子は、母が人からチマ・チョゴリをつくるよう頼まれて預かっていた絹の布を切り取り、これに、朝顔を背景にあしらった日本の地図を刺繍した。沈美子は、このため母から非常に怒られたが、学校にこの日本地図の刺繍を持って行くと、ミリイチ先生はとてもきれいだと言って褒めてくれ、教務室に掛けて飾った。
ところがある時、警官が学校に来て沈美子を呼び出し、なぜ日本の地図に日本の花である桜を描かなかったのかと追求し、学校の隣にあった警察署に沈美子を連行した。
警官は沈美子を警察署の宿直室に連込み、いきなり顔を寄せてきたので、沈美子は抵抗して警官の耳を強く噛んだ。その警官は非常に怒り、沈美子を殴ったり蹴ったりして強姦を遂げた。
当時、沈美子の父は満州に行ったまま家にほとんど帰らなかった。そこで、その警官は、沈美子に対して、この点を追求し、お前の父は独立運動家であり、お前も同じ思想を持っているのだろうと決め付けて、拷問を加えた。例えば、沈美子の両足を重ねて電気線で縛り、電気を通じさせた。沈美子は体じゅうが痺れ、そのため現在に至るまで骨盤と足に症状が残っている。この拷問によって、沈美子は二、三日間、頭がボーッとなってしまったが、意識が回復すると再び拷問が再開された。爪の間に竹を差し込まれたり、焼きごてを肩に押しつけられたりした。その痣は、現在も左肩周辺に四ヶ所残っている。食事はもちろん与えられなかった。沈美子は拷問中耐えられなくなって意識を失ってしまったが、次に気がついた時には知らない場所に移されていた。
「ここはどこか。」と同室の女性たちに聞くと、日本の「福岡」というところだといわれた。海が近くにあった。そこは、軍の慰安所だったのである。二十数名の女性たちが一つの建物に入れられていた。
沈美子は、何日か気を失っていたらしく、体じゅうが痛み、体のあちこちが出血していた。同室の女性たちが塩水で治療してくれた。同室の女性たちに、「ここは何をするところか。」と聞くと、「しばらくいたらわかるから。」と言うだけで、教えてくれなかった。
しばらくして、軍人がやってきて女性を一人ずつ部屋から連れ出して行った。ある軍人が沈美子も連れ出そうとしたが、同室の女性の一人が、「私が代わってあげる。」と言って、その軍人の相手をしてくれた。
しかし、沈美子も、それによって仕事の中身がわかり、同室の女性に迷惑をかけるのもわるいと思ったので、翌日から慰安婦の仕事をするようになった。~(中略)~
この慰安所は、連行される女性たちの集結地点にもなっていたらしく、女性たちはしばらくここにいてから他の場所へ移されて行くようであった。そのため女性たちの出入りは非常に激しかった。わずか数時間いただけで、すぐ他の場所へ移されていく女性もいたようである。沈美子は日本語ができたので、しばらくして「班長」と呼ばれるようになり、通訳をしたり他の女性を指導する立場として利用されるようになった。そのため、比較的長く、約一年半その慰安所にいた。
中国人女性も五、六人来たことがあったが、沈美子がそこにいたあいだに連れてこられた女性のほとんどは朝鮮女性であり、目的を全く知らされずに連れてこられた人たちであった。慰安所に来るまで、彼女らのほとんどは、工場の仕事と思っていた。大阪の履物工場から連れてこられた女性もいた。~(中略)~
その後、テント付きのトラックで神戸の慰安所に移動し、そこに約八か月いたあと、さらに大阪の慰安所に移された。神戸も大阪も、将校専用の慰安所があった。~(中略)~
沈美子は、一九四五年八月一五日大阪で日本敗戦を迎えた。その後、友人の知り合いの人に紹介され、しばらく大阪の工場で働くなどしていたが、故郷が恋しくなり、一九五三年韓国に帰国した。現在では、生活保護として月に三万ウォンおよび米一〇キログラムを支給されている。
1992.4 元兵士たちの証言 従軍慰安婦 西野留美子 明石書店
一九四〇年、十六歳のときです。日本人の担任の先生に頼まれ、日本の地図に刺繍をしました。ところが、数日後、勉強していた私は教務室に呼ばれました。そこには、日本人の警官がいました。
「おまえは、わが国の国花がなんだか知っているか?」
警官の問いに、私は桜の花だと答えました。
「桜の花だと知りながら、なぜ、アサガオの刺繍をしたのだ」
警官は私をなじりました。
「桜よりもアサガオの花のほうがきれいだと思ったから、アサガオの刺繍をしたのです」
するとその警官は、「おまえの思想はまちがっている」といい、私を警察に連れていきました。そして、宿直室で、私を強姦しようとしました。私は無垢の乙女で、貞操を守ろうと抵抗して、その警官の耳をかじりました。すると、その警官は怒って、竹串で、私のつめのなかを突き刺し、まっ赤に焼いたコテで、私の肩を焼きました。ひどい拷問を受けて、私は気を失ってしまいました。
それから何日かたって、私は日本の福岡に連れて行かれました。先にきていた女の人たちに、何をするところなのか聞きますと、「時間がたてばわかるよ・・・・・・」と、彼女たちは言いました。
しばらくすると仮小屋のカーテンで仕切った部屋に入れられました。憲兵や警察の上官がやってきて、顔のきれいな女だけを選んでどこかへ連れていき、自分たちの妾にしました。
兵隊が、一人、二人と入ってきて、私たちはもてあそばれました。それからというもの、私は、毎日、二十名から三十名、土、日曜日には、四十名から五十名の兵隊の相手をしなくてはなりませんでした。
三ヶ月ぐらいたってから、一人の憲兵がかわいそうに思ってか、私を連れだし、ぜんざいを食べさせてくれました。ぜんざいを食べながら外をみると、着物姿の日本の女が、若い兵隊と流行歌を歌いながら連れだって逢引きしていました。それを見て、私はとても悲しくなりました。どうして私たち韓国の女がこんな目にあわせなければいけないのかと憤慨しました。
「天皇陛下が、韓国の女を挺身隊にしろと言ったんだ」と、憲兵が言いました。それを聞いた私は、とても切ない気持ちになりました。(P117~119)

(※2007.7.12 追加)
1992.8 <証言>従軍慰安婦・女性勤労挺身隊 伊藤孝司 風媒社
私が五年生の時は十六歳でした。~(中略)~
ところが三月中旬のある日、作文の授業中の教室に、学校の守衛が来て先生に何か話したんです。私は先生に行くように言われて、教務室に行きました。そこには、日本人の四〇歳近くの警察官と校長先生がいました。
警察官は私に「この刺繍を作ったのか」と聞くので、何のためらいもなく「そうです」と答えたんです。すると「朝鮮の地図はムクゲで作ったのに、どうしてこれはサクラではなくアサガオなのか。日本の花が何なのか知っているのか」と言ったんです。私は「サクラよりもアサガオの方がきれいだから」と答えました。サクラの花だと刺繍すると浮き出て見えないんですよ。
すると、その警察官は、私の思想が疑わしいと怒鳴ったんです。この時、校長先生は警察官に何も言ってくれませんでした。
そして、学校のすぐそばの「鳳山警察署」に連れて行かれました。学校と警察署との間は、三軒しか家がないほど近くでした。
警察官は、宿直室で私に暴行しようとしたんです。小学校の女の子たちは、白いチョゴリと、学年を表す白い線の入った黒の短いチマを着ていました。それで、警察官はそのチマをまくり上げたんです。その時、警察官の耳が私の口のあたりにきたので、思い切り噛んだら驚いて飛び出して行きました。(P.138~139)

三~四時間すると、前と違う警察官が来ました。取り調べ室で「昨日、お父さんはどこに行っていたのか」と聞くので「お父さんは私が三歳の時から出歩いているので知らない。顔も覚えていないくらいだ」と答えたんです。
私は小学校に通うようになってから「夜学校」へ行って、皆に号令をかけて軍事訓練をさせたり、「皇国臣民の誓い」を言わせた事がありました。そのため、私はそこに通っている女に「日本の手先になって自分たちをいじめている」と言われた事さえありました。それなのに「お前も父親も思想がおかしい」と言われて、拷問をされたんです。
最初は電気拷問でした。両足を縛られ、両手を広げたまま体が動かないようにされて、電気を流されたんです。体全体がしびれ、冷たい水に入れられた時のような感じがしました。三回くらい流されたんです。次は編み物で使うような竹の針を、手の爪の下に差し込まれました。それから、赤く焼けたコテを肩と首に押しつけられたんです。自分の体の肉が焼けた臭いを嗅いで、気を失ってしまいした。
今でも左手親指の爪には、その跡がはっきりと残っています。足は電気を流されたために発育しなかったし、今でもしびれるので階段を登るのが大変なんです。そして焼ゴテの跡は今も残っています。
気がついたら、狭い部屋に押し込まれていました。どれだけの間、気を失っていたのかわからないんです。傷は痛いし、おなかが空いていたので立ち上がれませんでした。
入口のカーテンを開けてみたら、陸軍の将校が行き来しているのが見えました。しばらくすると、朝鮮人の女が何人か来て「この女はまだ死んでない」と、私を見て言いました。私が「何か食べさせてくれ」と言うと、干パンと水を持って来てくれました。
「どうしてここへ来たのか」と聞かれたので、いきさつを話しました。女たちが「ここは福岡だ」と言うので、私は「朝鮮に福岡があるのか」って聞いたんです。私は日本まで連れて来られたと思ってなかったからです。私は日本語が話せたので、兵隊にも聞いたら、やはり日本の福岡でした。~(中略)~
三時か四時になると、女たちは二人に減りました。すると女が「兵隊が来たら拷問で腫れたり膿んだりした所を見せなさい」と言うんです。兵隊たちが来たので、いきさつを話したら同情してくれて、何もされませんでした。
翌日になり、朝食の済んだ八時半に大尉が来ました。私の傷を見たあと、いきさつを聞いて「かわいそうだ。あんまり心配するな」と慰めてくれて、出て行ったんです。そしたら、兵隊が、包帯、赤チン・塗り薬・内服薬を持って来ました。その兵隊に聞いたら、大尉はここの所長でした。
三日したら、「着ている物を洗濯しなさい」と、所長が軍服を持って来ました。私の服は血が付いていたからです。兵隊は毎日けがの手当てをしてくれて、しばらくはそのまま過ぎました。
私にはここがどういう所なのか、わかりませんでした。他の女たちは、私よりも三~四歳年上だったので、私はみんなを「姉さん、姉さん」と呼びました。その「姉さん」たちの所には兵隊が次々と出入りするので、なぜなのかと聞きました。それで、ここは「慰安所」というもんだと知ったんです。
所長は二~三日おきに、干パンなどを持って来ました。この所長が、私の最初の相手になりました。対馬出身の「高(たか)」という姓の人でした。
私はここに一年半いましたが、私が連れて行かれて七~八か月した時に「高」は転勤して行きました。「高」はその時に、故郷が同じ「鈴木」という憲兵大尉に、私の面倒をみて欲しいと頼んだそうです。(P.138~142)

ある時、「ナガレヤマ」の部隊に「慰安婦」を連れて行くトラックがあって、私も乗って行きました。私は他に行ってみたち、という好奇心があったからです。そしたら、一晩すると福岡の部隊が連れ戻しに来たんです。(P.144)

女たちが集まって話しをしている時に、私は「どうしてここに来る事になったのか」と聞いた事があります。そしたら、九割が「工場に就職させてあげるから」とだまされて連れて来られ、一割が私と同じように学校で捕まえられた人でした。
「国語(日本語)を使わなかった」「学校の神社に参拝しなかった」とか、「『皇国臣民の誓い』を暗唱できなかった」という事で捕まった人もいました。先生と恋仲になったため、先生の妻が腹を立てて「慰安婦」にさせられた、という女学生もいました。(P145)

たいていの女は性病にかかっていたので、兵隊があまりしつこいと痛かったんです。それを拒むと、兵隊は怒って殴ったり蹴ったりしました。ひどい場合には、銃で女の陰部を撃って、そのままトラックで行ってしまった、という事もありました。「ダーン」という銃の音を聞きました。移動で来た兵隊は、部屋の中まで銃を持って来ていたんです。
また、銃剣で女の乳房を切った兵隊もいました。女はまだ息があったんですが、兵隊は部屋のカーテンをちぎって女を包み、どこかへ連れて行ってしまったんです。(P.147)

そして、「鈴木」はある時、私に重要な話をしたんです。「天皇陛下から命令がくだって、朝鮮の女たちを面(村)・市・邑(植民地下では町にあたる)から『慰安婦』として挑発する」と教えてくれたんです。それは一九四二年か三年の事でした。
この後、「鈴木」が「ナガレヤマ」に転勤したので、一緒に行きました。ここに行くには車・船・車と乗り継いで、一二時間かかりました。
ただ、私は「ナガレヤマ」には移ったのではなく、短い時には一週間、長いと二ヵ月の間隔で福岡と行ったり来たりしていました。(P.148)

私は「鈴木」に連れられて「ナガレヤマ」だけでなく、神戸・大阪・和歌山にある部隊にも、福岡から行ったり来たりしました。そこにも「慰安所」があったんです。(P.149)

和歌山に二回目に行った時に、終戦になったんです。(P.150)
1993.7 写真記録 破られた沈黙 -アジアの「従軍慰安婦」たち 伊藤孝司 風媒社
私は5年生の時は16歳でした。担任の「林」先生は、私の家の前を通って自分の家に帰っていたので、よく立ち寄って行きました。夕方、ちょうど通りかかった「林」先生を、お祖母さんが「芋を蒸したので、食べていってください」と呼び止めたのです。
その時、部屋の壁には私の刺繍が飾ってありました。それは、ムクゲの花と枝を並べて朝鮮の地図の形にしたものでした。先生は、芋を食べながらその刺繍を見て、「誰が刺繍したのか」とお祖母さんに尋ね、縄跳びをしていた私を呼びました。先生は「日本の地図も作ってくれ」と言ったのです。
私は、アサガオの花を並べた地図の刺繍を作り学校に持って行きました。「林」先生は、クラスのみんなの前で、「こんなに美しいのを作ってくれました」とほめてくれました。校長先生もとても喜んでくれて、教務室に飾ってもらったのです。
ところが3月中旬のある日、作文の授業中に呼ばれて教務室に行きました。そこには日本人の40歳近くの警察官と校長先生がいました。警察官は私に「この刺繍を作ったのか」と聞くので、何のためらいもなく「そうです」と答えました。すると、「朝鮮の地図はムクゲで作ったのに、どうしてこれはサクラではなくアサガオなのか。日本の花が何なのか知っているのか」と言ったのです。私は「サクラよりもアサガオの方がきれいだから」と答えました。すると、その警察官は、私の思想が疑わしいと怒鳴ったのです。この時、校長先生は警察官に何も言ってくれませんでした。今、考えてもこのことには憤りを感じます。
そして、学校のすぐそばの「鳳山警察署」に連れて行かれました。学校と警察署との間には3軒しか家がないほど近くでした。
警察官は、宿直室で私に暴行しようとしたのです。小学校の女の子たちは、白いチョゴリ(朝鮮の上着)と、学年を表す白い線の入った黒の短いチマ(スカートのような民族衣装)を着ていましたが、警察官はそのチマをまくり上げたのです。警察官の耳が私の口あたりにきたので、思い切り噛んだら驚いて飛び出して行きました。
3~4時間すると、前と違う警察官が来ました。取り調べ室で「お父さんは昨日どこに行っていたのか」と聞くので「お父さんは私が3歳の時から出歩いているので知らない。顔も覚えていないくらいだ」と答えたのです。
そしたら「お前も父親も思想がおかしい」と言われて拷問されたのです。最初は電気拷問でした。両手を広げて体を動かさないようにされ、両足も縛られて電気を流されたのです。体全体がしびれ、冷たい水に入れられた時のような感じがしました。3回くらい流されたのです。
次は、編み物で使うような竹の針を、手の爪の下に差し込まれました。それから、赤く焼けたコテを肩と首に押しつけられたおです。自分の体の肉が焼けた臭いを嗅いで、気を失ってしまいました。
気がついたら狭い部屋に押し込まれていました。どれだけの間、気を失っていたのかわからないのです。傷は痛いしお腹が空いていたので、立ち上がれませんでした。しばらくして、朝鮮の女が何人か来て、「まだ死んでない」と私を見て言いました。私が「何か食べさせてくれ」と言うと、干パンと水を持って来てくれました。
「どうしてここへ来たのか」と聞かれたので、いきさつを話しました。女たちが「ここは福岡だ」と言うので、私は「朝鮮に福岡があるのか」って聞いたのです。私は日本に連れて来られているとは思わなかったからです。(P.43~44)

(※2007.4.23 追加)

306 :<丶`∀´>(´・ω・`)(`ハ´  )さん@転載は禁止:2015/05/29(金) 21:03:16.35 ID:DUiqasHH
この記事を書いたのは元軍人の池萬元(チ・マンウォン)氏。
韓国では昔から「親日派」として叩かれてる。

池萬元氏「偽の慰安婦」疑惑を提起、波紋広がる 2005年04月14日
http://japanese.joins.com/article/513/62513.html


池萬元氏「偽の慰安婦」疑惑を提起、波紋広がる
2005年04月14日17時14分
[ⓒ 中央日報/中央日報日本語版] comment0 sharemixi
軍事評論家の池萬元(ジ・マンウォン)氏が、韓国内・元従軍慰安婦の真偽をめぐる疑惑を提起し、波紋が広がっている。

池氏は13日、自身のホームページに載せた「慰安婦問題を解剖する(上)」との文で「自ら慰安婦だったと話す女性の真偽を、誰が、どう、立証付けられるだろうか」とし、日本大使館前の集会に臨む元従軍慰安婦のなかに「本物」でない人がいるかもしれない、との見方を示した。

この文で、同氏は「1944年がおそろく従軍慰安婦に連れて行かされた最後の時点であるはずで、当時、15歳以上だったならば、現在は少なくとも78歳以上になったはず」とし「最近、テレビで見る元慰安婦の女性の中には、それほど高齢でもなく健康も良さそうで、声に活気あふれる方もいる」と指摘した。

続いて、本当の従軍慰安婦は全体の20%にすぎず、その大半が厳しい経済事情のため自ら性売買を望んだ人だとした。これを受け、挺身隊問題対策協議会(挺対協)側は、法的措置を検討するとしており、池氏のホームページには、ネチズンの激しい抗議文が相次いでいる。

「偽者慰安婦主張の池萬元氏、本当に陸士出身か...」2005年04月18日
http://japanese.joins.com/article/646/62646.html

「偽者慰安婦主張の池萬元氏、本当に陸士出身か...」
2005年04月18日18時20分
[ⓒ 中央日報/中央日報日本語版] comment0hatena0
「ニューライト(新保守主義)」を代表する論客が、池萬元氏(ジ・マンウォン)の「偽者慰安婦」主張について、右派的な観点から批判した。

個人の意見を示すコラムではあるものの、最近の韓日関係を契機に、自由主義的右派を目指す「ニューライト」が、従来の強硬保守勢力と区分付けようとしている動きであることから、ネチズンに注目されている。

インターネットサイト「ニューライト」(www.new-right.com)のコラムニスト、イ・ジェギョ弁護士は、17日「池萬元氏に送る苦言」との文で「陸士出身の予備役大佐が書いた文とは信じられないほど、誤った歴史認識と大それた論理でいっぱい」だと、厳しく批判した。

また、池氏が提起したいわゆる「偽者慰安婦疑惑」について「(元慰安婦らが)78歳より若く見えるとの点を根拠に、偽者だと主張する勇気(?)がどこから出てきたのか、感嘆してしまうほど。どんでもない根拠」とし、論理的飛躍を問題視した。

また、池氏が慰安婦の動員について「戦争中の一時的な現象」であり、「日本に金を求めるのは恥ずかしいこと」だとした部分についても「慰安婦が10人にすぎないとしても、決してささいなことではない」とし「慰安婦問題は、性の問題ではなく『国家暴力』、『戦争犯罪』の問題」だと強調した。




309 :<丶`∀´>(´・ω・`)(`ハ´  )さん@転載は禁止:2015/05/29(金) 21:04:31.75 ID:n/eaRPxR
>>183
>爺ちゃんは 病気になるかも知れないので 利用しなかった と言ってた。

日本軍で強姦事件が多くなったのは、日中戦争が長引いて兵隊が足らなくなってから。

どういうことかというと、徴兵検査を受けたばかりの若者が兵士にとられて戦地に行っても、あまり問題を起こさない。
徴兵を済ませたら民間にもどるわけだけど、兵隊が足らなくなるとこの徴兵経験者が再徴募されることになる。
で、娑婆で適当に経験を積んで遊びも悪さも覚えたおっさんになると、戦地が辛いから女遊びをしたくなって、強姦事件を起こす。童貞ばっかだと、強姦事件は少ないそうだ。
これは軍からすると「慰撫すべき対象」「味方とすべき対象」「八紘一宇のスローガンの下では日本人と同じく陛下の赤子」である中国人に恨みを買うというとんでもない大問題となる。
国民党や共産党が問題であって、中国人そのものを相手に戦争していたわけではないしね。
しかも悪知恵つけて事後にカネ押し付けて「合意でした」とかやり始めたもんだから、岡村大将が激怒した。
慰安婦制度を作ったのは恥ずかしながら私です、なんて言ってるけど、戦地強姦罪という罪を作って「金渡しました」「合意でした」なんて寝言が通用しないようにした人でもある。

海軍陸攻隊の名物隊長の野中少佐は新任の隊員に「お前さんきれいな目をしているな、ヴァージン(童貞)かい?」とか声をかけてたというし、童貞や慰安所を利用しない兵士は珍しくもなかった。

Monday, July 13, 2015

MUSEUM ENDS KIMONO-WEARING PROMOTION AMID PROTESTS

http://blog.angryasianman.com/2015/07/museum-ends-kimono-wearing-promotion.html

7.07.2015

MUSEUM ENDS KIMONO-WEARING PROMOTION AMID PROTESTS
Critics accused the MFA's interactive exhibit of cultural appropriation.



So... the Museum of Fine Arts Boston recently announced "Kimono Wednesdays," an interactive art event inviting museum-goers to pose in front of Claude Monet's La Japonaise while wearing a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in the painting. I don't know about you, but dressing up like a white lady dressing up like a Japanese lady sounds like a fun way to spend a Wednesday night.

As you might have guessed, some folks were not cool with this cultural cosplay, and organized a peaceful protest to call attention to issues of orientalism and cultural appropriation in the promotion. Still, the museum pressed on with the stunt despite the outcry, handing out a one-page flyer to address the criticism, and flatly stating the MFA's position on the matter: "We don't think this is racist." (Well, I guess that settles it.)

But now, as a result of the negative response, the MFA has announced that it's changing its interactive kimono experience. Instead of trying on the kimono, museum visitors will be allowed to "touch and engage" with it.

Here's the release the MFA sent out on Tuesday:

The MFA''s mission is to engage people with direct encounters with works of art, and to be an inclusive and welcoming place for all. When the MFA''s painting, La Japonaise by Claude Monet, travelled throughout Japan for an exhibition, historically accurate reproduction kimonos were made for visitors to try on. When the painting returned to Boston and a similar program was introduced at the MFA, we heard concerns from some members of our community, and as a result, we''ve decided to change our programming. The kimonos will now be on display in the Impressionist gallery every Wednesday evening in July for visitors to touch and engage with, but not to try on. This allows the MFA to continue to achieve the program''s goal of offering an interactive experience with the kimonos—understanding their weight and size, and appreciating the embroidery, material, and narrative composition. We will also increase the number of Spotlight Talks presented by MFA educators, to take place every Wednesday evening in July in conjunction with the display of the kimonos. The talks provide context on French Impressionism, “japonisme,” and the historical background of the painting, as well as an opportunity to engage in culturally sensitive discourse. We apologize for offending any visitors, and welcome everyone to participate in these programs on Wednesday evenings, when Museum admission is free. We look forward to continuing the Museum''s long-standing dialogue about the art, culture and influence of Japan.

No more kimono selfies, people.

What do you think? Is this a way to address concerns while still offering an interactive experience with the kimono and the painting? It seemed like a big part of the issue was the ill-conceived invitation for folks to play this uncritical, culturally insensitive game of dress-up. That's certainly what I found most problematic.

Here's hoping the MFA follows through and offers opportunities "to engage in culturally sensitive discourse."

More here: Facing pressure from protestors, MFA ends kimono selfie exhibit

http://www.metro.us/boston/group-protesting-mfa-s-kimono-selfie-exhibit/zsJogg---5lwdZSclGWfU/



Facing pressure from protestors, MFA ends kimono selfie exhibit
Demonstrators said the promotion was a troubling appropriation of Japanese culture.


Facing pressure from protestors, MFA ends kimono selfie exhibitMFAPhoto:
Protestors say museum staff handed them this document when they demonstrated at the exhibit. A museum spokesperson said print-out included "talking points" that the MFA drafted for museum staff.Protestors say museum staff handed them this document when they demonstrated at the exhibit. A museum spokesperson said print-out included "talking points" that the MFA drafted for museum staff. Stand Against Yellow-Face @ the MFAPhoto:
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston announced it is changing its interactive kimono-wearing exhibit following criticism from protestors, who over the past two weeks have said it appropriates, rather than appreciates, Japanese culture.

The MFA released a statement about the change on their website Tuesday afternoon.

The museum had been inviting patrons to wear an uchikake kimono – a formal Japanese garment - and pose for pictures in front of a painting called “La Japonaise,” by Claude Monet. The 1876 impressionist work depicts Monet’s wife Camille wearing a similar outfit and donning a blonde wig, which museum descriptions say is a commentary on the West’s obsession with Japanese culture in the 19th century.

Now, the MFA will allow visitors to touch, but not wear, the outfit.

"When the MFA’s painting, La Japonaise by Claude Monet, travelled throughout Japan for an exhibition, historically accurate reproduction kimonos were made for visitors to try on. When the painting returned to Boston and a similar program was introduced at the MFA, we heard concerns from some members of our community, and as a result, we’ve decided to change our programming," the statement reads. "We apologize for offending any visitors, and welcome everyone to participate in these programs on Wednesday evenings, when Museum admission is free. We look forward to continuing the Museum’s long-standing dialogue about the art, culture and influence of Japan."

The original spectacle did not sit well with one group of observers, who have been holding signs in a museum showroom on Wednesdays the past two weeks.

“If you’re talking about the cultural experience of Japanese culture,” said demonstrator Christina Wang, “the kimono, or uchikake, can be appreciated without this parade of putting it on and taking selfies in front of a painting. That isn’t really contemporary critical analysis.”

On a Facebook events page called Stand Against Yellow-Face @ the MFA, over 200 said they would take part in a protest July 8 at the museum.

It was not immediately clear if the protest was still set to go forward.

Protests have been small – so far involving just a handful of sign-holders – but the effort was gaining momentum.

The demonstrators’ concerns saw shout-outs on popular blog Angry Asian Man and artnet News and were being amplified in other media.

The kimono promotion was not the only issue with Asian culture’s presence at the museum, Wang said. Many of the items are tied to colonialism, looting and the history of unfair treatment of Asian countries, she said.

“We could protest everything in the museum to some extent,” she said. “The reason why this particular event is so offensive is the invitation for the public to participate in this farce.”

Protestors last week posted a picture of what appeared to be a printed statement from museum staff, which reads, in part, "We don't think this is racist."

A press representative for the MFA, though, told Metro the print-out was a private document intended to be "talkig points" for staff people, and was not written for public distribution.

“We don’t think this is racist," the document reads. "We hope visitors come away with a better understanding of how Japanese art influenced the impressionists like Monet. However, we respect everyone’s opinion and welcome dialogue about art and culture in the Museum.”

Wang and Ames Siyuan, who hosted the Facebook event page, said they are drafting a response, which they plan to post on Tumblr.

Before the MFA’s announcement late Tuesday afternoon, Siyuan told Metro protests would likely continue until the museum removes the exhibit, until its run ends at the end of the month, or perhaps longer, Siyuan said, adding the demonstrations could be a springboard for broader discussion about Asian-Americans and race.

“What we want to focus on is the Asian-American experience in America and how this event participates in the erasure of Asian-American history in the US,” Siyuan said. “We are type-casted and stereotyped. … We are mis-appropriated by the system and by individuals.”






http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20150709-00000011-rcdc-cn

米ボストン美術館の和服体験イベント、「帝国主義」批判で中止―中国紙
Record China 7月9日(木)5時18分配信

米ボストン美術館の和服体験イベント、「帝国主義」批判で中止―中国紙
8日、米ボストン美術館に展示されている印象派の巨匠、クロード・モネの油彩画「ラ・ジャポネーズ(着物をまとうカミーユ・モネ)」をテーマに、来場者が和服を着て絵と一緒に写真を撮るイベントが一部の批判を受けて中止された。写真は和服姿の女性。
2015年7月8日、環球時報(電子版)によると、米ボストン美術館に展示されている印象派の巨匠、クロード・モネの油彩画「ラ・ジャポネーズ(着物をまとうカミーユ・モネ)」をテーマに、来場者が和服を着て絵と一緒に写真を撮るイベントが一部の批判を受けて中止された。

【その他の写真】

「ラ・ジャポネーズ」は白人女性が赤い和服をまとい、微笑んでいる構図。米紙ボストン・グローブによると、美術館側は絵と鑑賞者の「相互体験」を狙って写真撮影イベントを開催した。実際に和服を着て、生地に触って感触を確かめ、刺繍の細かさなどを知ってもらうことが目的だった。

しかし、一部から「民族蔑視だ」、「帝国主義を連想させる」などの批判が噴出。美術館側はイベント自体を中止した。(翻訳・編集/大宮)

https://twitter.com/diabola


http://mfabostonyellowface.tumblr.com/post/123553520605/breaking-down-orientalism-in-la-japonaise
Stand Against Yellow Face
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston is hosting "Kimono Wednesdays" through July 2015. People are invited to wear a replica kimono of Monet's "La Japonaise" as a way to explore how Japanese culture influenced European art. However, "La Japonaise" represents orientalist attitudes of the period and donning the kimono recreates that fetishism with Japanese culture, erases the centuries of oppression and reduces the lived experience of the Japanese to dress up.
ARCHIVE
Breaking Down Orientalism in La Japonaise
In progress.

From the Statement:
ON CHOICE OF PAINTING By choosing a painting of a European woman to highlight and to invite the public to dress in her ‘kimono,’ the MFA is continuing in this tradition of exoticizing the ‘East’ through the lens of a misogynist White patriarchal West while contributing to the invisibilization and erasure of the AAPI experience. Monet’s painting by the MFA’s own wording was ‘a witty comment on the current Paris fad for all things Japanese.’ By ‘witty comment’ we are meant to understand that the painting is supposed to be a satirical jab at the absurdity of Europeans fascination with ‘all things Japanese.’ What is the value of inviting the public to then dress up and participate in the very thing Monet was critiquing? Why not choose a print from the Hokusai exhibit to highlight the experience of Japanese women? Or why not provide a discussion on the historical context and criticality about the 1870’s obsession?

MORE ON OUR READING OF THE ORIENTALIST ICONOGRAPHY IN LA JAPONAISE Even the curation did not escape orientalist language: At the first spotlight, the curator described the Japanese musician/warrior on the uchikake as a “creature.” ON THE WESTERN ARTIST AS A GENERATOR OF MISOGYNIST ORIENTALIST TRASH POP ICONOGRAHY Monet was known to be living in extreme poverty. Aware of the fascination with Japanese culture and intrigue over Japanese courtesan culture in particular, it might be hazarded that he dressed his wife in a bold kimono, performing a teasing smile, thereby capitalizing on the conflation of wife as courtesan, a public way to be risque in Parisian circles and a sure way to sell a piece. This speaks to a certain sexual voyeurism that is made quite evident by the choice of the uchikake as the painted object itself. Additionally, the piece centers the European female beauty emphasized by the blonde wig and also by the cameo of the othered Japanese woman, her expression described by the curator as seemingly stunned upon gazing on Camille. Yet it is the white male gaze that Camille is soliciting after all, as private as her husband’s perhaps, but we know the piece would be sold to a patron, presumably white and male. Monet later referred to La Japonaise as ‘a heap of trash.’ His own repulsion with being compelled to make refuse like this at all makes him complicit in continued Orientalism, both in generating Orientalist iconography and in his personal disgust for it. And this is the dynamic the MFA celebrates by holding the dress-up event - without any irony - without acknowledging that the painting’s only redemptive quality is that it is a testament to a time when Orientalist iconography was reinforced by master Western artists. As museum patrons, we are asking to let’s keep this mess in the past.
racism orientalism art
1 note Jul 8th, 2015






http://web.colby.edu/acs/2012/09/victorias-secret-geisha-lingerie-sparks-controversy/

Asian Student Association
A Colby College Pugh Center Club


Victoria’s Secret Geisha Lingerie Sparks Controversy

September 26, 2012 by Bette Ha Leave a Comment

Does the stock picture make you wrinkle your nose in disgust or does it raise an eyebrow or two? Can you explain your reaction?
“There’s a long-standing trend to represent Asian women as hypersexualized objects of fantasy,” wrote Jacinto. She also took umbrage with the lingerie description as “your ticket to an exotic adventure” and the fact that none of the models for the collection were of Asian descent.
“The lack of Asian women here simply exposes the deep-rooted nature of the Orientalist narrative, one that trades real humanness for access to culture,” she wrote. “Besides, it can only feel sexy and exotic if it’s on an “American” body—without the feeling of accessing something foreign or forbidden, there can be no fantasy.”
Read more here: http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/victorias-secret-geisha-lingerie-sparks-controversy-one-blogger-201500394.html









http://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2012/09/27/por-que-no-funciono-el-concepto-de-geisha-sexy-de-victorias-secret/

¿Por qué no funcionó el concepto de "geisha sexy" de Victoria's Secret?
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¿Por qué no funcionó el concepto de "geisha sexy" de Victoria's Secret?
En particular, una modelo de la colección generó indignación entre la comunidad de origen asiático en Estados Unidos.
Por cnninvitationsaccount, CNN
2036 ET (0036 GMT) 27 septiembre, 2012
Por Moni Basu


(CNN) — Joz Wang no compra ropa de Victoria’s Secret; es demasiado cara, dice. Sin embargo, a veces pasea por tiendas de la marca, famosa por la lencería atrevida que exhibe en modelos sensuales sobre las pasarelas y en catálogos.

Pero aunque tuviera dinero de sobra, Wang —fundadora de un influyente blog asiático-estadounidense— evitará la tentación por el momento. Al menos hasta saber qué pensaba la compañía cuando lanzó su colección más reciente, Go East.

En particular, una modelo de la colección generó indignación entre la comunidad de origen asiático en Estados Unidos. Muchos lo consideraron ofensivo y acusaron a Victoria's Secret de explotar los estereotipos sexuales de la mujer asiática.

Ya no encuentras la imagen del Sexy Little Geisha en el sitio de la empresa. Aparentemente, la tormenta en línea provocó la desaparición de toda la línea Go East.

Sin embargo, varios blogs publicaron una fotografía del catálogo que muestra a una voluptuosa rubia con prendas de encaje y patrones florales asiáticos en lugares estratégicos.

Para Wang, la razón por la cual el atuendo fue calificado de racista es evidente.

Después de todo, es una representación exagerada de una geisha, con palillos en su cabello y un abanico en la mano.

"En serio ¿palillos en la cama?", cuestionó Wang. "Podrían ser un gran disfraz de Halloween o quizá una mala película pornográfica, ¿pero como lencería?", pensó la editora del blog 8Asians.

"Una parte de mí dice: quizá no tienen idea".

Wang señaló que Victoria’s Secret no ha usado modelos asiáticas, ni en catálogos ni en pasarelas, así que es comprensible que simplemente no supieran.

"Hay una parte de mí que es más cínica; creo que se trata de una pequeña controversia sexy que busca caldear los ánimos de la gente".

Otras personas no fueron tan generosas con su opinión.

El blog Racialicious condenó algunas de las descripciones del catálogo y dijo que el modelo Sexy Little Geisha pervierte la referencia cultural:

Nina Jacinto, colaboradora de este sitio, escribió:

"Cuando alguien crea una colección como esta y hace referencias falsas a la 'cultura oriental' (sea lo que sea que eso signifique) al utilizar un poco de rojo o diseños florales, refuerza la narrativa de que todas las culturas asiáticas —y sus mujeres— son exóticas, lejanas, pero de fácil acceso. Es una narrativa que dice que la cultura puede ser despojada de su realidad para cumplir las fantasías de un Oriente misterioso, seguro e inofensivo.

Pero cuando una compañía va más allá y desarrolla toda una historia sobre cómo la vestimenta puede ofrecer una especie de escape a través de un lenguaje explícitamente sexual y explotador, lleva el asunto a un nivel completamente diferente. Es un intento preocupante de esquivar la representación auténtica y la humanización de una cultura y optar por fetiches raciales que van en contra de las mujeres asiáticas".

Aparentemente, la furia empezó con una publicación en el blog Angry Asian Man:

"¿Ya vieron la nueva colección de lencería Go East de Victoria’s Secret? Sip. Está inspirada en Asia. Con 'toques de deleite oriental', lo que sea que eso signifique. Probablemente el peor modelo es el que aparece arriba (la foto incluida en el blog), llamado Sexy Little Geisha", indica el texto.

"Y eso que todavía no es Halloween. ¡Vivan las m****** orientalistas exóticas!".

En la página de Facebook de este blog aparecieron varios comentarios al respecto:

Devika Srivastava escribió: "Exotismo, el máximo insulto. Tontos".

"El nuevo orientalismo a la mode", publicó Tressa Berman.

La historia también apareció en la revista de cultura pop para mujeres, Bust.

La reportera de la publicación cuenta que al visitar el sitio de internet de Victoria’s Secret para ver el modelo Sexy Little Geisha de la colección Go East, descubrió que ninguno existía.

"Entusiasmada por la posibilidad de que toda la mercancía Go East hubiera sido retirada de todas las tiendas y almacenes durante la noche, de manera encubierta, y quemada en una hoguera ritual para erradicar el racismo y la explotación, busqué a su contacto de prensa.

Desde luego, la oficina de prensa no confirmó mi versión fantástica de lo ocurrido; en lugar de eso, insinuó que el producto se había agotado. (Pregunté específicamente por el modelo Sexy Little Geisha, la pieza que al parecer enfureció más a la gente).

Sin embargo, cuando los presioné, no pudieron confirmar que la pieza realmente se agotó. Tampoco pudieron explicar por qué aparecía un error de mensaje en el sitio web cuando buscabas el término 'go east'".

Bust señaló que no necesariamente había algo malo con el hecho de que la compañía incluyera patrones japoneses.

"Eso por sí mismo no es racismo, es globalización", indicó la publicación.

Pero, "dada la complicada historia de las geishas, replantear el look para que una gran corporación venda lencería para juego de roles parece de mal gusto", señaló.

The Frisky, otro sitio dirigido a las mujeres, coincidió con esta postura.

"Nuevamente: Sexy Little Geisha es parte de la colección Go East, la cual, insistimos, no es racista por sí misma. La ejecución del concepto simplemente hace que sienta ganas de, bueno, suicidarme", escribió una colaboradora del sitio.

Desde hace mucho tiempo, las mujeres asiáticas han sido estereotipadas en el mundo occidental. Recordemos a la Mujer Dragón o la Muñeca China.

Tampoco es la primera vez en que un minorista es atacado por explotar estos conceptos.

La marca Abercrombie & Fitch lanzó en 2002 una camiseta donde aparecían dos empleados de una lavandería china con sombreros cónicos y la frase Two Wongs Can Make It White (un juego de palabras que alude a la eficiencia de ese tipo de locales).

Otra camiseta mostraba la imagen de un Buda sonriente y la frase: Buddha Bash: Get Your Buddha on the Floor (otro juego de palabras referente a Budda y a bailar en el piso).

La empresa aclaró que su intención no era ofender a nadie, sino agregar un toque de humor a sus productos. El problema es que los asiáticos no le encontraron la gracia. La compañía tuvo que retirar las controvertidas camisetas cuando la Organización de Chinos Estadounidenses los acusó de insensibles y racistas.

La marca Urban Outfitters estuvo en la misma situación cuando lanzó su línea de camisas Everybody loves… ("Todos aman a…") en las que mencionaban a las chicas asiáticas, a los judíos, a los católicos, a los latinos entre otros. Sin embargo, no todos amaron a Urban Outfitters.

Wang considera que la polémica es mayor ahora porque la gente recurre a las redes sociales y a las páginas de internet para atacar a Victoria’s Secret.

"Creo que el debate se encendió, particularmente porque las mujeres asiáticas deben superar los estereotipos exóticos", dijo.

El silencio de Victoria’s Secret ha propiciado la controversia. CNN llamó este miércoles a un publicista de la marca, pero no recibió respuesta.

Wang cree que es interesante el hecho de que la modelo que portaba la prenda no fuera asiática, sino blanca. Hace algunos años, la empresa recibió críticas por un desfile en el que las modelos negras llevaban bodypaint y prendas con motivos africanos.

Minh-Ha Pham, académico de la Universidad de Cornell que se dedica a investigar la convergencia entre la raza, el género, la moda y las redes sociales, dijo que era significativo el hecho de usar a una modelo blanca.

La imagen era una versión racial con una larga historia en Estados Unidos, indicó Pham, curador del blog Of Another Fashion.

Las representaciones orientales se remontan a la década de 1900, a los escenarios del vodevil donde se presentaban fantasías llenas de exotismo racial (como una forma de lidiar con las ansiedades raciales) y eran una actividad cultural sumamente popular.

"Tiene sentido que Victoria’s Secret haya producido una colección basada en la representación racial, ya que la lencería tiene mucho de fetiche y fantasía", explicó Pham. "Disfrazarse de oriental claramente forma parte de ese juego".

Pham dijo que la firma no es tan innovadora.

"Es decir, ¿hay algo peor que un fetiche viejo?", cuestionó. "Esa ha sido mi queja sobre las provocaciones raciales en la moda. A veces son muy aburridas".

Lo que más impactó a Wang es que la fotografía mostraba un concepto contrario a la visión de la marca dirigida a la mujer moderna. Era algo tan, bueno, "de hace 30 años".

Al menos por ahora, la ropa de Victoria’s Secret no atrae a Wang. Y después del escándalo de Sexy Little Geisha, no es la única.


76 名前:<丶`∀´>(´・ω・`)(`ハ´  )さん@転載は禁止[sage] 投稿日:2015/07/09(木) 20:51:53.56 ID:o8MxUcb8
>>25
ついでにニュー速+から甜菜
985: 名無しさん@1周年 [] 2015/07/09(木) 16:31:23.19 ID:E8yOcUjCO

>>939
だからボストン美術館では同じ中国企画をやっているが中国人は抗議してないのだけれど

つ>>722
> ボストン美術館、中国ものでもやっとるがな
> http://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/history-timeline/images/timeline/2008.jpg




Amber Ying


MLA Candidate in Biology at Harvard Extension School - Seeking opportunities in neurology research and healthcare

学歴


Harvard Extension School
Master's of Liberal Arts, Biology2012 – 2014


Colby Sawyer College
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Biology2006 – 2010




616 名前:名無しさん@1周年[sage] 投稿日:2015/07/09(木) 15:28:28.44 ID:wNk65t/30 [15/25]

>>597

抗議声明を叩きつけた中国系アメリカ人のAmber Yingが、芸者花魁どころか売春婦みたいな恰好してるくせになw

678 名前:名無しさん@1周年[sage] 投稿日:2015/07/09(木) 15:38:32.76 ID:wNk65t/30 [16/25]
>>640
抗議した中国系アメリカ人のAmber Yingに直接、真意を問い糾してみろよ

https://twitter.com/diabola

で、白人コンプがなんだって?w


http://daily.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/newsplus/1436418229/985



http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/boston-art-museum-cancels-kimono-wednesdays-after-racism-protests

Boston museum cancels 'Kimono Wednesdays' after racism protests
NATIONAL JUL. 09, 2015 - 03:08PM JST ( 145 )BOSTON —
The Museum of Fine Arts Boston is cancelling “Kimono Wednesdays” after protesters decried the event as racist.

In a statement, the museum apologized for offending some visitors with the event, where museum goers were encouraged to don the traditional Japanese garments and pose in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.”

The museum said it had hoped to create an “interactive experience,” helping museum goers appreciate the rich details, embroidery and fine materials of the garments. It said similar events took place when the painting, depicting a woman in a kimono, travelled throughout Japan for an exhibition.

But protesters have held signs at the Boston museum’s events, calling them “racist” and “imperialist.”

The museum says kimonos will now be on display Wednesday evenings for visitors to touch, not try on.

The Los Angeles Times reported that a Facebook page titled “Stand Against Yellow-Face @ the MFA” described the Kimono Wednesday event as an “insult not only to our identities, experiences, and histories as Asian-Americans in America, but affects how society as a whole continues to typecast and deny our voices today.”

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


2


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61
MarkGJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:09AM JST
What in the world is wrong with the museums proposed "Kimono Wendesdays"? PC out of control yet again.


69
wontondJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:14AM JST
I'll bet the people calling Kimono Wednesday racist, are not even Japanese.


-16
some14someJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:15AM JST
The museum said it had hoped to create an “interactive experience,” helping museum goers appreciate the rich details, embroidery and fine materials of the garments.

Open a retail shop or a show-room...purpose served.


55
BrainiacJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:16AM JST
People hurl the words "racist" and "bigot" too easily these days.


29
YubaruJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:22AM JST
How is it racist? Or imperialist for that matter? Just who are these faceless "protesters"?

How much does anyone care to bet they originate from somewhere near Japan?


25
NZ2011JUL. 09, 2015 - 07:24AM JST
This is just odd, there are time to time cases of cultural appropriation where a minority group has aspects of its culture used by another larger group without any real benefit or even to the detriment of the minority group.... but really in this case?

Have any of these people ever visited Japan?

Not only do the vast majority of Japanese people want to share their culture, this exact very practice of people trying on a Kimono, or dressing up as a Samurai, in large part particularly for foreigners, is fairly common.


12
YuriOtaniJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:26AM JST
I think the protestors were Korean.


29
CrazyJoeJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:27AM JST
Some people will be offended by anything.


29
DenTok2009JUL. 09, 2015 - 07:30AM JST
Harumph. I say we all go over to Boston with our kimonos on and check out the Museum of Fine Arts.


21
sillygirlJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:37AM JST
No mention of exactly who these protesters are.


36
WhatsnextJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:37AM JST
I would like to apologize on behalf of America. The USA has some serious mental illness with its obsession on race.


10
FarmboyJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:40AM JST
So... they don't like Monet?


4
forzaducatiJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:43AM JST
I think the protestors were Korean.

No they were not (exclusively Korean). They were Asian Americans minus any Japanese Americans.


21
YubaruJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:45AM JST
I would like to apologize on behalf of America.

Apology not accepted! It's not your fault and even if you are an American it isn't your place to apologize for anything. The museum in question should have some cojones and do it anyway. They are the one's who bear the blame for twisting in the wind and letting public opinion sway their decision making process (read that as wimps).

This plan by the museum was mundane to say the least, it isnt erotic nor sick, nor racist, no imperialist, and the people who forced them to change their plans are narrow minded bigots.


11
JohnDigsJapanJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:51AM JST
Things are being take too seriously these days and it seems that if one person is offended by anything, it must be dealt with using the "r" word.


7
MarkGJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:54AM JST
@ Yubaru....The museum in question should have some cojones and do it anyway. They are the one's who bear the blame for twisting in the wind and letting public opinion sway their decision making process (read that as wimps).

It's not public opinion! It's a small handful of silly protesters!!! True public opinion would result in 'Kimono Wednesdays'. They catered to a vocal minority.


37
Supey11JUL. 09, 2015 - 08:00AM JST
WAY too much missing info:

-the kimonos were provided by the museum (to match the one in the painting)

-this painting made a tour of Japan previously (Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto) where the kimonos were also provided for anyone there to try for a photo op as well (including gaijin visitors). It was popular in those places.

-the kimonos in Boston were provided by sponsor NHK

-there were about 3 protesters total holding hand made signs in he gallery. Yes, three. At first the museum ignored them (on some days it was just one or two). Then they set up a Facebook page. The online protest was much larger (slack-tivism at its best). Then they bombarded the museum's Facebook page. "Cultural appropriation" and "Orientalism" were the primary concerns.

-Though Asian-Americans, none of the named protesters who were physically present had Japanese names (some may say they are overreacting on the racism part, but it does make me wonder if the idea of the museum putting a positive little spotlight on Japan didn't also play into it. Wouldn't surprise me if maybe this got some "Cool Japan" funds as well?).

-Most Interestingly: the painting itself depicts Monet's wife in the kimono as well as a blond wig to emphasize her European-ness. Its understood that Monet was actually making fun of the late 19th century Japan craze (as well as all things east Asian) known as “japonisme" that was sweeping through France. Hence the title, 'Looking East'. So Monet himself through this very painting was mocking "cultural appropriation" and "Orientalism". So with that in mind, what does the offer to wear kimonos and/or the protests actually translate to? (I just think Monet is laughing in his grave).


1
paulinusaJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:06AM JST
"It said similar events took place when the painting, depicting a woman in a kimono, travelled throughout Japan for an exhibition."

And you have to think the Japanese were absolutely thrilled to pose for photos in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.


12
Black SabbathJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:07AM JST
“Asian-Americans in this country have a history of being mis- or underrepresented — they’re either completely absent from the media or only depicted as Kung Fu, exoticized, mystical, dragon ladies, prostitutes, or what have you,” said Christina Wang, 29, who held a sign that read, “Try on the kimono, learn what it’s like to be a racist imperialist !!!today!!!” She added: “This event that the MFA is putting on — asking the public to come don the kimono — is part of that legacy.”

Hateful, hateful stupidity.


-29
Sunrise777JUL. 09, 2015 - 08:10AM JST
It is racial discrimination. If Japanese museum did the same thing, Japanese citizens would criticize them. But I can guess what kind of guys lead such an absurd protest. Many Japanese no longer trust them.


19
lucabrasiJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:13AM JST
So a Japanese lady wearing a skirt and blouse posing in front of the Mona Lisa is being racist?


23
Jumin RheeJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:16AM JST
And yet dressing up as a plastic leprechaun for st Patrick's day is not racist...go figure.


29
Elizabeth HeathJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:21AM JST
How can this be racist? Do any of these protesters know what racism is? Since when is 'Japanese' a race?

I can't stand the confusion in my mind.

Some people are wankers.


10
Megumi ShaktiJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:22AM JST
This article seems incomplete. How is wearing a "kimono" racist??? Is it the painting? This is totally out of left field.


-2
lucabrasiJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:22AM JST
@Jumin

And yet dressing up as a plastic leprechaun for st Patrick's day is not racist...go figure.

I'm intrigued... Why a "plastic" leprechaun?


6
Juan Carlos Barbosa PadillaJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:23AM JST
Is easy, put a japanese traditional clothes exhibition... then add some chinese and korean communities... Nationalism roots evoked... racism made!!!


6
lucabrasiJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:26AM JST
@Elizabeth

Some people are wankers.

Ha! Could Shakespeare have said it better? My wife would have said exactly the same, only in Japanese... ; )


10
Matthew SimonJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:32AM JST
Who protested this? Probably the same idiots that tried to stop the 2 Nagasaki sites from getting World Heritage Status recently. (Which did get the status) Once again people need to get over the past not dwell in it.


10
YongYangJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:34AM JST
How was it racist? The museum needs to borrow a couple of cannon balls and wear them, AND go ahead with letting people experience a kimono.


8
BritloverJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:42AM JST
@Luca: plastic as in fake, not real, and in this case demonstrating that the person celebrating St Patrick's Day is not really in anyway Irish.

The museum in Boston needs to restart the interactive experience.


16
Rick CogleyJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:43AM JST
This is absolutely not racist or imperialist. Those protesters have something clearly wrong with them. The museum should never have cancelled or apologized.


9
BertieWoosterJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:45AM JST
Why not just ignore the nutjobs who make this kind of comment?


2
lucabrasiJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:46AM JST
@Britlover

Of course, thank you. I was thinking of "plastic" as in a garden gnome or something....


10
noypikantokuJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:46AM JST
is it just me or every little thing in America could always be subjected to racism?


-4
White_ShinobiJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:56AM JST
So it is ok to refuse service to non japanese, but it is racist when non japanese wear a kimono? Got it.


14
cleoJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:56AM JST
Plonkers.

Trying on a kimono is racist? How about trying a bit of sushi? Ramen? Only 'real' Japanese allowed to eat them, too?

That would be racist. Sharing culture isn't.

Some of the comments on the Museum's FB page are truly weird. I could not imagine going around with all that angst in my head the whole time. (This is honestly one of the most vilely racist things I've ever seen. .....fragile white folks feeling entitled to orientalize because they have no conception of how damaging these kinds of things are..."Playing Asian" is racist!!...this deserves an retraction and apology...This is wrong on so many levels)

There do seem to be more 'don't be stupid' posts, though. Most people are not plonkers. Pity the Museum caved.


14
DelBoyTrotterJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:07AM JST
My colleague gave me a kimono and encouraged me to wear it. Was she trying to trick me into being racist?


7
AFRetJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:10AM JST
Three people who were not Japanese, decried "Orientalism"! (Which is turn of the century occidental fascination of all things Asian; but limited in scope to a narrow interest range). They then compared that proclaimed narrow viewpoint to racist imperialist dogma.

My guess is that from their viewpoint, the purported experience was a hand-picked one that failed to represent all things Asian and failed to meet their measure or bar standard.

But how do people get interested in the customs and mores of another society? I was introduced by the very same things that the thirty-somethings were using as an example of racism: Namely Kung-Fu, dragon ladies and etc. It was only later when informally introduced to the culture that my spectrum of interests widened.

What happened here is indicative of the "vocal minority" destroying everything and anything that would raise the occidental conscious to the slightest inclination towards interest in the Asian cultures.

These three women by ranting like a mental 10 year old because they perceive that "their" culture has been slighted have done more damage to the visitors who have a passing interest or fancy in things Asian!

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2015/07/07/mfa-backs-down-over-kimono-event-response-protests/lv9NHcnpW0lsRE77d9hvkI/story.html#


11
karlrbJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:13AM JST
These protesters must have brains truly wired incorrectly. It's a shame the museum caved in to these people.


8
JalapenoJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:25AM JST
I'll protest the fact BMW has not given me a free car. Time to start a Facebook page, Twitter rant, Instagram barrage. I'll have that free car in no time.


9
Frank ThorntonJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:34AM JST
Someone said it well, "I'm offended that so many people are so easily offended." The museum should have had the balls to say "We're very sorry that you don't like the exhibit. However, it is quite popular and we have no plans to make any changese in the near future. Have you tried Cowboy Tuesdays? Visiters can dress like cowboys, shoot guns and pose next to our John Wayne wax doll.


8
FizzBitJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:38AM JST
One of the "students?"who organized this lives in Cambridge, Mass. Just a hop, skip and a jump over to the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Rather convenient if you ask me.

slack-tivism at its best

Agree

These people should be addressing child prostitution or sex trafficking in Asia, not this "try on a Kimono" experience.


3
MrBumJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:42AM JST
I think this is an extension of the "I am not a costume" campaign against college kids dressing ghetto or dressing up in kimonos, turbans, Native American outfits, etc. for Halloween. That campaign had a point, but it's a really fine line between racism and respectfully having fun.

I don't think the museum crossed the line into racism though. Go to Kyoto and you'll find Japanese people offering kimonos for visitors to rent and take pictures in. I went to a Korean restaurant the other day run by Koreans that had traditional Korean outfits for visitors to wear.

It's all about intent and respect. Those things can be hard to discern, but it's important to pay attention to nuance and not cry racism at every turn.


8
tmarieJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:50AM JST
Oh for the love of god. As much as Japan does my head in I fear that the PC police have gone waaaaay too far in may western countries. I once had a friend get told she was racist for wearing a kimono. In her wedding picture. In the picture was her Japanese husband. And the wedding was in... Japan.

Funny, do these people get upset when Japanese folks wear jeans? I highly doubt it. I don't get upset when I see a non Scottish girl in a kilt like skirt.


5
nakanoguy01JUL. 09, 2015 - 09:51AM JST
this is truely what is wrong with the world these days: when a handful of idiots can create fake outrage and bend an institution to its will. FB and twitter should be destroyed.


-6
Dennis711JUL. 09, 2015 - 09:52AM JST
As usual we don't get the whole story here. We even got a slanted version. After digging through the inter-webs I got to the protesters Facebook page and now I understand why they were against the display...or not. They feel that the painting was not represented well by the museum. It seems that the event didn't educate visitiors like it states, but just allow them to pose... exactly like the painting. Meaning, not understanding the culture but just dawning a costume and having fun playing dress-up. The protesters wanted the painting explained...These are their words from Facebook," WHAT SPECIFICALLY IS THE MFA INFORMING VISITORS ABOUT JAPONISME? About Monet’s personal collection of Japanese artifacts? Why not that Japan was an isolationist nation until 1854 when the United States forced Japan to open its borders at gunpoint, and that’s how japonisme got its start. Nor that japonisme is part of the larger narrative of Orientalism within the context of places colonized by Europe and the U.S. as a means to generate iconography that reinforces stereotypes that justifies imperialist domination and enslavement. Orientalism exoticizes (read: others, demeans and obscures) many cultures including South Asian, East Asian and Middle Eastern traditions, and resulting aggressive attitudes (both micro and macro) towards Orientalized peoples persist to this day. Also, what is the ‘better understanding’ they hope visitors to come away with? If the MFA wants to make a point about dressing up being a respectful and authentic cultural experience, then why call the event ‘Kimono Wednesdays’ when in fact the garment is an uchikake?"


4
genjuroJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:54AM JST
How is it racist? Or imperialist for that matter? Just who are these faceless "protesters"? How much does anyone care to bet they originate from somewhere near Japan?

LOL Exactly. I bet you a 100 won or rmb they do.

"We're very sorry that you don't like the exhibit. However, it is quite popular and we have no plans to make any changes in the near future. Have you tried Cowboy Tuesdays? Visiters can dress like cowboys, shoot guns and pose next to our John Wayne wax doll."

Great idea. You should be the museum's program director. :)


2
SenseNotSoCommonJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:55AM JST
The ethnicity of the cretins in this protest is irrelevant, and talk of it drags us down to their gutter.

What is relevant is their anti-intellectual fascism, echoing the Cultural Revolution's red guards.

What next? Picket Eminem? Ban St. Patrick's Day?


5
FouxdefaJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:56AM JST
One of those skimpy cheerleader-style "kimono" college girls wear on Halloween: ok that's disrespectful and tasteless

Being able to try on authentic kimono in a respectful atmosphere with the purpose of enjoying art: respectful and a unique experience...right? No?


8
Todd SeilerJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:00AM JST
Man. I'm not Japanese and I probably might never get to go to Japan. It would be really really neat to see people in Kimono's just to see how it looks on real people. But because of some people, Americans may never get to enjoy this culture in that aspect. Isn't that what America is all about? The big melting pot. :-(


0
tonttu2012JUL. 09, 2015 - 10:01AM JST
The kimono in question does not seem to be an ordinary type of kimono, but one worn by a courtesan. I think this issue should be discussed from a feminist point of view rather than a racist one.


0
tokyoclambakeJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:05AM JST
@ Todd Seller Just do a Google image search for Tokyo Station or Shibuya Crossing; ALL of the Japanese people you will see in those pictures will be wearing kimono; it's really a sight to see! (The ones not in kimono MUST be foreigners.)


3
bonestructureJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:05AM JST
This is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. How is it in any way racist? I'll tell you what it is. It's the politically correct nazis who feel it's their business to destroy any trace of common sense in the world. Probably white people. The making and wearing of kimonos is a beautiful art. One of the things I missed the most when i returned to the US after living in Japan, was not seeing beautiful women in kimonos. There is immense grace and beauty. And a museum seems to me to be a great place to celebrate that grace and beauty. As well as to show people that wearing a kimono is pretty darn comfortable, too. But the political correctness nazis are bound and determined to turn the world into shades of gray, a boring, non ethnic, non individualist hell on Earth.


5
gelendestrasseJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:06AM JST
I'm going to go to Boston, put my yukata on and go to the museum. Or would that be racist?


6
FernGullyJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:07AM JST
I hate outrage culture. I hate this PC BS. This might as well be mental totalitarianism. Accuse people of being offensive, and then forcing them to behave and act a certain way. Total crap.


-4
Pukey2JUL. 09, 2015 - 10:07AM JST
This is crazy. I've visited a popular Japanese garden in Tokyo, and sometimes they have some Japanese clothes on display. There's a platform where visitors can stand and put those clothes on to have their photo taken in full view of everyone else. Nobody has complained.

juan carlos:

Is easy, put a japanese traditional clothes exhibition... then add some chinese and korean communities... Nationalism roots evoked... racism made!!!

This has got nothing to do with Chinese, Korean or nationalism. Stop stirring it.


0
WakarimasenJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:08AM JST
Happi Coat mondays? Yukata tuesdays?


1
gogogoJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:15AM JST
A true WTF reaction, there is nothing racist about wearing a kimono!


-2
TriringJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:16AM JST
Kimono is also called Gofuku(呉服) meaning clothing from GO(Wu Dynasty of Ancient China) so it not only repesents Japan but ancient China as well.


3
Chris CaseJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:20AM JST
Rumour has it that a protest movement is underway in Tokyo insisting that the practice of wearing western style clothing, in particular the use of zippers and shoelaces, is unacceptably racist.


3
ebisenJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:24AM JST
You should tell this group of idiots what you feel about them and this initiative on their facebook page (like I just did)... Such a shame to cancel this exhibition, that took a lot of resources to prepare!


0
Ricky KaminskiJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:24AM JST
Someone's been drinking the koolaid.


-1
yamashiJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:27AM JST
@Yuri Otani "I think the protestors were Korean"

I think you hit the nail on the head.


7
virgo98JUL. 09, 2015 - 10:32AM JST
Japanese would never call this event at the museum "racism", as we have a pride in our culture and are very grateful if people of other countries take interest in it. There might be some mistakes or preconceived ideas, but still, having an interest in something is the first step to understand it.

If those people, although I don't know whether they are really Asians, have a pride in Oriental culture, they should not do this kind of thing. Because it is to block the understanding of others and even escalate the biases.


-14
OssanAmericaJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:34AM JST
If the Kimonos are real and they are to be worn properly with a someone versed in "kitsuke" assisting so that it is worn properly, I see nothing wrong with it, On the other hand if the "kimonos" are going be on a hanger rack and vistiting women are going to wear them like hotel bathrobes and shove chopsticks into their hair,,,yea it's racist alright.


1
KokuziJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:58AM JST
The BBC has some more info on this... http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33450391


5
Michael CraigJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:00AM JST
Kimonos are very beautiful garments, even in Anime and Manga!


3
NathalieBJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:04AM JST
If you read most of the comments on the Facebook page, most of them are saying this is completely ridiculous and these idiot protestors should be ashamed of themselves. And not ONE of the names that I could see protesting it was remotely Japanese. Quite a few other Asian nations though.


1
camnaiJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:13AM JST
The story is seriously incomplete without more information about who is doing the protesting and why.


3
powderbJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:14AM JST
My wife just bought the two of us new summer yukata for after the bath. I suppose I'll have to return it now.


5
JimizoJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:26AM JST
Does this mean as a gaijin I'm not allowed to speak Japanese anymore? Surely my attempts to imitate the intonation and pronunciation of Japanese people is taking the piss.


ModeratorJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:30AM JST
All readers, please stay on topic.


2
seadog538JUL. 09, 2015 - 11:41AM JST
Unbelievable! But then-so much nowadays can be labelled as "Racist". It's become a very popular and overused epithet.


2
SensatoJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:47AM JST
"

Cultural appropriation" and "Orientalism" were the primary concerns.

@Supy11

Thank you for posting that.

This whole notion of "cultural appropriation" is a joke because, guess what, people of all ethnic backgrounds adopt elements of other ethnic backgrounds all the time in terms of apparel, food, the arts and intellectual pursuits — it is a positive tendency of humanity, not negative.

Along those lines, there was controversy in Seattle a couple of years back because a Japanese sushi shop whose owner is a Japanese national hired a Caucasian woman as a sushi chef. She was accused of cultural appropriation, and was also subject to scorn for being a woman in a men's domain — double whammy. Fortunately, the owner stood up to the voices of irrationality.

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/owner-of-sushi-bar-fires-back-at-comments-from-lsquobigot-dinersrsquo/


1
itsonlyrocknrollJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:51AM JST
These misguided student activist's purpose is not to have a open and honest debate into perceptions of Race.

These protests are fundamentally a nauseating form of direct confrontational action, to impose their blinkered political views and opinions, to stifle and muzzle, it their view or nothing.

These tin pot fascists have successfully though aggressive force made The Museum of Fine Arts Boston a scapegoat for theses own 'cultural' and paranoia and inadequacies. It is so typical of the current trend to succumb to a mind numbing political dumb meets dumber behaviour, a crass imbecilic dullard approach.

Society needs to be able to understand though sensible discussion what constitutes racism or extremism, not intimidation and bullying.


2
HimajinJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:15PM JST
A quote from the article in the Boston papers-

"Asian-Americans in this country have a history of being mis- or underrepresented — they’re either completely absent from the media or only depicted as Kung Fu, exoticized, mystical, dragon ladies, prostitutes, or what have you,” said Christina Wang, 29, who held a sign that read, “Try on the kimono, learn what it’s like to be a racist imperialist !!!today!!!” She added: “This event that the MFA is putting on — asking the public to come don the kimono — is part of that legacy.”

Pictured are a white woman, an Indian woman, and a woman who might be Asian protesting. Holy Toledo...


1
Yumster100JUL. 09, 2015 - 12:30PM JST
Can't the article dig in deeper as to WHY the protesters felt it was racist because I can't see an ounce of reasoning as to how it is racist. Truly pathetic and a loss for those that would have enjoyed what this program could have offered because of these mindless idiots screaming racists over misguided ideology. The museum should have more common sense as well.


1
HimajinJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:38PM JST
"It's cultural appropriation' say Japanese (and others) on the Museum's FB page. Coming from a country that sent envoys to the US, England and many other countries to import Western culture wholesale, it's pretty ironic.


0
smithinjapanJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:44PM JST
YuriOtani: "I think the protestors were Korean."

On a thread about perceived racism you find absolutely nothing wrong with assuming that anyone complaining is from one certain ethnic background? It makes zero sense that they would (all) be Korean, first and foremost. But, pres tel, and I ask this out of curiousity and not assumption, why do you think they are all Korean? What grounds do you have for that that does not imply some kind of racial bias?

Who cares what nationality they are, regardless. It's a silly thing to be complaining about, and I can't see how anyone but Japanese might perceive it as being racist, and only then if it were done to poke fun about Japanese displaying peace signs for photos in front of said painting. Given that that does not seem to be the case -- either with the people complaining or the museum's intentions, of course, I don't really see how this is racist. If a Japanese person had been dispatched to promote 'cool Japan' and do this kind of thing people would be nuts about it as it might be an interesting chance to experience some Japanese culture (trying on kimono).

In any case, it WAS perceived as racist, and the museum has acted on it, so that's about the best you can hope for until some better way of going about it is suggested.


3
A.N. OtherJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:47PM JST
Yet another victory for the professionally outraged.


0
Sean LewisJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:49PM JST
Here in the US people will complain about anything and or say something is racist. If I read this article right it said it was "Museum goers were ENCOURAGED (not forced) to don the traditional Japanese garments and pose in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.” They have/ had a choice to to put it on or not. What has the US turned into?!?!?! There are times that I'm really ashamed to call myself American because of the few that make it out to be that ALL Americans are racist. It's ALL about people not wanting to except anything but their own views. We ALL should have PRIDE in OURSELVES to encourage/ embrace the cultures of the world.


3
ToshiYoriJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:51PM JST
I agree with earlier posts that the kimono event wasn't racist. The protests were just another example of rampant PC that's currently sweeping across the US.

Here's a link to a "Japanese-American In Boston" blog which provides an in-depth look at the handful of protesters and the MFA kimono presentation: http://japaneseamericaninboston.blogspot.com/2015/07/monets-la-japonaise-kimono-wednesdays.html


1
GWJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:51PM JST
Took a peek at a couple other sites & the info is similar to here, I cant tell if these twits have a problem with the kimono & people wearing them or if its the painting itself(with a white woman in a blonde wig) or is it both??!!??!?

All seems pretty daft to me, tried reading one of their signs but cant make out the smaller print, they seem to have protested at the wrong venue/event for this supposed racism BIZARRE!!!


3
PaustovskyJUL. 09, 2015 - 12:53PM JST
I bet actual racists are rubbing their hands with glee at stories like this. They love to play the 'PC gone mad' card.


3
Lauren M. DoucetteJUL. 09, 2015 - 01:04PM JST
With respect, I am severely offended by being denied the opportunity to learn more about Kimono and its designs. Being labeled a bigot for wanting to enrich my knowledge of Japanese culture is far more offensive then they can ever understand.


2
cleoJUL. 09, 2015 - 01:07PM JST
If a Japanese person had been dispatched to promote 'cool Japan' and do this kind of thing people would be nuts about it as it might be an interesting chance to experience some Japanese culture (trying on kimono).

It was NHK that provided the kimono, apparently.

The kimonos, which are replicas of the garment in the painting, were commissioned by the Japanese broadcaster NHK to accompany “La Japonaise” for the recent traveling exhibit “Looking East”; visitors to museums in Tokyo, Kyoto, and the MFA’s sister museum in Nagoya could try them on as part of the exhibit.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2015/07/07/mfa-backs-down-over-kimono-event-response-protests/lv9NHcnpW0lsRE77d9hvkI/story.html


0
StrangerlandJUL. 09, 2015 - 01:15PM JST
I bet actual racists are rubbing their hands with glee at stories like this. They love to play the 'PC gone mad' card.

I'm sure you're right. Unfortunately, it's giving them ammo, as this is most definitely PC gone mad.


6
Alistair CarnellJUL. 09, 2015 - 01:15PM JST
"The idiots are winning"


3
Yumster100JUL. 09, 2015 - 01:19PM JST
So, if an Asian (or some non-white) goes to lets say, Tombstone, and they dress up as a cowboy, would that be racist, too? There are many places that allow to take memorable photos at a local tourist sites. Imagine the outrage if the photographer would refuse to take a picture of an Asian, dressed as a cowboy, in Tombstone, because it is racist.


-1
peace_zzzJUL. 09, 2015 - 01:31PM JST
@tonttu2012 The kimono in question does not seem to be an ordinary type of kimono, but one worn by a courtesan. I think this issue should be discussed from a feminist point of view rather than a racist one.

Right, I wonder why they put on Western Courtesan in the picture to put on event "Kimono Wednesday"? Why not Japanese woman in Kimono or picture of kimono that come from Japan?

@virgo98 Japanese would never call this event at the museum "racism", as we have a pride in our culture and are very grateful if people of other countries take interest in it. There might be some mistakes or preconceived ideas, but still, having an interest in something is the first step to understand it.

Even they put courtesan in kimono and said "this is Kimono" is alright? It's like insulting or just me being sensitive.


1
BurakuminDesJUL. 09, 2015 - 01:58PM JST
Whilst I confess to finding the sight of a Westerner wearing a kimono rather comical (I don't know why, it just is!) there is hardly anything "imperialistic" about it.


3
virgo98JUL. 09, 2015 - 02:12PM JST
@peace_zzz

I'm not a specialist, but this kimono seems to have too gorgeous or showy patterns, not like Japanese traditional patterns.

I first saw the painting when I was a school kid, and thought it might be a souvenior kimono for foreigners, or made for exports. There was a similar case for chinaware made in Japan.

There were high-class courtesan called "Oiran" in Japan before Meiji period, and the girls wore very gorgeous kimonos. This might be one of them, and someone might have brought back to France. Then, it should be described accordingly.

Nevertheless, it is not insulting at all. Because it is the history. If there is any misunderstanding or incorrectness, it would be presure for Japanese specialists to provide the information. That's all.


6
WilliBJUL. 09, 2015 - 02:19PM JST
WHat the hell is racist about that event? Political Correctness is really running berserk in that country.


2
NobusakiJUL. 09, 2015 - 02:22PM JST
Museums are suppose to represent cultural diversity. There is nothing racist about wearing a Kimono while learning about the history of Japanese culture. I believe by wearing the clothes of other cultures it will enhance the experience of the learner.

I just don't understand the concept of calling an opportunity to wear such clothing racist. I visited a Japanese war museum and they had on display a chance to wear samurai armor and gear (complete with helmet). I was the ONLY foreigner in the museum. Most of the Japanese people encouraged me to try on the gear because of how fascinated I was. I tried it on. No racism here. Just made me appreciate Japanese culture even more (boy that armour gear was heavy)


3
Christopher GlenJUL. 09, 2015 - 02:26PM JST
Political correctness is holding the world to ransom


1
lucabrasiJUL. 09, 2015 - 02:26PM JST
@Burakumin

Whilst I confess to finding the sight of a Westerner wearing a kimono rather comical....

Know what you mean. I got married in a hakama. When I see a photo of that happy event, I cringe....

What a tool.


2
AlphaapeJUL. 09, 2015 - 02:27PM JST
The museum said it had hoped to create an “interactive experience,” helping museum goers appreciate the rich details, embroidery and fine materials of the garments. It said similar events took place when the painting, depicting a woman in a kimono, travelled throughout Japan for an exhibition.

If the museum display showed a map of Japan and the areas where the kimono's came from, then it is not racist or imperialistic. It is simply a display named after a specific manner of dress from a specific Asian country. If they showed a map of all of Asia as representing the kimono, it's not racist, but just stupid on the part of the museum on not being able to pinpoint where the kimono's come from.

But overall, this is just another "perceived insult" that some groups keep peddling to keep themselves relevant. I can't see anything wrong with the name and the intent of the event. The museum should stand fast and hold their ground. Their job is to enlighten and educate the public, not cower because a few who don't know much about the world except to be eternally "PO'ed" about something makes a loud noise.


1
virgo98JUL. 09, 2015 - 02:45PM JST
Sorry, I made a typical Japanese mistake. Please read pleasure instead of presure.


2
CruisinJapanJUL. 09, 2015 - 02:49PM JST
When I went to Osaka Castle, I had a good time putting on a samurai outfit and posing with my non Japanese friends. And a good time was had by all. Because dressing up is something we all enjoy from the time we are children. Especially in Japan, cosplay is popular even among adults!

So..... is it also racist to wear a ninja costume on Halloween? Go home protesters.


1
cleoJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:06PM JST
The kimono in question does not seem to be an ordinary type of kimono, but one worn by a courtesan.

It's uchikake, once worn by ladies in high-ranked samurai families and now seen only at weddings or on the stage.

Nothing to do with courtesans as far as I can see.


1
NathalieBJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:20PM JST
Dont cringe lucabrasi! There are a significant number of us that think men in hakama look hot! :)


1
nalunui05JUL. 09, 2015 - 03:21PM JST
****THE IGNORANCE RUNS RAMPANT!!!


1
Brian WhewayJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:22PM JST
Whats wrong with people? some people are narrow minded, blinkered morons, whats wrong with showing of the artefacts and wears of another country? they are not promoting war related items, nor are they promoting imperialism just the cultural aspects of another country, so is every museum going to stop showing any artefact from any country because its raciest? how stupid can people get? it seams that some people don't want any cultural enrichment. its a shame because I would gone and had a look. if you don't want to look why stop other people looking?.....narrow minded morons!


1
rainydayJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:33PM JST
There is a certain delightful irony to a protest against cultural insensitivity that is itself culturally insensitive.

There must be a word in the English language to express that? Hypocrisy of course, but it is so much more than that.


1
lucabrasiJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:42PM JST
Thanks Nathalie. But no... : (


-1
zichiJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:43PM JST
Most of the time I wear the American national costume. Shorts and T-shirts or jeans and T-shirts but I also enjoy at times wearing a full kimono dress or a Yukata at a ryokan or visit to an onsen town like Arima. Kimonos never really go out of style which is good considering the prices, especially for women.

Back in home country at art uni I made several "art" kimonos and displayed on a catwalk show. I love the simple shapes and the large "canvas area" which become a painting in their own right.

Sometimes I wear denim Happi coats. Winter time indoors I like the padded jackets or Hantens.

Boston could try a Samba night, always a big hit in my hood.


1
Patrik AnderssonJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:49PM JST
A different take on the "Offended White male"; "Offended American with asian roots." A Kimono exhibition is "racist and imperialistic". Really. Really? There are WWII exhibitions with Nazi uniforms, symbols and things and jews don't get offended because it's part of history - same as kimono is a part of a countries history and Culture, you damn fruitcakes.

You know who else wanted to censor History and Culture? Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot ... There's you Political Correctness.


1
gokai_wo_manekuJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:54PM JST
Maybe need more info, but this is preposterous.


2
NessieJUL. 09, 2015 - 03:58PM JST
As a courtesan in good standing, this cancellation offends me.


2
CH3CHOJUL. 09, 2015 - 04:20PM JST
peace_zzzJul. 09, 2015 - 01:31PM JST

@tonttu2012 The kimono in question does not seem to be an ordinary type of kimono, but one worn by a courtesan. I think this issue should be discussed from a feminist point of view rather than a racist one.

Right, I wonder why they put on Western Courtesan in the picture to put on event "Kimono Wednesday"?

The model in Komono was the artist's wife, not a courtesan. http://japaneseamericaninboston.blogspot.jp/2015/07/monets-la-japonaise-kimono-wednesdays.html

Monet's first wife, Camille, was the model for the painting and sported an uchikake, a type of formal kimono.

BBC reports. http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33450391

Amnes Siyuan, one of the protest's organisers, said: "A bunch of people tried to prove that they were not racist. That was not the point. We wanted to talk about why this event is cultural appropriation."

Christiana Wang, another protester, said Asian Americans tend to be underrepresented and are forced into certain categories, such as the geisha or the quiet student.

I think the protesters lack understanding of Kimono and Japanese culture. What does the painting have to do with geisha? I do not think the Kimono Wednesday is a racist event at all.

Siyuan and Wang should learn Japanese culture before organizing a protest.


6
BuBuBuJUL. 09, 2015 - 04:48PM JST
Is it any surprise that of the 5 people organizing the protester's Facebook page and every person interviewed about the protests, not one is Japanese?


1
movieguyJUL. 09, 2015 - 06:44PM JST
OMFG! Sophia University had Yukata Day this week. Why do we have to wake up every morning looking for something to be offended about??? UGH!


-1
YubaruJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:49PM JST
Japanese would never call this event at the museum "racism",

True, because Japanese have a hard time understanding what racism is in the first place, seeing as how everything is either Japanese or "gaikoku".

To understand what racism is Japanese have to understand that there is more to the world then "us" vs "them".


1
zichiJUL. 09, 2015 - 07:53PM JST
Photo of protestor

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CI3Qr4KWEAAnM8H.jpg


1
YubaruJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:27PM JST
Photo of protestor

May I slap him upside the head? Dude looks too young to even know wtf he is protesting about. Maybe from North Korea perhaps? (Like brain-washed......)


1
Tony W.JUL. 09, 2015 - 08:33PM JST
Imagine the usual PC "merchant bankers" were responsible for the protest. I had the privilige of having the kimono demonstrated to me years ago by a Japanese friend, and I find it hard to believe that a modern Japanese would mind it being done by Western women; find it mildly amusing perhaps, but not much more. And if, as one of the contributions to this discussion suggested, the protesters were mainly Korean Americans, then it's none of their business. I am reminded of a protest by similar people here in Australia about the insistence of kindergarten teachers in celebrating Christmas despite many children attending being Muslims, and presuming the Muslims would object. They didn't; in fact they said they didn't mind at all. The too-sensitive Western world needs to address this issue of vociferous minorities more robustly. The Swiss referendum system would be very appropriate; about 360 in 100+ years, and only one not ratified by the Government. Now THAT'S real democracy!


3
spahnmatthewJUL. 09, 2015 - 08:36PM JST
@zichi:Photo of protestor

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CI3Qr4KWEAAnM8H.jpg

Thanks for the photo of the protestor. The curator should frame it and entitle it, "The Grievance Industry on Display"


4
bpsitrepJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:07PM JST
That event was cancelled because of one or a few morons?! With thought process like that.....nothing will be held anymore from birthday's to Christmas because 'it offends someone'. So sick of these just jerks, destroying entire cultures and the cowards that keep caving in to them.


6
zichiJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:16PM JST
Why does an art museum allow itself to be censored by a small handful of people who don't even know what they are talking about? A small number destroying the innocent pleasure of thousands.


4
KabukiloverJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:17PM JST
I'm generally for PC and will support it even when it might seem to go overboard. When I was a child we had no PC. Though I was repeatedly bullied because of my ethnicity my elementary school did nothing about it. Only the principal did something: He admonished me to always be polite. Really.

I am all for PC but this vile assault on the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston over "Kimono Wednesday" I find stupid and racist. This is not PC. It is a pack of creeps being vociferous because of Black, Brown, White and probably non-Japanese / Japanese-Americans trying on Kimono. Again, this is not PC but the lowest racism you probably wouldn't get from even the most rabid ultranationalist in Japan.

What Monet showed in his famous painting is that the kimono is beautiful no matter who wears it. This something I know from living here in Japan. The kimono is part of my everyday life. I've worn a ceremonial kimono on various occasions. No one thought it weird or racist.

MFA Boston should not have caved into these ignorant and racist scumbags.


0
deadbeatlesJUL. 09, 2015 - 09:59PM JST
...now if it were sniper gear instead of Kimono...


2
CliffyJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:14PM JST
Kimono looks pretty with those fancy patterns. When you view it, view it as art. There is something totally wrong with people today. Then, again, I have also read that some place people wants to cover up the Statue of David for reason of indecency. - they better never travel to Rome.


4
ogtobJUL. 09, 2015 - 10:26PM JST
Seems like these non-Japanese protesters "appropriated" Japanese.


1
Jumin RheeJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:16PM JST
lucabrasi: because the outfits they buy are plastic hats and polyester green jackets. Surely thats much more offensive than good quality kimonos.


2
Wc626JUL. 09, 2015 - 11:28PM JST
@zichi. LoL, good pic. Did you see that guy's pants? Where's the flood?


-2
Luce-AJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:47PM JST
It seems the organizers were two Chinese and an Indian (Amnes Siyuan, Christiana Wang and Aparna "Pampi" Das).

They seem oblivious to the fact they were appropriating Japanese culture in a stroke of Liberal Imperialism.

Can they organize a Facebook page against Japanese businessmen being made to go "White Face" by wearing Western business suits now?

This is where I think the Japanese government is too weak and slow about not speaking up about such misrepresentation.

A more subtle and concerning undertone is the creation and misappropriation of "Asian-American" as a collective term.

For me, the term itself if root in American racism and inability to tell quite separate and different cultures apart, the "Asian Babe" syndrome. It's a kind of stupidity and laziness.

Not surprisingly, Japanese-American tend to keep out such discourses, the activists tending to Chinese and Korean. I, personally, would not be happy at being bundled in as a singular collective.

I suppose it is following the dynamics of the LGBT lobby whose leaders seem to keep adding yet another initial every year to increase their power and influence?


0
Bill AdamsJUL. 09, 2015 - 11:55PM JST
The protesters are clearly either mentally deranged or promoting a marxist agenda.

The museum should have told them to GoFuku themselves.


-5
Luce-AJUL. 10, 2015 - 12:10AM JST
It seems like it was an "art piece" and self-promotion.

Aparna (Pampi) Das is the digital mixed media performance artist and poet at thirdeyefell.com. While her forte is in pen and ink, she enjoys experimenting with video, poetry, movement and song. In her work she engages issues of identity, gender, sexuality and the body politic. Pampi is passionate about being engaged in arts education as a tool for exploring social justice concerns and building sustainable community through affirmative messaging. She has taught dance, fashion design and other forms of art in the greater Boston area. Pampi is also Artistic Director at alpoarrentao Productions, an art event organization in Greater Boston that commissions original art from local artists, explores relevant socio-political themes and strives to deepen relationships between audience and artist. She earned her BS in Art & Design from MIT.


2
jOVAL2011JUL. 10, 2015 - 12:11AM JST
I recently read that Japan would like its culture to be promoted more in other countries so here we are trying & some ignorant people get offended. We need to stop wasting time are trying to be 100% PC compliant & get on with life.


-2
Luce-AJUL. 10, 2015 - 12:38AM JST
Japan is happy if people wear Kimonos (but please wear them properly otherwise you'll be swamped by bossy old ladies instructing you how to).

Yukatas would have been a better bet.

This is one of most confused and silliest Japan related protests I have read of yet, and it's a shame it's non-Japanese bringing Japan into shame and embarrassment.


-2
Wc626JUL. 10, 2015 - 12:43AM JST
A more subtle and concerning undertone is the creation and misappropriation of "Asian-American" as a collective term.

Why? Cause they erected statues of "comfort women" in their communities to teach the world.


6
NathalieBJUL. 10, 2015 - 02:05AM JST
You can't win with these people. We are white, therefore we are racist by birth and if we protest that insulting label we are suffering with "white fragility".

These people aren't Japanese, have no interest in Japan, and are hijacking this issue to push their own flawed agenda that they actually don't really seem to understand themselves. Nowhere on the site is there any kind of reasonable explanation as to what their issues are, they just keep bandying around tired old catchphrases such as "cultural appropriation" and "systematic oppression". And it seems from the group different individuals are complaining about different things in different threads, so they don't even have a cohesiant argument.

In summary - they are a group of spoilers who have ruined it for everyone for their 15 minutes of fame under the guise of - and this is laughable - intellectualism. Shame. I say don't feed the monsters and move on.


-1
rce121JUL. 10, 2015 - 02:37AM JST
One of these days an organization will get smart and stand up to STUPIDITY and IGNORANCE!.. It's ART! As powerful at the United States is, we are still way behind a lot of other countries when it comes to the Cultural aspect of life! Why are we SO IGNORANT?


1
Shumatsu_SamuraiJUL. 10, 2015 - 02:49AM JST
Utterly ridiculous. Part of me wonders if there's latent anti-Japanese sentiment motivating some of the protesters - i.e. they're annoyed people are drawing attention to Japanese cultural items like kimono - and justifying it by saying the museum has been "racist".

At best the protesters are racist in as far that they're campaigning for people (Japanese/American-Japanese) who don't seem to be offended by anything.


2
NathalieBJUL. 10, 2015 - 03:34AM JST
Yes Shumatsu - but then if you point that out to them they then claim it is "nothing to do with Japan or Japanese" and it is all about Asian Americans and their longstanding oppression in general! SMH! One of them doesnt even live in America and honestly from some of her comments I seriously doubt she is even Asian - but shes having a whale of a time calling everyone who disagrees with her a troll!


1
Mike WyckoffJUL. 10, 2015 - 03:52AM JST
There is a facebook group in support of it...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1141781712515378/


1
Chop ChopJUL. 10, 2015 - 03:57AM JST
Nowadays, peoples are protesting on everything even though they can't explain themselves for what they are doing especially left wing activists in the West. I really wanted to ask protestors about their view on dressing Kimono. How come dressing in Kimono and posing front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise” painting becoming “racist” and “imperialist"

Here, one Museum visitor talks about protestors. “They’re obviously here to make a point,” said Katelin Hardy, who arrived at the MFA last week intending to try on a kimono. After speaking at length with the protesters, however, she decided to forgo the opportunity, even if she wasn’t “quite sure” about their objections.

“They said everyone was racist,” said Hardy. “Maybe there needs to be a little more context to it, but by the time I was done, we were leaving, and I just couldn’t.”


2
TexPomeroyJUL. 10, 2015 - 04:21AM JST
Ok - that's it! Next St. Patrick's Day I'm gonna ask my friends from Cork to meet me at the Boston museum to protest the fact they caved in to this nonsense! I'll ask them to bring their favorite red & white flags that they use to cheer on their local football club with while I dress up in my favorite kimono (believe it or not, it's got the Lone Star Flag designed on it) and impersonate John Belushi's character from the Saturday Night Live skit!


2
Julie RezendesJUL. 10, 2015 - 04:56AM JST
I live about 50 min away from that museum. I would have loved to try on a kimono. I never heard about it or the protests.


1
Donald TaylorJUL. 10, 2015 - 07:20AM JST
What insanity. If these Japanese or asians or whoever are ashamed of their heritage, then they have a problem not the people who are trying to point out the artistry of the Kimono. The museum should have told these protesters to stick their protest where the sun doesn't shine and continued their Kimono Wednesdays, which were about as far from being racists and imperialist as the east is from the west. Kimonos are beautiful works of art in cloth. To call a western person racists because they don one is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard of. These people need to get a life.


1
Mike WyckoffJUL. 10, 2015 - 07:52AM JST
Our group has managed to take down their Facebook page. If anyone else is willing to join the cause and get the kimono back on display and available for wearing please join. Link is above.


1
tempest_wingJUL. 10, 2015 - 09:01AM JST
The article fails to mention WHO the protesters were or WHY they thought Kimono Wednesdays were racist. Saying that it was imperialistic or yellow face isn't enough. What part of it is imperialist or racist?


1
DMooreJUL. 10, 2015 - 10:48AM JST
Yubaru, you said it! We seem to live in a world now where everyone (lady or not) "doth protest too much"!


1
PSandozJUL. 10, 2015 - 10:51AM JST
I'm just glad the museum hadn't decided to feature Renoir's The Bathers. Now that would have been horrible.


1
sarukazeJUL. 10, 2015 - 11:42AM JST
Just do it anyway. Ignore the protesters. They will find another cause to rally against in a few days


http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-mfa-boston-kimono-20150708-story.html

Boston art museum cancels kimono event after claims of racism
Kimono protest at museum
Protesters photographed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, on June 23. The museum announced on Tuesday that it was canceling a program that invited visitors to try on replica kimonos in front of Claude Monet's "La Japonaise." (John Blanding / Associated Press)
By DAVID NG contact the reporter


Kimono Wednesday dress-up event @mfaboston museum canceled after claims of racism
Is it a culturally sensitive response to a delicate situation, or another instance of political correctness and outrage culture run amok?

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The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston announced this week that it has canceled its "Kimono Wednesday" event in which visitors were invited to don replicas of traditional Japanese kimonos and be photographed in front of Monet's painting "La Japonaise," the French Impressionist's 1876 portrait of his wife, Camille, posing in an elaborate red kimono and holding a fan.

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The cancellation comes after negative feedback on social media and reports of protests at the museum by people who said the event was racist toward Asian people. "We apologize for offending any visitors," the museum said in a statement published on its website.

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I hope they cancel the upcoming "Wear used Lederhosen" event as well.
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AT 10:47 AM JULY 09, 2015
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The museum said that the kimonos will now be on display in its Impressionist gallery every Wednesday evening in July "for visitors to touch and engage with, but not to try on."

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Monet's "La Japonaise," which is part of the museum's permanent collection, was created at a time when Parisian society was abuzz about Japanese culture. The painting shows Camille Monet striking a playful pose and wearing a blond wig to emphasize her Western identity, according the the museum.

In recent days, art news sites and blogs have reported on protests and other forms of negative feedback surrounding the MFA Boston's kimono event. Artnet has posted photos online showing demonstrators inside the museum holding signs


Artnet also published a photograph of an internal museum document that it said was leaked to protesters. The document states at one point: “We don't think this is racist. We hope visitors come away with a better understanding of how Japanese art influenced the Impressionists like Monet."

A Facebook page titled "Stand Against Yellow-Face @ the MFA" described the Kimono Wednesday event as an "insult not only to our identities, experiences, and histories as Asian-Americans in America, but affects how society as a whole continues to typecast and deny our voices today."

But not everyone has been in agreement with that assessment. One Facebook commenter on the page, who identified herself as Japanese American, wrote that "I am ashamed and disappointed that there is a protest on this exhibit, as I find nothing wrong with it."

MFA Boston said in its statement that "we heard concerns from some members of our community, and as a result, we've decided to change our programming."


https://twitter.com/mfaboston



https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2015/07/07/mfa-backs-down-over-kimono-event-response-protests/lv9NHcnpW0lsRE77d9hvkI/story.html?p1=Article_Related_Box_Article
MFA recasts kimono days after complaints of stereotyping


268 COMMENTS
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By Malcolm Gay GLOBE STAFF JULY 07, 2015
Sue Danielson, a visitor from Kentucky, wore a museum-provided kimono last month in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.”
JOHN BLANDING/GLOBE STAFF


Sue Danielson, a visitor from Kentucky, wore a museum-provided kimono last month in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.”

In an episode that speaks volumes about cultural institutions, ethnic sensitivity, and the power of protest in the digital age, the Museum of Fine Arts is hastily pulling back on an event that protesters labeled a latter-day form of racist minstrelsy.

MFA officials announced Tuesday they would recast “Kimono Wednesdays,” an attraction scheduled to run throughout July. It is extremely rare for the MFA to change exhibition plans in the wake of protests; it appears such action had not been taken for decades.


Created as a light summer distraction, “Kimono Wednesdays” invited visitors to “channel your inner Camille Monet” by donning museum-provided kimonos and posing for photos in front of Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise,” a painting of the artist’s wife wearing a kimono.

But the event quickly raised the hackles of protesters, who charged that the museum was perpetuating racist stereotypes by presenting Asian culture as quintessentially exotic.

At a celebration for departing MFA director Malcolm Rogers on June 24, a small group of protesters stood vigil. “This is appropriation, this is Orientalism,” read one sign. Rogers himself didn’t seem fazed, telling the Globe, “A little controversy never did any harm.”

View Story
Tensions, questions at MFA’s reconfigured ‘Kimono Wednesdays’
The mood was slightly tense as visitors gathered and asked questions about the MFA’s change in programming.
Fond farewell for Rogers
MFA’s exhibits of Japanese art open with a party

But the protesters were back on July 1.

“Asian-Americans in this country have a history of being mis- or underrepresented — they’re either completely absent from the media or only depicted as Kung Fu, exoticized, mystical, dragon ladies, prostitutes, or what have you,” said Christina Wang, 29, who held a sign that read, “Try on the kimono, learn what it’s like to be a racist imperialist !!!today!!!” She added: “This event that the MFA is putting on — asking the public to come don the kimono — is part of that legacy.”

‘It’s fair to say we were all quite surprised by the response. We thought it would be an educational opportunity.’

Katie Getchell, Museum of Fine Arts deputy director
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On Tuesday afternoon, the MFA issued a statement that read in part, “We apologize for offending any visitors.” Starting Wednesday, visitors will be able to touch, but not to wear, the kimonos, which will be presented with an educational talk until the event ends on July 29.

“It’s fair to say we were all quite surprised by the response,” said MFA deputy director Katie Getchell. “We thought it would be an educational opportunity for people to have direct encounters with works of art and understand different cultures and times better.”

Protesters in the museum decried the program.
JOHN BLANDING/GLOBE STAFF

Protesters in the museum decried the program.

The protests have been small by almost any standard, with only two protesters showing up last Wednesday (and one person “in support”) to hold signs as patrons tried on the kimonos and posed for pictures. (Suggested hashtag: #mfaBoston.)

Still, their presence made some visitors uncomfortable.

The museum initially stood its ground, presenting staffers with an internal memo defending the event and saying it would continue. “We don’t think this is racist,” states the memo, a copy of which was obtained by the Globe (and by protesters, who posted it online).

But if the protests were small on the ground, the core group of activists garnered wider support online, setting up a Facebook event page and a Tumblr account. And nowhere was the outrage greater than on the MFA’s own Facebook page, where commenters decried the event as “vilely racist” and called for the museum to apologize.

“Just stop,” said Ames Siyuan, 26, a protest organizer, who declared that the MFA can “do better.” “I don’t see how this is arts education. If anything, it perpetuates Halloween costumes of various races.”

Monet’s 1876 painting, which shows his wife, Camille, wearing a blazing red kimono, is thought to be the artist’s wry commentary on the craze for all things Japanese that swept Parisian art circles in the 1870s. Surrounded by fans, Camille posed in a blond wig, an intentional choice to highlight her European descent.

Art historians believe Monet was poking fun at his contemporaries and the movement known as “japonisme.” Today, however, some activists and scholars regard the 19th-century European fascination with Asia in a more sinister light, dubbing it “Orientalism,” a handmaiden of Imperialism whereby nonwestern cultures are reduced to a handful of mysterious traits — unknowable exotics and therefore less human.

“We should have a conversation about Orientalism and why it’s wrong,” said Siyuan. “They’re perpetuating Orientalism. They don’t give any context. They’re like, try this on, and that’s it. That’s not the way to do it.”

But if the protesters were certain of their message, their meaning was lost on some visitors.

“They’re obviously here to make a point,” said Katelin Hardy, who arrived at the MFA last week intending to try on a kimono. After speaking at length with the protesters, however, she decided to forgo the opportunity, even if she wasn’t “quite sure” about their objections.

“They said everyone was racist,” said Hardy. “Maybe there needs to be a little more context to it, but by the time I was done, we were leaving, and I just couldn’t.”

The kimonos, which are replicas of the garment in the painting, were commissioned by the Japanese broadcaster NHK to accompany “La Japonaise” for the recent traveling exhibit “Looking East”; visitors to museums in Tokyo, Kyoto, and the MFA’s sister museum in Nagoya could try them on as part of the exhibit.

“It was very successful in Japan, and we wanted to provide an opportunity to further the visitor experience in Boston,” said Getchell, who added that the MFA presented an educational talk on the event’s inaugural night. “People really appreciated the opportunity to see the kimonos, to try it on, to feel it, to appreciate its craftsmanship, and to think about what it would be like for a Parisian woman to have worn that at the time for her husband to paint her.”

But Siyuan and Wang say that things are more complicated in the United States, where Japanese and other Asians represent an often-overlooked minority. The event amounted to “cultural appropriation,” Siyuan said. “It’s white person after white person after white person saying this is not racist.”

In its statement, the MFA acknowledged the protesters’ concerns and hoped the programming change would further dialogue.

“We hope that it will be an opportunity to achieve our original goal to understand the artwork and the culture of its time,” said Getchell. “We didn’t intend to offend.”





http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-mfa-boston-kimono-20150708-story.html




MFA Boston Cancels Kimono Dress Up After Allegations of Racism

By Casey Quackenbush | 07/09/15 11:48am
COMMENT
(Photo: Museum of Fine Arts Boston, via Facebook, via Art Net)
A post from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston reads, “Channel your inner Camille ‪#‎Monet‬ and try on a replica of the kimono she’s wearing in “La Japonaise.” Every Wednesday night June 24-July 29, one of our College Ambassadors will be on hand to assist in transforming you into Monet’s muse. Share your photos using ‪#‎mfaBoston‬!” (Photo: Museum of Fine Arts Boston, via Facebook, via Art Net)

After accusations of racism and cultural insensitivity, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has cancelled its “Kimono Wednesdays” program, the museum confirmed.

In honor of Claude Monet’s La Japonaise, one of the museum’s most celebrated pieces in its permanent collection, the MFA had organized an event where museum goers could try on traditional Japanese kimonos that replicate the one Monet’s wife dons in the painting and take photos, called “Kimono Wednesdays.” But not everybody thought a game of dress up in traditional garb was appropriate.

The impressionist piece highlights France’s infatuation with Japanese culture during the 1860s-70s, known as Japonisme.

Katie Getchell, the deputy director of the museum, told the Observer that the Kimono Wednesdays program was an offshoot of similar events that were offered in Japanese museums—The Setagaya in Tokyo, The Kyoto Municapal Museum, and The Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts—while La Japonaise was on loan there. Trying on the kimonos—or more specifically, uchikake—was a huge hit in Japan, so the MFA adopted a similar program.

The idea was to give visitors a “tactile experience” with the kimonos made in Japan “to understand and experience the painting in a new way,” Ms. Getchell told the Observer.

Since Kimono Wednesdays launched on June 24, the program has run twice. Three protesters holding signs came on the first night, and two on the second. Ms. Getchell said they were quiet and did not engage in discussion with visitors.

Protesters at MFA Boston
Protesters at MFA Boston. (Photo: via Twitter/Brent Staples)

On a Facebook event description for Stand Against Yellow-Face @ the MFA, the protestors made their objections clear:

“There is no education on the garment’s origin, history, uses, or importance in Japanese society at the time. The act of non-Japanese museum staff throwing these kimonos on visitors as a “costume” event is an insult not only to our identities, experiences, and histories as Asian-Americans in America, but affects how society as a whole continues to typecast and deny our voices today…A willingness to engage thoughtfully with museum employees and visitors on the bullshit of this white supremacist ‘costume’ event are [sic] welcome.”

At first, Ms. Getchell explained, there was an “overwhelmingly positive response on Facebook” to the program from visitors. Ms. Getchell also clarified that there were in fact educators at the museum contextualizing the history of the painting. However due to summer scheduling, they could not attend every Wednesday.

But after monitoring the commotion on social media in the past few days, the MFA decided to alter the event so that visitors can no longer try the kimono on. Now, they can only touch it with their hands. The museum has issued an apology online and also detailed its plan to increase the number presentations of by educators.

“We were surprised by the negative concerns that were raised,” Ms. Getchell said to the Observer. “We clearly would never plan something that would be offensive in that way.”



Read more at http://observer.com/2015/07/mfa-boston-cancels-kimono-dress-up-after-allegations-of-racism/#ixzz3fST4186t
Follow us: @newyorkobserver on Twitter | newyorkobserver on Facebook





https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2015/07/08/tensions-questions-mfa-reconfigured-kimono-wednesdays/5VpgDhLrDNK2nPIOSygFNL/story.html?p1=Article_Related_Box_Article


Tensions, questions at MFA’s reconfigured ‘Kimono Wednesdays’


25 COMMENTS
PRINTTimothy Nagaoka, 37, who teaches Japanese in the Boston public schools, said he was disappointed that the Museum of Fine Arts is no longer letting guests try on kimonos next to Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.”
STEPHANIE MCFEETERS, GLOBE CORRESPONDENT

Timothy Nagaoka, 37, who teaches Japanese in the Boston public schools, said he was disappointed that the Museum of Fine Arts is no longer letting guests try on kimonos next to Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise.”

By Stephanie McFeeters GLOBE CORRESPONDENT JULY 09, 2015
The mood in the Impressionist gallery at the Museum of Fine Arts Wednesday evening was slightly tense as dozens of visitors gathered for a reconfigured “Kimono Wednesdays” event. Many had questions about the kimonos on display next to Claude Monet’s “La Japonaise,” and following a talk about the painting, visitors asked “Spotlight” speaker Wendy Dodek to explain the MFA’s change in programming.

The museum had originally invited visitors to try on kimonos and pose for photos next to the 1876 painting, which depicts Monet’s wife wearing a kimono as a commentary on Parisians’ craze for all things Japanese. But protests criticizing “Kimono Wednesdays” as racist led the museum to alter the program, scheduled to run throughout July. On Tuesday, the museum announced it would continue to display kimonos “for visitors to touch and engage with, but not to try on.”


Isabella Bulkeley, a public relations associate at the museum, said that Dodek aimed in her talk to emphasize the painting’s historical context.

Throughout the evening, a group of about a dozen people who opposed the event milled about, with some engaging visitors and posing questions to museum staff about Monet’s intentions, Orientalism, and the way the event was framed. The group had brought fliers outlining some of their complaints, but at the request of museum staff, they did not distribute them.

Staging a personal counter-protest, Timothy Nagaoka, 37, who teaches Japanese to fourth and fifth graders in Boston public schools, said he was upset that the MFA is no longer letting guests try on the kimonos.

View Story
MFA backs down over kimono event
The museum is hastily pulling back on an event that protesters labeled a latter-day form of racist minstrelsy.

“I had marked my calendar,” he said. “I think it would have been a great opportunity for my students.”

Wearing a yukata, which he described as a cotton summer kimono for men, Nagaoka held a variety of signs. “Wearing a kimono does not make me a racist or an imperialist,” one read. Another quoted Taylor Swift: “Haters gonna hate, hate, hate.”

“Any attention on Japan is a good thing,” he said, explaining his support for the original program. “This painting celebrates the fascination that French Impressionists had.”

At one point, Nagaoka and the group opposing the event, along with other visitors, gathered in a doorway of the gallery, and the conversation became slightly heated. “You don’t understand anything about art,” one man said as he passed through. To which someone responded, “Check your privilege.”

Ames Siyuan, 26, of Cambridge, said she was disappointed by the way the museum was handling the event.

She said she was particularly frustrated by what she perceived as a lack of knowledge about the kimono in “La Japonaise,” citing the limited information the speaker was able to provide about the kimono design’s significance.

“It has not been a place for dialogue,” she said, explaining that she had been told by a security guard to keep quiet. “I want more people to question the painting.”







http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/kimono-promotion-yields-to-outrage-at-bostons-museum-of-fine-arts/?_r=0


Kimono Promotion Yields to Outrage at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts
By DANIEL MCDERMON JULY 8, 2015 2:41 PM July 8, 2015 2:41 pm
Photo
Claude Monet's “La Japonaise,” which depicts the painter's wife, Camille, wearing a blond wig and a kimono.
Claude Monet's “La Japonaise,” which depicts the painter's wife, Camille, wearing a blond wig and a kimono.Credit Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Audience engagement efforts, increasingly a priority for museums, often ask viewers to interact with historic works of art, possibly providing a more distinctive experience than mere looking. And the results are usually designed to be shareable on social media, to stoke further engagement.

It doesn’t always work out as planned.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, learned that lesson recently when an attempt to engage visitors left some of them outraged instead, causing the museum to alter a series of weekly events intended to promote one of its signature works, Monet’s “La Japonaise.”

The painting depicts the artist’s wife, Camille, wearing a blond wig and a kimono, holding a fan. In social media posts, the museum invited visitors to mimic her pose by trying on a replica of her kimono on Wednesday evenings, when museum admission is free. Photos could be shared with the hashtag #mfaBoston, the museum added.

As The Boston Globe reported, a small protest was held at the museum on June 24, the first night of the promotion. And three people returned the following week, according to The Globe, which noted one protest sign reading “Try on the kimono, learn what it’s like to be a racist imperialist !!!today!!!”

Ames Siyuan, a protest organizer, told The Globe the museum was “perpetuating Orientalism. They don’t give any context. They’re like, try this on, and that’s it. That’s not the way to do it.”

Online, the outcry was less nuanced, with expressions of outrage piling up on Facebook and elsewhere. One commenter wrote, “Wow, MFA. This is super racist; I expected more from you.” Another said, “You’re furthering the exotification of Asian individuals by reducing them down to a costume.”


In its online description, the museum describes “La Japonaise” as “a virtuoso display of brilliant color that is also a witty comment” on the vogue for Japanese culture that permeated Paris at the time, known as Japonisme.

It seems safe to conclude that the museum was aiming for a different kind of engagement.

On Tuesday, the museum announced it would change the program. In a statement, the museum said that the kimonos would no longer be available to wear. Instead, visitors may “touch and engage with” them. The museum added that it would schedule additional talks by its educational staff on the remaining Wednesday nights in July, to provide context, “as well as an opportunity to engage in culturally sensitive discourse.”

Reproductions of the kimono were commissioned by NHK, the Japanese broadcaster, as part of “Looking East,” a traveling exhibition including the Monet work that was seen at museums in Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagoya. The statement noted visitors to that exhibition could also try on the kimonos.

Describing the work for The New York Times in 1919, seven years before Monet’s death, an unnamed writer praised it as “robust and splendid,” adding what seems, in the current context, the somewhat damning praise that “the blonde face crowned by pale yellow hair is charmingly French.”

A version of this article appears in print on 07/09/2015, on page C3 of the NewYork edition with the headline: Kimono Furor at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.



http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33450391
Boston kimono exhibit in race row
By BBC Trending
What's popular and why
8 July 2015






Following an uproar of criticism on social media, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) cancelled an event that protesters labelled racist and culturally insensitive.
Museum officials announced that they would cancel "Kimono Wednesdays," which was originally scheduled to run until 29 July.
Every week, visitors were encouraged to "channel your inner Camille Monet" by posing in front of Claude Monet's "La Japonaise" while trying on a replica of the kimono Monet's wife, Camille, wears in the painting.
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The image Boston MFA put on its Facebook
Protesters quickly labelled this event as racist, saying it propagated racial stereotypes and encouraged cultural appropriation.
Some stood with signs next to visitors who tried on the kimono.
"It's not racist if you looks cute & exotic in it besides the MFA supports this!" one sign read.
Amnes Siyuan, one of the protest's organisers, said: "A bunch of people tried to prove that they were not racist. That was not the point. We wanted to talk about why this event is cultural appropriation."
Christiana Wang, another protester, said Asian Americans tend to be underrepresented and are forced into certain categories, such as the geisha or the quiet student.
The museum initially continued the event, releasing an internal memo to their staff that defended the attraction.
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"We don't think this is racist," the memo states. But the event was eventually cancelled. On Tuesday the MFA released a statement on their website in which they "apologise for offending any visitors".
The kimono will still be on display in front of the painting until the end of the month for visitors "to touch and engage with," but they will not have the option to try it on.
MFA Deputy Director Katie Getchell said the museum decided to follow the concerns of the community but it was not uncommon for the museum to have exhibits where visitors interact with artefacts.
"We wanted people to engage with the painting," Getchell said. "It was a way to help them understand the painting, the artist's choices and the time. We never meant to be offensive."
There was considerable outrage on social media.
A Tumblr page was created where protesters posted pictures and responded to the MFA's statement. Amnes Siyuan hosted a Facebook group "Stand Against Yellow-Face @ the MFA".
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Talking points handed out by the museum
"There's a difference between appreciation and appropriate, MFA. As a former Boston resident and patron of the museum I'm embarrassed for you," Facebook user Junko Goda commented.
"Just because you don't think it's racist or cultural appropriation it does not make the impact on those who see it any different #MFABoston," tweeted Aaron P.
Aparna "Pampi" Das, one of the protesters at the museum, said the exhibit "goes back to the world exhibition in Europe where visitors would come see people in cages brought from Africa".
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Aparna Das protested both online and at the museum
Das said there will still be protests because the museum is still displaying the kimono and encouraging people to touch it "under a continued and creepy orientalist gaze".
She said the protests will continue until the museum issues a formal apology and opens a panel to discuss this incident in public with some of the protesters as panelists.
Blog by Elena Boffetta


628 名前:名無しさん@1周年[sage] 投稿日:2015/07/09(木) 15:30:12.54 ID:fYrHBU/o0 [8/15]
サイードがオリエンタリズム批判したのは、中東のパレスチナ問題において、文化的偏見、オリエンタリズムがパレスチナの抑圧に重大な役割を果たしているという理由だったわけだねw
サイードはフェミニズムについても肯定的ではあったが、あらゆる文化に帝国主義や性差別の痕跡を嗅ぎつけて、なんでもかんでも否定するやり方は芸術鑑賞というものを蔑ろにしてるといったわけだねw


Edward Said, Orientalism. New York: Pantheon, 1978.