The War Exhibition for Peace in 2002
Greetings
The 20th century which was called "the century of wars and conflicts" ended, and we had a new century. At the beginning of this year, however, the simultaneous multiple terrorist attacks occurred in New York. Successively US air strike against Afghanistan occurred and many innocent people were killed. The cycle of hatred is still continued.
Japan refused to acknowledge the facts of the self-incurred offensive war of conquest toward Asia and the Pacific region. The Japanese government has not made the sincere apology and compensation yet to the war victims of comfort women (sex slaves) or Nanking Massacre who have been demanding the official apology and reparation since the 1990's. By doing so, Japan continues to hurt the body, soul and the honor of those war sufferers in Asia even 57 years after the war.
On the other hand, three bills of emergency legislation on national security and privacy protection bill are presented. The National Flag & Anthem Law and the Japan-U.S. New Guideline Law were enacted in 1999, and the Constitution Research Council was established. This series of legislation shows the Japanese government is making way towards war. Following last year's junior high school textbooks of history and civics, high school textbooks of history got the stamp of approval from the Ministry of Education in spite that they affirm the Japan's past aggressive war and even praise Imperial Message on Education and Meiji Constitution, hardly ever mentioning the reality of attacks. Against a series of these issues, there has been harsh criticism from Korea, China and other Asian nations.
Also the Diet councils to study constitutional debates is discussing introducing the draft, and the government leader is impassively proposing to review the three non-nuclear principles. We cannot overlook these important issues.
The aim of this 23rd War Exhibition for Peace is to keep Japan from becoming the war-making country. We desire to draw the moral from the both experiences of attacking and suffering of the past war, and create with you the power not to be drawn into the general trend. It is our sheer bliss if this exhibition becomes an opportunity for you to discuss what we should do to make peace.
Chairperson of the executive committee of the War Exhibition for Peace
Sadao Suzuki
