Bomb Delivered to Comfort Women Statue Exhibition in Japan... "Event Suspended"

On the 6th, the 'Statue of Peace,' symbolizing the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, was installed at the public exhibition hall 'Citizen Gallery Sakae' in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] An event was halted after a substance presumed to be fireworks was delivered to a Japanese exhibition showcasing the 'Statue of Peace,' symbolizing the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery.

This marks a recurrence of the disruption of an exhibition that was difficult to hold due to opposition from right-wing forces, similar to what happened in 2019.

On the 8th, Kyodo News reported that at the 'Citizens Gallery Sakae' in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, where the exhibition 'Our Expression of Unfreedom of Expression and After' featuring the Statue of Peace is being held, a staff member attempted to open a mail package delivered that morning, which then exploded with a substance presumed to be fireworks.

No injuries were reported, but the event was suspended as a result.

Mihagi Yamamoto, an executive committee member of the 'Aichi Group Continuing Expression of Unfreedom of Expression and After,' which organizes the exhibition, stated, "The facility staff and police deemed it dangerous and requested a temporary evacuation from the building, and we are currently outside the building."

He explained, "We had planned to admit visitors to the exhibition from 10 a.m., but due to the evacuation request, visitors were unable to view the exhibits today."

The exhibition, which opened on the 6th and was scheduled to run for six days until the 11th, was effectively suspended after accommodating visitors for two days.

It remains unclear who was responsible for the incident and the extent of the safety concerns.

It is presumed that someone dissatisfied with the display of the Statue of Peace sent the suspicious object to create a pretext for halting the event.

On the opening day, the 6th, right-wing groups held protests in front of the exhibition building, using loudspeakers to create noise and demand the suspension of the exhibition.

This is not the first time that the exhibition of the Statue of Peace has been suspended following incidents raising safety concerns.

When the Statue of Peace was displayed at the planning exhibition 'Expression of Unfreedom of Expression and After' during the 'Aichi Triennale' held from August to October 2019, threats continued, including a fax stating, "If the Statue of Peace is not removed, we will visit the exhibition hall with a gasoline can," leading to the exhibition being halted after three days.

At that time, civic groups and artists strongly protested the suspension and took legal action, and the exhibition resumed after about two months, but ultimately the Statue of Peace was displayed for only ten days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.