40-Year-Old Man Arrested for Sending Threatening Emails to Group Exhibiting Statue of Girl in Japan

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] A suspect who sent threatening emails to disrupt an exhibition of the 'Statue of Peace' honoring comfort women victims in Japan has been arrested.

According to local media on the 5th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested a man in his 40s living in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, on the 5th on suspicion of sending threatening emails to the organizers of the 'Exhibition of Expression Restrictions (不自由展)' scheduled to be held in Tokyo last June, and conducted a search of his residence.

Reports state that the man is suspected of sending emails containing threats to harm officials of the Exhibition of Expression Restrictions Executive Committee.

Previously, the committee had planned to showcase the Statue of Peace symbolizing comfort women victims, as well as video footage depicting a silkscreen image of former Emperor Hirohito, who instigated the Pacific War, burning.

However, right-wing groups disrupted the event by protesting with loudspeakers near the exhibition venue even before the opening, forcing the organizers to change the location. The newly secured venue's management refused to provide the space, resulting in the Tokyo exhibition being postponed indefinitely.

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