Comfort Women Project - Asia Trip 2008

68. Summary: Research 2008

2008-09-19T20:03:00.010-04:00

I traveled this summer to Asia including Korea, Taiwan, and Japan to meet "Comfort Women" survivors, and to interview a former Japanese Imperial Army soldier who served during W.W.II and witnessed the "Comfort Women" system first hand. I plan to continue research in Asia next year, to meet Chinese, Dutch, Filipino, and Indonesian survivors.

Subsequently, I will create artworks based on the research, and attempt to bring to light this instance of organized violence against women and to help restore the honor of those who lived through so much.

It has been a great honor to meet these courageous and outspoken "Comfort Women" in Korea and Taiwan, who are helping to keep this important history alive. I look forward to my continued research in Asia.

67. Summary: Korea Research

2008-09-19T19:59:00.014-04:00

I interviewed 9 Korean "Comfort Women" at Nanumeh-Jip ("The House of Sharing"), and at Shim Toh ("A resting place"). A majority of all "Comfort Women" were Korean, and most did not survive the war and harsh treatment. Of those who did survive, most kept the events a secret because it would be considered shameful and reflect badly on their families. Despite this, over 250 Korean "Comfort Women" came out in the 1990's. Now aged in their 80's and 90's, most of them are in poor health and only 99 surviving women remain.

In order to understand this complicated issue better, I had meetings with many activists, sociologists, historians, and scholars. Among those I interviewed were Professor Jung Oak Yun, and Professor Hyo Chae Lee who are founding and central figures working to bring the "Comfort Women" issue to international attention, and Won Soon Park, Social Designer and Executive Director of The Hope Institute, working for institutional change and social justice in Korea.

I attended a Symposium for the 10th Anniversary of the Comfort Women Museum at Nanumeh-Jip. Historians and activists from Korea, Japan, and U.S.A. gathered to discuss strategies on the "Comfort Women" issue now that United States House of Representatives House Resolution 121 has been passed.

I also visited "The Museum of Japanese Imperial Army's Sexual Slavery" and "The Center for Peace and Human Rights," "The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan," and "War & Women's Rights Museum."

To know more about the Korean art scene I met with Yu Yeon Kim curator, Yoon-kyung Kwon curator at Seoul Auction, Min Seok Seo curator at Seoul Arts Center, and Bowon Chung Public Art sculptor.

http://www.nanum.org/eng/
www.makehope.org
http://www.womenandwar.net/english/index.php

Korea - from Google Maps

Every Wednesday people, including Korean "comfort women," have gathered since 1992 to protest for justice for these women.

Interviewing Korean "Comfort Women"

66. Summary: Taiwan Research

2008-09-19T19:57:00.012-04:00

I interviewed 6 Taiwanese "Comfort Women" with diverse backgrounds including Taiwanese, Hakanese, and Aboriginal Taiwanese through valuable help and support from Graceia Lai, Director of International Affairs, Shu-Hue Kang, Deputy Executive Director, and Huiling Wu, Associate Supervisor at The Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation(TWRF). There were by some estimates 2,000 Taiwanese "Comfort Women". 58 women came out in the 1990's. Now, 21 remain.

I stayed as a resident artist at The Bamboo Curtain Studio during my visit to Taipei, and got lots of support from Margaret Tan, the Director, and Ann Yao, the Programme Director who are particularly interested in art focusing on social and environmental concerns.

http://www.bambooculture.com/BCS%20Eng/index.html

I met with Yaohua Su, Director of Taipei Artist Village; Rita Chang, Representative and Melissa Chan, Program Associate at The Asian Cultural Council in Taipei; and artists such as Lulu Shur-tzy Hou, Mali Wu, and Betsy Lan to talk about the art world in Taiwan.

Taiwan - from Google Maps

Interviewing two Hakanese "Comfort Women"

With Graceia Lai and Shu-Hue Kang at The Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF)

65. Summary: Japan Research

2008-09-17T17:30:00.012-04:00

I had an opportunity to interview Mr. Kaneko, a former Japanese soldier - through Mina Watanabe, Secretary General/Curator, and Alison Scott, a Dutch Canadian assistant at Women's Active Museum (WAM) on War and Peace in Tokyo.

http://www.wam-peace.org/eng/

With the help of Georg Kochi, Representative at The Asian Cultural Council in Japan, I stayed at Youkobo Art Space and met Hiroko Murata and Tatsuhiko Murata, Directors.

http://www.youkobo.co.jp/

To help me further understand the art scene in Japan Mr. Kochi also arranged a meeting with Mami Kataoka, Senior Curator at Mori Art Museum in Ropponggi Hills Mori Tower.

Japan - from Google Maps

At Women's Active Museum (WAM) on War and Peace in Tokyo

64. Former Japanese soldier

2008-09-13T21:12:00.008-04:00

Friday September 5, 2008

Alison Scott, a Dutch Canadian assistant at Women's Active Museum on War and Peace, took me to the home of Mr. Yasuji Kaneko, a former Japanese soldier. Alison's grandmother survived a Japanese concentration camp in Indonesia. (It is estimated that 400 Dutch women were taken as sex slaves during WWII.)

Mr. Kaneko was a soldier of the Imperial Japanese Army during WWII, and came forward in the 90's to speak about war crimes. He had a strong sense of duty to tell what he experienced and witnessed. "So, this kind of violence against women doesn't happen again. War is not good for anybody," he said.

Traveling with Alison

At Mr. Kaneko's home

Alison translating

63. Mami Kataoka curator

2008-09-13T21:11:00.005-04:00

Thursday September 4, 2008

I had a meeting with Mami Kataoka, a curator at Mori Art Museum in the Ropponggi Hills Mori Tower. We talked about my projects, and issues involving "comfort women" and human trafficking.

62. WAM Displays

2008-09-13T20:52:00.004-04:00

Wednesday September 3, 2008

Displays at Women's Active Museum(WAM) on War and Peace(WAM).

Locations of the "Comfort Stations" in Asia

History of the "Comfort Women"

Pictures of high-ranking Japanese officials accused of war crimes, and of "The Women's International War Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery" in Tokyo, Japan on December 2000.

Pictures of "comfort women" at the entrance to WAM

61. WAM on War and Peace

2008-09-13T20:49:00.011-04:00

Wednesday September 3, 2008

I had a meeting with Mina Watanabe, Secretary General/Curator, and Alison Scott, a Dutch Canadian assistant, at Women's Active Museum(WAM)on War and Peace. We discussed the purpose of my project and the difficulties associated with the "comfort women" issue in Japan.

http://www.wam-peace.org/eng/

On the aims of Women's Active Museum on War and Peace:
"Why don't we found a strategic basis to record and bear in mind the facts of what military forces did against women and how cruelly they were damaged during wartime, and let a peaceful future without violence come true?"

"Wam started with five action targets to bring this dream into reality: Focus on wartime violence, declaring that justice free from any gender bias shall be universally applied; Gather and exhibit data on individual victims, clarifying who is to take responsibility for such victimization; Create an action basis to realize a peaceful and non-violence future; Produce a people's movement without depending on any state power; Take action to enable cross-border solidarity."

Entering WAM

With Mina Watanabe

With Mina Watanabe, Secretary General/Curator, and Alison Scott, a Dutch Canadian assistant

60. ACC in Japan

2008-09-13T20:49:00.007-04:00

Monday September 1, 2008

At The Asian Cultural Council(ACC)/Japan-US Arts Program, I met with Georg Kochi, Representative, and Misuzu Yamamoto, Program Associate.

Georg and Misuzu arranged accomodation for me, and suggested museums and galleries in Tokyo. He also offered to try to arrange some meetings with curators during my visit in Japan. Later he contacted me and set up a meeting with Mami Kataoka of the Mori Art Museum.

59. Arriving in Japan

2008-09-13T20:47:00.003-04:00

Sunday August 31, 2008

I arrived at Youkobo Art Space in Japan. Youkobo is run by Tatsuhiko Murata and Hiroko Murata. Its Artist-In-Residence Program (AIR), provides a place for both international and Japanese artists. I had a nice Japanese style living space. We also met a number of interesting artists and curators there.

http://www.youkobo.co.jp/

With Tatsuhiko Murata and Hiroko Murata

58. Wednesday Protest

2008-09-13T20:43:00.009-04:00

Wednesday August 27, 2008

I went to a Wednesday Protest before my departure to Japan. Many Koreans and Japanese, and Korean "comfort women" *halmunis were protesting in front of the Japanese Embassy. I wished the halmunis good health and long life as I said good-bye to them.

* "halmunis" in Korean, or "ahmas" in Taiwanese means "grandmas". (In Asia, elders are commonly referred to as grandmother or grandfather, whether you are related to them or not, as a way of showing respect.)

With Soni Kum who works at Nanumeh-Jip(The House of Sharing)

Korean "comfort women" halmunis

With Halmunis

With Young Mee Son who takes care of the halmunis at Shim Toh

57. Min Seok Seo curator

2008-09-13T20:17:00.003-04:00

Tuesday August 26, 2008

I had a meeting with Min Seok Seo, a curator at Seoul Arts Center. We talked about my projects and later, he showed me around the arts center.

56. Dawn Korean art center

2008-09-13T20:12:00.007-04:00

Monday August 25, 2008

I was invited by Seongmin Ahn, artist, to an informal Korean tea at Dawn Korean art center. Hee Suk Jung is a Korean traditional dress (Hanbok) designer and can also perform the formal Korean Tea Ceremony. She also gives historical walking tours of the local neighborhood. Her studio was filled with Buddhist's chanting music and very peaceful, yet full of energy. I also met Dae Bong Sunim who is a Zen Buddhist Monk at Mu Sang Sa, Gye Ryong Sahn Int'l Zen Center.

Later, Hee Suk took me to some galleries in Seoul including Gana Gallery, Arario Gallery and Hyundai Gallery. She also introduced me to Joon Eui Noh, Director at Total Museum of Contemporary Art.

Hee Suk Jung and Seongmin Ahn

Hee Suk Jung performing an informal tea ceremony

With Joon Eui Noh and Hee Suk Jung at Total Museum of Contemporary Art.

55. Yoon-Kyung Kwon curator

2008-09-13T20:10:00.003-04:00

Saturday August 23, 2008

I had lunch with Yoon-kyung Kwon and her parents. Yoon-kyung is a curator at Seoul Auction. We talked about my projects and the art scene in Korea.

54. Professor Chung Oak Yun

2008-09-13T20:06:00.002-04:00

Friday August 22, 2008

I had a meeting with Professor Chung Oak Yun at a quiet cafe near Ewha Women's University on a very rainy day.

Professor Yun is a founding and central figure among the South Korean women working to bring the comfort women issue to international attention. We had a three-hour long meeting about the history of the Korean "comfort women."

53. Ssamzie Space

2008-09-13T15:29:00.003-04:00

Friday August 22, 2008

I met with Hyunjin Shin, a curator at Ssamzie Space. We spoke about the art scene in Korea and Ssamzie's programs.

52. Jin Hwan Kim's Dance

2008-09-13T15:28:00.003-04:00

Thursday August 21, 2008

I was invited to a party at Jin Hwan Kim's Korean traditional dance company. They had performed "A flower is blossomed and smiling" which was dedicated to Korean "comfort women" at the Korean Independence Day at Nanumeh-Jip.

Jin Hwan Kim, Director

The performers dancing at the party

51. Korean Halmunis

2008-09-13T15:26:00.007-04:00

Monday August 18, 2008

Young-Soo Lee *halmuni invited me to "Shim Toh" ("The Resting Place") in Seoul. It was a house where Young Soo Lee halmuni and Soon-Duk Lee halmuni have lived. Young-Mee Son takes care of the halmunis.

We all sat together and had a long and fruitful conversation. Young-Soo Lee halmuni is strong-willed and always the life of the party. Soon-Duk Lee halmuni sang for us, performing the Korean traditional "Changka" beautifully as she danced.

Afterwards, we went for a little walk outside in the courtyard.

50. Traveling to Shim Toh

2008-09-13T15:24:00.005-04:00

Monday August 18, 2008

I left Nanumeh-Jip with Young-Soo Lee *halmuni to go to "Shimtoh" in Seoul. It was raining hard early morning when I said good-bye to all the halmunis. They were worried about our departure in the harsh weather. A nurse who takes good care of the halmunis gave us a ride to the bus station.

With Young-Soo Lee halmuni

At the bus station

Back in Seoul, on the way to Shimtoh

49. Duck barbecue dinner

2008-09-13T15:23:00.004-04:00

Sunday August 17, 2008

Volunteer moms treated the halmunis and everyone at Nanumeh-Jip to a special duck barbecue dinner.

48. Karaoke

2008-09-13T15:21:00.004-04:00

Saturday August 16, 2008

Young-Soo Lee *halmuni suggested doing Karaoke with the Japanese University students, and other halmunis. They were all singing and dancing around.

47. With Japanese students

2008-09-13T15:19:00.004-04:00

Saturday August 16, 2008

Dinner with Japanese University students who were visiting Nanumeh-Jip. They had been visiting places related to WWII victims in Asia, including China and Korea.

46. Celebration - Finale

2008-09-12T22:34:00.004-04:00

Friday August 15, 2008

The celebration ended with Won-Haeng's speech. He is a Buddhist priest and the Director at Nanumeh-Jip.

Won-Haeng Snim("Buddhist priest") speaking

45. Celebration-Theater

2008-09-12T22:31:00.004-04:00

Friday August 15, 2008

"Jin Hwan Kim's Traditional Korean Dance" company performed "A flower is blossomed and smiling" which was dedicated to Korean "comfort women." This performance acted out the story of the suffering of the "Comfort Women". Some Korean "comfort women" *halmunies cried when, during the story, they sang "Arirang," one of the most beloved Korean traditional songs.

Korean dancing

A Korean bride entering

44. Celebration - Audience

2008-09-12T22:30:00.004-04:00

Friday August 15, 2008

The weather was constantly changing all day - sometimes rainy, at other times humid, cloudy and hot - yet many people came and celebrated Korean Independence Day with the "comfort women" *halmunis.

With the Korean halmunis

43. Celebration-Performers

2008-09-12T22:25:00.008-04:00

Friday August 15, 2008

The Korean Independence Day Celebration was hosted by Mee Wha Kim - the famous Korean comedian. Performances throughout the day included a Korean-Latin Jazz band, Korean traditional "Pansori" style singing, playing of the "Kayakum" (a traditional Korean board zither), Junior High School students doing cheer-leader-style dancing and singing, and Korean and Japanese folk and pop performers.

Mee Wha Kim, MC, hosting

Korean-Latin Jazz band performing

A Japanese folk singer

Korean traditional "Pansori" style singers

Junior High School student performance

Korean "Kayakum" performance

A Korean pop singer, with the Korean "comfort women" *halmunis

Junior High School students singing

42. Celebration - Beginning

2008-09-12T22:16:00.004-04:00

Friday August 15, 2008

Korean Independence Day Celebration, August 15th, at Nanumeh-Jip. Many students from Junior High School to Graduate students were volunteering at the event.

The event began with an orchestra playing Korean music.

Sung Yeun, Buddhist monk

With Um Hee Sun, a graduate student volunteer

Many teenager volunteers

The orchestra playing

41. Symposium

2008-08-29T05:25:00.008-04:00

Thursday August 14, 2008

Symposium for the 10th Anniversary of the Comfort Women Museum at Nanumeh-Jip. Historians and activists from Korea, Japan, and U.S.A gathered to discuss strategies on the "Comfort Women" issue now that U.S. Resolution 121 has been passed.

Speakers included Eriko Ikeda, Chair of the Steering Committee at The Women's Active Museum (WAM) on War and Peace(Japan); Haruko Yoshikawa, the Former of House of Councillors(Japan); Ok Cha Soh, Ph.D, the President of Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues, Inc. (U.S.A.); and Hong Ku Han Ph.D., a Korean historian (Korea).

Many Korean High School and College students participated in the symposium.

Korean halmunis, (former "Comfort Women"), and Sung Yeun, Buddhist priest.

Introduction by Shin Kweon Ahn, General Manager at Nanumeh-Jip.

Eriko Ikeda at The Women's Active Museum on War and Peace(WAM) speaking.

With Eriko Ikeda at WAM and Murayama Ippei, a Japanese researcher.

Yung Nye Lee Halmuni, a former "Comfort Woman".

Haruko Yoshikawa(Japan), Ok Cha Soh, Ph.D(U.S.A.), and Hong Ku Han Ph.D.(Korea).

With Ok Cha Soh, Ph.D (U.S.A.)

40. Shyou Fung Ho ahma

2008-08-29T05:25:00.007-04:00

Monday August 11, 2008

Li-Fang Yang (at the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation) took me to Shyou Fung Ho ahma's home. The *ahma is an aboriginal Taiwanese and lives with her daughter and grandson.

39. Yaohua Su Director

2008-08-29T04:44:00.005-04:00

Monday August 11, 2008

I had a meeting with Yaohua Su, Director of Taipei Artist Village. We talked about my previous projects, and about my current reaserch.

38. Meeting with Mali Wu

2008-08-29T04:42:00.003-04:00

Monday August 11, 2008

I met with Mali Wu at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum where she was participating in the 2008 Taipei Biennial. We talked about the art scene in Taiwan and China.

37. Hsiu-mei Wu at temple

2008-08-24T02:18:00.006-04:00

Sunday August 10, 2008

Hsiu-mei Wu *ahma took Huiling and me to a temple. First she showed us how to pick offering foods for the gods. We picked a box of Taiwanese cookies and two pieces of red bread (Red means fortune) for blessing.

The temple was very colorful and decorative because of the upcoming "Pudu" ghost festival in Taiwan. Inside the temple there were many different gods and the ahma and Huiling explained to me how to pay respect to each god.

Picking up offering bread with the ahma and Huiling

At the temple gate

With the ahma

36. Hsiu-mei Wu ahma's home

2008-08-24T02:13:00.007-04:00

Sunday August 10, 2008

Huiling at the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation(TWRF) took me to Hsiu-mei Wu, Hakaness ahma's home in Taipei. The *ahma lived alone in an apartment. The ahma was very social, talkative and easy-going. We spent all day with the ahma.

She showed me her beautiful handmade bras which had been worn for over 20 years. She handwashed them and kept them so neat and white so, they looked almost new. These bras looked more like tank tops. The ahma said she liked them because she could keep her money inside the pocket of the bra when she went to market.

Also, she showed me a piece of burned wine bottle cork that she used to use for eyeliner many years ago. She demonstrated how she used it by burning the top of the cork with a match, then flattening the other end of the wooden match stick and using it as an applicator. Now, she said, it is much easier just to use an eye liner pencil.

About Hsiu-mei Ahma:

“I was deceived by the Japanese soldiers and became a military comfort women in 1940. Before we boarded the warship at Kaohsiung Harbor, the Japanese military doctor ordered us to undress for physical checkup. There were ten or more young girls on that shipment. None dared to defy the order. We kept trembling and followed the order. It happened over sixty years ago, but it is still vivid in my mind... As we got the ship, people told me that place was called Canton. It was a battlefield, the sound of cannons everywhere, full of Japanese soldiers at the harbor. Masses of Japanese soldiers were shouting “Wan-sui! Wan-sui!” (“Long Live!”)

Later, I was taken to a building to a building over ten-story high. I’ve never seen this kind of building before. The elevator was out of order and there was no electricity. There were many rooms, all totally dark. One person to one room. It was always foggy outside the window.

There were many soldiers. No matter how much I feared, I was assaulted by twenty or thirty Japanese soldiers daily. I was in so much pain I’d rather die. Whenever I didn’t go along or when they were drunk, they drew their samurai sward and threatened me. They said they were patriotic soldiers and should be well served.”

From “Compassion Without Borders” by The Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation.

The ahma showing us her beautiful handmade bras

The ahma demonstration how she used to use a piece of charcol as an eyeliner

35. Taipei Artist Village

2008-08-24T02:11:00.004-04:00

Friday August 8, 2008

I got together with Lulu Shur-tzy Hou who was an Asian Cultural Council Taiwanese grantee and a photographer dealing with Taiwanese women's issues. She took me to Taipei Artist Village and introduced me to Jill Yang, who is the Manager. We toured the gallery and met a Korean resident artist from Kwangju.

Lulu also took us to It Park Gallery. The Director and Eve Wu, Administrator, invited us to sit down for an informal chat and offered us beer and a bite to eat.

We also stopped in at Very Temple and VT Salon, an interesting alternative art space.

34. Artist Talk at TWRF

2008-08-24T02:09:00.003-04:00

Friday August 8, 2008

I had an artist talk at Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF) at noon. I presented my previous projects and discussed my intentions and hopes associated with the "comfort women" research. The staff was very interested and asked lots of questions.

33. Artist Talk at BCS

2008-08-24T02:07:00.003-04:00

Thursday August 7, 2008

I had an artist talk presentation at the Bamboo Curtain Studio(BCS). I presented my previous projects and my "comfort women" research in Korea and Taiwan so far. Later, I met some Taiwanese artists including Yiyi Wan, a photographer and Director of Taiwan Women's Art Association.

Preparation

Artist Talk

32. Meeting with Betsy Lan

2008-08-24T02:05:00.003-04:00

Wednesday August 6, 2008

I got together with Betsy Lan near Taipei Power Station, a very lively neighborhood where university students and young people were hanging out.

Betsy is a theater performer who directed a special version of a play called "The Vagina Monologues" dealing with "comfort women" for V-Day.

"The 'V' in V-Day stands for Valentine, Vagina, and Victory, linking love and respect for women to ending violence against women and girls. Proceeds from the performances go to programs that work to end violence against women."

We exchanged our experiences and politics around the "comfort women" issue in Asia.

31. TWRF in Taipei

2008-08-24T01:48:00.004-04:00

Monday August 4, 2008

I visited The Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation(TWRF)in Taipei. TWRF has been dealing with three women's issues: Comfort Women, Human Trafficking, and Domestic Violence.

I went their office to gether some historical materials on the Taipei "Comfort Women." Everyone at TWRF including Graceia Lai, Director of International Affairs, Shu-Hue Kang, Deputy Excutive Director, Huiling Wu, Associate Supervisor, and Li-Fang Yang gave me lots help and support.

In front of TWRF's office

With Shu-Hua Kang and Graceia Lai

TWRF staff

30. Yang Chen ahma

2008-08-24T01:45:00.005-04:00

Monday August 4, 2008

Huiling Wu, Associate Supervisor at the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation, took me to visit Yang Chen Taiwanese ahma's home in Taipei. The *ahma spoke Japanese as well as Taiwanese, and had a very gentle manner.

29. Man-Mei Lu ahma

2008-08-24T01:42:00.006-04:00

Sunday August 3, 2008

Man-Mei Lu Hakaness *ahma was particularly active, energetic, and social. She lives with her son.

About Man-mei Ahma:
“From a poor family, the three-year-old Man-mei Ahma was given by her paternal uncle as an adopted daughter. Her adopted parents adored her. Since she was little, she climbed the mountains with her adopted mother, picking tea leaves to help out. When she was seventeen, people told her that cafeterias on Hainan Island were recruiting staff, offering higher wages than Taiwan. To help her family in dire straits, the filial pious Man-mei decided to leave Hsinchu with other girls. Fearing that her adopted parents would worry about her so far away, she lied to them. She arrived in Hainan Island. The woman in charge of the comfort women station ordered the young and beautiful Man-mei to receive guest at any time. She was in so much pain that she didn’t wish to live any more. Alone and abused daily by the Japanese soldiers, she had no one to confide in. Then she started smoking and she had been smoking for sixty years.”

She keeps a broken mirror, a gift from her late husband. As a result of the rumors about her years abroad, her husband treated her with indifference. Nevertheless, she still held onto their love and treasures the mirror. Man-mei Ahma makes her living by doing laundry for policemen. She collected laundry daily at the police station.

From “Compassion Without Borders” by The Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation.

28. Graceia and her family

2008-08-24T01:40:00.005-04:00

Sunday August 3, 2008

Graceia, Chi-Hsi Chao, her husband, and Emily, her daughter generously provided a ride to Shimpu to meet two Hakanese "comfort women." Chi-Hsi is a lawyer and Emily is a junior high school student. They showed me a temple on the way. Later, they took me to Chi-Hsi's hometown, a beautiful harbor city in Taiwan.

With Graceia at the temple in Shinpu

With Graceia's family, Chi-Hsi and Emily

27. Yin-Chiao Su ahma

2008-08-24T01:36:00.006-04:00

Sunday August 3, 2008

Graceia took me to Yin-Chiao Su *ahma in Shinpu, outside of Taipei. Both Yin-Chiao Su ahma and her sister were taken as "comfort women". They were Hakanese. Her sister passed away and she currently lives with her son.

During the interview another Hakanese comfort woman, Man-Mei Lu ahma came by.

About Yin-chiao Su Ahma:

The eldest daughter in her family, Yin-chiao Ahma picked up any chore to help the expenses. Her sister told her that cafeterias on Hainan Island were recruiting waitresses. Both sisters went to Hainan Island. Only when they arrived in that barren island didi they find out they were to be sexual slaves for the Japanese soldiers. Because of her homely appearance, soldiers didn’t like her, so she was detested by the managers of the comfort station.

The women in charge were ruthless and threatened them not to escape, or they would be captured and shot by anti-Japanese Communists. Girls were all afraid. Besides, there was no place to hide. They could only live at the mercy of soldiers. Yin-chiao’s working hours went from six in the morning to six in the evening. Officers had the privilege of spending the night. They must attend to every need of these officers with long swords and guns. When soldiers were in a bad mood or were drunk, they cursed her for no reason. To survive, Yin-chiao suffered in silence.

From “Compassion Without Borders” by The Taipei Women’s Rescue Foundation.

Entering Yin-Chyao Su ahma's home with Graceia

Graceia translating

Yin-Chiao Su ahma and Man-Mei Lu ahma

26. ACC in Taipei

2008-08-01T05:16:00.003-04:00

Thursday July 31, 2008

Lunch with Rita Chang, Representative and Melissa Chan, Program Associate, at The Asian Cultural Council(ACC) in Taipei.

They gave me contact info for variety of different people who are working on similar issues in Taiwan and offered me any assistance I needed for the project.

25. Cafe Noir

2008-08-01T05:13:00.003-04:00

Wednesday July 30, 2008

Graceia took me to Cafe Noir where a photo exhibit of Taiwanese "Comfort Women" was being shown.

We discussed how I can meet with "comfort women" from diverse backgrounds here including Taiwanese, Hakanese, and even Aboriginal women. We also talked about differences between the Taiwanese "comfort women" and the Korean "comfort women".

24. Hwa Chen ahma

2008-08-01T05:11:00.008-04:00

Wednesday July 30, 2008

I met with Graceia Lai, Director of International Affairs at the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation. She is dealing with the "Comfort Women" issue in Taiwan.

In 1992, 58 Taiwanese "comfort women" came out. Now, 21 remain.

Graceia took me to Hwa Chen Taiwanese *ahma's home. She lived with a daugther and two grandchildren in Taipei.

With Hwa Chen ahma and Graceia Lai

23. Arriving in Taiwan

2008-08-01T05:04:00.002-04:00

Tuesday July 29, 2008

I arrived in Taipei, Taiwan on the heels of the latest typhoon, and stayed at the Bamboo Curtain Studio, an artist residency focusing on social issues and the environment.

http://www.bambooculture.com/BCS%20Eng/index.html

I met with Margaret Tan, the Director. We talked about their studio program and the "comfort women" issue in Taiwan. I had lunch the following day with the staff including Ann Yao, the Programme Director, and also Jenny and Yota.

With Margaret Tan, the Director

Lunch with the staff

22. Sook-Ja Kim Ph.D.

2008-08-01T05:01:00.004-04:00

Monday July 28, 2008

Professor Sook-Ja Kim, College of Law Dean, Graduate School of Social Education Director, Institute of Women and Family Life at Myongji University.

21. Korean Halmunis

2008-08-01T04:50:00.005-04:00

Sunday July 27, 2008

Visiting “Nanumeh-Jip” (“The House of Sharing”) to meet Korean "comfort women" *halmunis. “Nanumeh-Jip” is located in a beautiful mountain area, just outside of Seoul. Over 250 Korean "comfort women" came out in the 90's and today, only 99 remain. Most of them are in poor health.

“Nanumeh-Jip” is a home for some of the still living comfort women who were forced into sex slavery during World War II. Its establishment committee was founded in June 1992 and supported by Korean Buddhist organizations and other circles of society.

http://www.nanum.org/eng/

Originally, there were twelve Halmunis living here, but now there are only seven left. Two of the remaining Halmunis were very sick, and the youngest of the whole group was 81 years old. Most Halmunis had very vivid memories of the past and wanted to tell me their stories of how they were taken to comfort stations. Some cried as they spoke of it, yet they all seemed to feel a personal responsibility to tell younger generations about what happened. I was very honored to meet these courageous and outspoken women.

With Ong-lyeon Park Halmuni and Oak-seon Yi Halmuni.

Gun-ja Kim Halmuni who is confined to bed because hip problems. She has done lots of charity work to help underprivileged children.

About Gun-ja Kim Halmuni:

Gun-ja Kim was born in 1926 in Pyeongchang City, in the Gangwon Province of central Korea. She was born to a father who married over forty after living a secluded mountain life in pursuit of Taoist enlightenment, and to a mother who was yet fifteen when she wed. She was the first-born of three daughters. Her father died when she was just nine, and four years later her mother left the world as well, and so she and her little sisters scattered among the houses of their relatives. She lived as the foster daughter of a policeman, until in 1942, at the age of seventeen, thinking she was being sent on an errand by the policeman, she was sent to a “comfort station” in Hunchun, Manchuria. She remained there as a “comfort woman” of the Japanese military until the end of the war. After the war, she returned to Korea. She sold clothes and worked as a domestic servant. She lived for a while in a temple as a Buddhist devotee and later converted to Catholicism. Kim Gun-ja despises those who inflict suffering on others or who act irrationally. Although she is in constant pain because of her leg and other operations, the strong-willed Ms. Kim nonetheless has the willpower to take a walk for exercise everyday without fail.

Oak-seon Yi Halmuni(center). She is very articulate and has been testifying internationally.

About Ok-seon Yi Halmuni:

Ok-seon Yi was born in Pusan in 1927. She was born to a poor family and was unable to go to school. In 1940 someone offered her “an opportunity to gather money for schooling,” and so she began working in a hotel in Ulsan. In 1942 a Korean and a Japanese came and forcibly abducted her, taking her to Yanji, currently in the Jilin Province of Northwest China. After this she lived as a “comfort woman” for three years. As the result of repeated injections of the anti-syphilis drug, arsphenamine 606, and mercury vapor treatments, she was left unable to bear children. While at a “comfort station” near East Yanji Airport she fell in love with a Korean, who was forced into conscript in the Japanese military. After the end of the war, she drifted on foot searching for him and eventually settled in Baodaozhen, also in Jilin Province. They married, but when war broke out in China, he was enlisted in the military and whisked away. She lived for years as a husbandless newlywed in her in-laws’ home, as was the tradition at the time; but she finally remarried ten years later when he did not return. Until 2000, when she finally returned to Korea and started to live in the House of Sharing, she lived in Yanji with her husband’s son from her former marriage. Yi Ok-seon greatly regrets that she couldn’t go to school as a child and so she reads with great ardor anything she can get her hands on; books, and declarations from the weekly Wednesday demonstration in front of the Japanese embassy. She has evolved into a fervent and fiery human rights activist.

Oak-seon Park Halmuni who wanted to be a singer. She can sing in Korean, Chinese, and Japanese.

About Ok-seon Park Halmuni:

Ok-seon Park was born in Miryang, Gyeonsang Province, in southeastern Korea in 1924. She was born into a poor family with seven siblings. In 1941, when she was eighteen, a friend told her that there was money to be made in China and jobs to be had in factories, and so proposed that they go together to work in a textiles manufacturing plant. As her family would most likely have forbidden her to go, she snuck out in the middle of the night and caught a train with her friend. Much to her surprise, she was taken, with twenty other girls of her age, to a “comfort station” in the Muling area of Heilongjiang, Manchuria. She lived there as a “comfort woman” for four years. Her base was bombed, and as she was wandering in the mountains the war ended. She married an ethnic Korean and settled in Muling. She finally returned to Korea in 2001 and is currently living at the House of Sharing. Although Park Ok-seon is typically shy and quiet, when it comes to singing, she grabs the microphone freely and lets loose her pure, smooth voice. As she sings, she dances, swaying naturally and elegantly to her song.

Soon-ok Kim Halmuni showing her photo album.

About Soon-ok Kim Halmuni:

Soon-ok Kim was born in 1922 in the southern Pyeongan Province in northeastern Korea. Because her family was poor, she served as a maid from the age of seven. Her father sold her as a gisaeng (a singing and dancing girl) to support her hungry younger siblings. Thinking of going back home again, she worked hard, paid off the debt, and returned to her house. However, her father eventually sold her again and she was forced into the Shimenzi “comfort station” in Heilong Jiang, China. After the war, she could not even think about going back to her home town, so she stayed in the area where the former “comfort station” was. Kim Soon-ok returned to Korea in 2005 and is currently living at the House of Sharing. Compared to other women at Sharing House, she is optimistic. When she comes in contact with people, she smiles broadly. She spends her day with music.

Il-Chul Kang Halmuni, aged 81, the youngest of the whole group.

About Il-chul Kang Halmuni:

Il-chul Kang was born in 1928, in Sangju, in Gyeongsang Province, southeastern Korea. In 1943, when she was sixteen, a military police officer came to her house and abducted her, saying that she was being conscripted for the National Guard. She was taken to Manchuria, and after stopping in Shenyang, forced to serve as a “comfort woman” for the Japanese military at Changchun “comfort station,” and later at one in Mudanjiang. At the time that the war ended, she was stricken by severe typhoid fever. Thinking that she would die, military personnel transferred her outside of the military base to be cremated alive with corpses. She was subsequently rescued by Korean independent fighters. After the war, she remained in China. After the Korean War she served as a military nurse for Korean communist liberation forces, and upon her discharge she moved to Jilin City, also in Northwestern China, and served as a nurse there. She married a Chinese man in Jilin and remained there. She finally returned to Korea in 2000 and is currently living at the House of Sharing. She is the youngest woman among the residents of the House of Sharing and always overflowing with energy. She works feverishly, whether it comes to farming, to the Wednesday demonstrations, or to giving testimony.

Ong-lyeon Park Halmuni, who is the oldest here, and her daughter, who takes care of her.

About Ong-lyeon Park Halmuni:

Park Ong-lyeon was born in Muju City, Jeolla Province, in southwestern Korea in 1920. At sixteen she was married off into a poor family, but she fled and remarried at the age of eighteen. But after difficult and arduous days, her husband sold her off to an employment agency. In 1941, at the age of twenty three, she was taken to the small island of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea, the scene of some of the greatest battles in the South Pacific theater, and made a “comfort woman” for the Japanese military. As the Japanese base on Rabaul endured constant bombardment, she was evacuated twice by ship. Because of fierce bombardment and rough seas, both ships were sunk and she was brought back both times to the island. Of fifty girls and women she was one of only four survivors. In 1944 she narrowly caught another boat that took her to Shimonoseki, Japan, and from there she was able to return to Korea safely in 1945. She is sparing with her words, but whenever something happens, even without bothering to look, she puts forth her spirited commentary, taking her role as the big sister of the House of Sharing very seriously.

with Soon Hee Lee, General Manager Shin Kweon Ahn, and Paul Clay.

20. Yu Yeon Kim curator

2008-07-26T18:31:00.003-04:00

Friday July 25, 2008

Lunch with Yu Yeon Kim, a Korean Curator based in New York City. She has curated international contemporary art exhibitions including the 2004 Liverpool Biennale(UK), the 3rd Kwangju Biennale(Korea), "Translated Acts - Performance and Body Art from East Asia" at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt(Berlin) and at the Queens Museum of Art(NY). She also curated "DMZ 2000" (NYC) about the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea.

19. Won Soon Park lawyer

2008-07-26T18:28:00.004-04:00

Friday July 25, 2008

Meeting with Won Soon Park, Executive Director of The Hope Institute. Working for institutional change and social justice in Korea.

www.makehope.org

In 1994, he helped form People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD).

Founder of "The Beautiful Store" a project of "The Beautiful Foundation." which is "Aiming to rekindle Korean habits of generosity and to popularize philanthropy, Mr. Park challenged individuals and companies to donate just one percent of their income or time. More than twenty-six thousand people have done so. The Foundation redistributes the money to the needy and to local public-interest groups. Meanwhile, in the Foundation’s chain of Beautiful Stores, volunteers recycle donated goods and clothing for sale to low-income shoppers."

His own optimism is based on the power of social movements. "Hope does not fall from the sky," he says. "We create hope ourselves."

with Won Soon Park and Eunju Park

18. Meeting

2008-07-26T18:26:00.002-04:00

Thursday July 24, 2008

Meeting with Hae Sook Shin, a former director of "The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan."

17. Korean Public Art

2008-07-26T18:25:00.002-04:00

Thursday July 24, 2008

Meeting with Bowon Chung, a Korean sculptor doing Public Art. it was great to see her home and studio, and to discuss the public art scene in Korea. We also visited a number of Korean galleries including Kukje Gallery.

16. Professor Hyo Chae Lee

2008-07-26T18:18:00.004-04:00

Tuesday July 22, 2008

Meeting with Professor Hyo Chae Lee, a former Professor of Sociology at Ewha Women's University and a respected long-time activist for women's rights in Korea. Along with Professor Jung Oak Yun, she was one of the first working to bring the Korean "comfort women" issue to light and to promote international awareness.

She is also the founder of Miracle Library, multi branch children's library and community center in Jinhae.

with Professor Hyo Chae Lee

Profossor Hyo Chae Lee, Jong Hwa Lee (director of Miracle Library), and Soon Hee Lee.

15. Nanumeh-Jip Exterior

2008-07-26T18:15:00.003-04:00

Sunday July 20, 2008

Exterior of Nanumeh-Jip "the House of Sharing" and some of the memorial sculptures around the site.

14. Nanumeh-Jip Museum

2008-07-26T18:08:00.004-04:00

Sunday July 20, 2008

At "The Museum of Japanese Imperial Army's Sexual Slavery" and "The Center for Peace and Human Rights."

Kim,Hak-Soon, the first Korean "Comfort Woman" to come forward in the 90's.

Pictures of "comfort women" and of Japanese soldiers waiting in line outside a "comfort station."

Exterior photos of two "Comfort Stations."

Example of an interior of a "comfort station" where "comfort women" were daily raped.

13. Nanumeh-Jip

2008-07-26T18:02:00.007-04:00

Sunday July 20, 2008

With Korean "comfort women" *halmunis at Nanumeh-Jip ("The House of Sharing"): Il-Chul Kang, Oak-Seon Park, Myung-Kum Moon and Oak-Seon Yi.

Nanumeh-Jip ("The House of Sharing")

With Korean halmunis

With Oak-Seon Yi halmuni

12. Nanumeh-Jip Meeting

2008-07-26T17:56:00.011-04:00

Sunday July 20, 2008

Visiting Nanumeh-Jip "The House of Sharing" where seven Korean "comfort women" *halmunis currently live, In Kyunggi-do, South Korea. Meeting with Shin Kweon Ahn(General Manager), Jung Sook Kim (Secretary general), Professor Keum Hye Park, Professor Tae Guk Jun, Soon Hee Lee and Paul Clay.

With Shin Kweon Ahn, General Manager

With Jung Sook Kim, Secretary-General

With Sang Gyu Kim

11. Professor Keum Hye Park

2008-07-19T01:51:00.012-04:00

Thursday July 17, 2008

Soon Hee Lee who is an Ewha Women's University graduate and a community activist in Atlanta, Georgia, working on "Korean Teens and Drugs in the U.S." (and is also my mom) introduced me to Professor Keum Hye Park.

Professor Keum Hye Park teaches Sociology at Ewha Women's University. We met near the Seoul Art Center, and had a lengthy four and a half hour meeting, discussing the complicated social and political environment surrounding the "Comfort Women" issue.

We discussed appropriate sites to visit and people to interview. She helped arrange several meetings for me including one this Sunday at Nanumeh-Jip ("The House of Sharing"), an hour outside of Seoul, where several Korean "comfort women" grandmas are staying. She also arranged for me to meet next Tuesday with Hyo Chae Lee, who is an 85 year old activist and one of the founders of the "The Korean Council for the Women..."

With Soon Hee Lee and Professor Keum Hye Park

With Professor Park

10. Brief Meeting

2008-07-19T01:47:00.005-04:00

Wednesday July 16, 2008

While at the Wednesday Demonstration I also met by chance,and was able to interview, Kung Hee Kim, one of the first activists involved in the late 1980's, gathering the first publicly available information on the "Comfort Woman" issue.

9. Wednesday Demonstration

2008-07-19T01:35:00.007-04:00

Wednesday July 16, 2008

"Wednesday Demonstration" with visiting "Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation"(TWRF)

The "Wednesday Demonstration" in front of the Japanese Embassy. Every Wednesday people have gathered since 1992 to protest for justice for these women. Despite the rain many people showed up including 7 Korean "comfort women" *halmunis and 2 Taiwanese "comfort women" *ahmas. There are currently 99 Korean survivors yet living. Most in their 80s and 90s and in ill health. These 7 halmuni are the most healthy and active. It was a very lively atmosphere.

Korean halmunis and Taiwanese ahmas

Korean traditional drumming or "Changku"

Good-byes to the Taiwanese TWRF

8. At Shim Toh

2008-07-19T01:28:00.004-04:00

Tuesday July 15, 2008

Traveling with the Taiwanese organization to "Shim Toh" ("A resting place" in Korean), an organized home where three Korean "comfort women" *halmunis are living in Seoul. The Taiwanese "comfort women" *ahmas from the "Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation" meet some of the surviving Korean grandmas.

7. Taiwanese Ahmas

2008-07-19T01:23:00.007-04:00

Tuesday July 15, 2008

Visiting with the Taiwanese "comfort women" *ahmas from the "Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation"

6. Truth Commission

2008-07-19T01:12:00.003-04:00

Tuesday July 15, 2008

"Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation" meets with the "Truth Commission on Forced Mobilization under the Japanese Imperialism Republic of Korea" a Korean governmental organization. This Commission was established to investigate forced labor, conscription, and the issue of "Comfort Women".

Discussions included the history, how victims are defined, what constitutes just compensation, motivations of the people who "come out" and negotiations between the Korean and Japanese governments surrounding the issues.

http://www.gangje.go.kr/en_index.asp

Very long title of the government organization.

5. At Chung Dae Hyup

2008-07-19T01:03:00.005-04:00

Tuesday July 15, 2008

Attending a meeting between the "Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation" and "The Korean Council for the Women..." (Chung Dae Hyup). Issues discussed included the exact number of Korean "comfort women" taken to Taiwan and what happened to them. Teams of investigators and historians were employed to confirm all details surrounding the issue, including definitive confirmation that each candidate was actually proven to be a "comfort woman." The structure of effective files and documentation were also considered.

4. Taiwanese Get-Together

2008-07-19T00:59:00.008-04:00

Monday July 14, 2008

Monday night I met and had dinner with the Taiwanese "comfort women" group "Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation" who were visiting Korea for three days. They came with two Taiwanese "comfort women" *ahmas.

It was really great to meet them before my visit to Taiwan. I spoke with organizers including Director Graceia Lai, who I had been in contact with from New York. This was also my first encounter with some of the actual survivors. The Taiwanese ahmas were filled with so much life and spirit.

http://www.twrf.org.tw/chinese/index1.asp

3. First Day on the Project

2008-07-19T00:11:00.008-04:00

Monday July 14, 2008

Meeting with Mee Hyang Yoon, Standing Representative of "The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan" (Chung Dae Hyup). She and her staff gave me a tour of materials they have been gathering for the Comfort Museum (which will be built next year). I also had a chance to look at some photos and materials they collected for "War & Women's Rights Museum."

http://www.womenandwar.net/english/index.php

Arriving at the Korean Council Building in Seoul.

Meeting with Mee Hyang Yoon, Standing Representative, Joo-Hye Kang, General Secretary, and Hanna Song, Museum Curator for the "War & Women's Rights Museum".

"The Korean Council for the Women..." display area.

Close up showing Korean women loaded into a truck, Japanese Soldiers waiting in line at a "Comfort Station", and the monitary tolkens used.

With Mee Hyang Yoon

With Paul Clay, my partner, who is taking care of photo, video, and audio documentation.

2. Coordinating...

2008-07-14T18:47:00.005-04:00

Monday July 14, 2008

1. Arriving in Asia

2008-07-14T18:27:00.003-04:00

Sunday July 13, 2008

Arrived at the Itaewon Hotel in Seoul, Korea, and unpacked.