Newsletters and Essays

Summary: In my presentation, I discussed the active role that civil society in Japan plays in addressing issues of historical reconciliation, focusing on the case of the Nagasaki Human Rights and Peace Museum. The person responsible for initiating this museum was Oka Masaharu (1918-1994). He was a prominent peace activist and human rights advocate. He founded the “Nagasaki Association for Protecting Human Rights of Koreans Living in Japan”. He published his findings in four volumes titled Genbaku to Chousenjin (The Atomic Bomb and the Koreans). 

The goal of opening a museum in Nagasaki was to create a space where the public could learn about Japan’s aggression during World War II. The museum was established in 1995 after Oka’s death, with the assistance of a 40 million yen bank loan. It has faced many challenges from the beginning, but it still stands today after 30 years. One major challenge was discovering that Oka Masaharu had committed acts of sexual violence. In response, the museum decided to change its name from the original, which included his name. They changed the name from “Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peace Museum” to “Nagasaki Human Rights and Peace Museum” and also removed the Oka Masaharu memorial corner from the exhibit.

I also engaged with some of the museum’s curatorial style. The museum exhibition spans three floors and provokes reflection from the visitors. The exhibition is curated not by a professional curator but by locals and educators from schools and universities. The museum has exhibition materials on topics including ‘Korean and Chinese victims of the atomic bombing,’ ‘forced labor from Korea and China,’ and ‘women forced to work as sexual slaves.’ 

I argued that such grassroots initiatives towards reconciliation are essential because, despite the challenges with funding and manpower, the museum has been active. When we compare such initiatives by civil society with international cases, we learn that for museums to display the nation’s aggressive past or discuss, the perpetrator within the nation is extremely challenging. Despite the struggles, they are active today in have been in addressing reconciliation and “Japan’s history problem.” The museum testifies to the courage of civil society in addressing complex histories. Therefore, I think this museum is a successful example of how civil society can contribute towards peace, healing, and reconciliation.

Comments and questions

Below are some of the comments and questions I received after my presentation. 

What role does social media play in promoting these institutions? Are young people involved in its activities? Why did I choose to discuss this museum in Nagasaki and not any such museum in Hiroshima? After the panel presentation, during the informal discussion, I was asked how the curatorial practices of this museum are different from those of war museums in Japan. 

All the above were helpful and made me reflect on my ideas. 

Comments on other conference panels

I arrived at the IARS 2025 conference on the afternoon of the 16th, so I missed many engaging panel presentations. I enjoyed the papers and discussions from the following panels: “Development of Reconciliation Studies in East Asia,” “Reckoning with the past and framing in presents,” and “Building bridges: Analyzing the role of education for reconciliation and sustainable peace in a polarized world.” I gained insights into important scholarship and key concepts related to reconciliation after listening especially to Prof. Yukiko Koga and Prof. Karina Korostelina. I am eager to read the works of both scholars.