News Briefing (Feb-Apr 2022)

🦋 News Briefing (Feb-Apr 2022)
 General comment

Another halmoni passed away in February, leaving 12 survivors in Korea.

Despite the National Human Rights Commission of Korea’s recommendation for the police to ensure the safety of the Wednesday Demonstration, the history revisionists’ backlash continues in both Korea and globally. Harvard Law Professor Ramseyer published another article to respond to critics, which led to additional condemnation by the researchers and students. 

Conservative candidate Yoon Seok-yeol’s victory in the South Korean presidential election was welcomed by right-wing and Japanese media that claim it’s “good time to move beyond” the historical issues, while concerns on hate speech and discrmiantion are on the rise. Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced evaluation results on high school history textbooks, in which references to the Japanese government’s responsibility in forced labor and Japanese military sexual slavery victims were erased.

The Statue of Peace exhibition in Tokyo, Japan received thousands of visitors, despite the backlash and attacks of right-wingers. The Statue of Peace served as a symbol of Asian American solidarity during the commemoration of 1 year after the Atlanta shooting and strives to find a home in Berlin, Germany and Philadelphia, U.S. as well.

Key articles

📌 History denialism

Harvard Law Professor Ramseyer Responds to Critics, Sparking More Condemnation

Ramseyer’s Refutal Isn’t Worth Our Time

The White Saviors (and White Poodles) of Japan’s Far Right

Comfort women’ sculptor couple wins libel suit against internet media chief

📌 Japan censors history textbooks

[Editorial] Japan’s choice to erase truth of atrocities from history textbooks is deplorable

Seoul critical of Tokyo’s revision of history books

Fmr. Japanese education official says new textbooks ‘manipulated by politics’

📌 Presidential election

Korea’s president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol faces familiar dilemma over restoring Japan relations

What South Korea’s new president will mean for regional peace and US relations

📌 Movement in Asia

Japan’s feminist reckoning

Filipino comfort women decry decades-long injustice

📌 Statue of Peace / Culture

A year later, Atlanta remembers the 8 people killed in spa shootings

Mass email campaign of possible Japanese origin puts Berlin “comfort women” memorial in jeopardy

Art event featuring “comfort woman” statue opens in Tokyo

Holding space for “comfort women” survivors’ multifaceted lives, victimhood

What To Know Before Watching Apple TV’s Epic New Saga Pachinko