JAPAN

by Wataru Tokomoto, Staff Member in the General Affairs Department

A variety of problems involving discrimination and human rights exist in Japanese society. These problems are deeply rooted in the nature of that society and pose challenges which all residents of Japan must face in their lifetimes.

The Osaka Human Rights Museum has selected, as the unified theme for its exhibition, issues involving discrimination and human rights faced by the people in Japanese society. The museum enables visitors to deepen their awareness of such issues through realia, models, images, and graphics related to problems of discrimination and human rights. The museum is also inventive in encouraging each visitor to reflect on his or her own life in connection with these issues.

Corner I is entitled “Human Rights Today” and this part of the museum presents the achievements involving human rights that have been made through human history.

Corner II is entitled “My Sense of Values and Discrimination” and enables visitors to realize that the norms and values often taken for granted can become both the cornerstone for life and the source of discrimination.

In Corner III, entitled “People Suffering from Discrimination,” visitors are faced squarely with the thoughts and actions of people who have been victims of discrimination.

Finally, in Corner IV, entitled “My Idea of Discrimination and Human Rights,” visitors watch videos which introduce a variety of people who have been involved in issues of discrimination from different perspectives.

The museum is planning to renew the contents of its exhibition in March 2011.

In addition, special exhibitions and project exhibitions, as well as a number of events, are held from time to time. Starting on November 16, an exhibition entitled “Himeyuri: A Prayer for Peace” will be held. The exhibition will convey the thoughts and messages for peace of members of the Himeyuri Student Corps, who were mobilized to take part in the Battle of Okinawa.

Address: 3-6-36 Naniwa-nishi, Naniwa-ku, Osaka City
Phone: +81-6-6561-5891
Homepage: http://www.liberty.or.jp/
Days closed: Monday (excluding national holidays), the day after a national holiday, the 4th Friday of each month, the New Year’s holiday period. The museum will temporarily close in January and February 2011 for the renewal of its exhibition.
Admission: 250 yen for adults; 150 yen for senior high school and college students

(Originally published on November 8, 2010)