History of Utoro

Dec. 1938 Japanese Ministry of Communications announced construction plans for airports and training centers for pilots in five locations nationwide.
Nov. 1939 In response to the request from the Japanese Army, Kokusai Kogyo Company, an airplane manufacturing company, was founded. The company name was later changed to Nihon Kokusai Koukuu Kogyo, then changed again to Nikkoku Kogyo after WWⅡ.
Jan. 1940 Kyoto Prefecture attracted a site in Uji City for Kyoto Airfield, including the training centers for pilots and airplane manufacturing factory.
Mar. 1940 Kyoto Prefectural gorvernmnet forcibly acquired the site for the airfield and related sites.
Around 1943 Bunk houses (living quarters for construction workers) for Koreans were built on the current Utoro area.
Aug. 1945 Airfield construction was stopped because the war ended. About 1,300 Korean workers were abandoned in bunk houses in Utoro.
Sept. 1945 General Head Quarters (GHQ) requisitioned Nihon Kokusai Koku Kogyo Company.
Sept. 1945 Korean ethnic school (Choryun Kuze Gakuin) was establised in Utoro.
Oct. 1949 Choryun Kuze School was forcibly closed by the oppression from the Japanese Government.
Jun. 1950 The Korean War broke out. A special war-demand helped the recovery of the Japanese industry.
In 1952 Japanese Police forcibly conducted two series of large-scale investigations against Korean residents in Utoro.
Sept. 1953 A typhoon left a severe flood damage in Utoro.
1957. Feb The Ground Self-Defense Force, Okubo Garrison, was inaugurated (right next to Utoro).
Jan. 1962 Shin Nikkoku Kogyo changed their company name to Nissan Shatai.
Jul. 1962 Former Nikkoku Kyogyo was merged to Nissan Shatai without dealing with the Utoro land and the residents.
Mar. 1987 Nissan Shatai re-sold the land of Utoro to the thirdy party, Nishinihon Shokusan.
Oct. 1988 "The First Town Meeting for Utoro Community Building" was held with the Japanese supporters.
Feb. 1989 Nishinihon Shokusan Company filed a suit against Utoro residents to evacuate land and their homes.
Mar. 1989 First trial at Kyoto District Court. Association to Protect Utoro was founded.
Mar. 1993 An advocating advertisement on Utoro issue was posted on New York Times.
Jan. 1998 Utoro residents lost at Kyoto District Court and appealed to Osaka High Court.
Dec. 1998 Lost at Osaka High Court again and appealed to the Supreme Court.
Nov. 2000 Supreme Court dismissed the appeal which made Utoro residents defeated in all suits.
Jul. 2001 United Nations Human Rights Committee demanded the Japanese government for corrective action for discriminatory treatment against Koreans in Utoro.
Jun. 2002 ELFA (A day-service center for Korean elders) of South Kyoto branch was opened in Utoro.
Jun. 2002 Association to Spread Utoro Issue was founded.
Aug. 2004 "Human Chain", the urgent action to protect Koreans in Utoro, was held. Supporters and residents surrounded the whole Utoro area in hands.
Sept. 2004 South Korean government strongly appealed the Utoro issue at the International Conference for Human Settlement of Japan, China, and South Korea.
Feb. 2005 KIN (Korean International Network), a South Korean NGO, investigated the situation of Utoro.
Apr. 2005 "Compensate the Damage by Colonization! Guarantee the Right of Residency! Utoro International Countermeasure Conference" was established.
Jul. 2005 Mr. Doudou Diene, a United Nations special rapporteur, visited Utoro.
Jul. 2005 Fundraising campaign for Utoro started in South Korea. The Kick-off meeting was held with 33 representatives.
Oct. 2007 60 million yen was donated to Utoro by Utoro International Countermeasure Conference.
Nov. 2007 40 million yen was donated by an anonymous Issei (first generation) Korean resident in Japan.
Dec. 2007 Korean National Assembly decided to send the fund, 3 billion Korean Won, to Utoro. (380 million Japanese Yen worth that time)
Dec. 2007 "Council for Improving Living Environment of Utoro District" was founded by the Japanese federal government, Kyoto prefecture and City of Uji.
Feb. 2008 Donations collected by the Japanese supporters (Association to Protect Utoro and Association to Spread Utoro Issue) was handed to Utoro residents. Also donations collected at General Association of Korean Residents in all parts of Japan was brought to Utoro.
May. 2010 Utoro Public Foundation purchased approximately 2700㎡ of Utoro land for 120 million Yen.
Feb. 2011 South Korean Government Foundation purchased about 3800㎡ of Utoro land for 180 million yen.
Jan. 2012 Council for Improving Living Environment of Utoro and Utoro Neighborhood Association agreed on most of the "Utoro Community Building Plan."
Mar. 2012 International Countermeasure Conference and Beautiful Foundation (a South Korean NGO) handed the fund for constructing Utoro Peace Memoriall Museum and held a press conference.
Jun. 2016 The phase-1 construction of the City Housing building (for 40 households) was started in Utoro.
Jan. 2018 The phase-1 construction was completed and 40 Korean households moved to the building.
Apr. 2018 The event to commemorate the moving-in to the new housing was held. Congratulating message was sent to Utoro residents from Moon Jae-in, the President of South Korea.
May. 2019 Beautiful Foundation (a South Korean NGO) started a campaign for donation for constructing Utoro Peace Memorial Museum.