Special Exhibits

For the Utoro Peace Memorial Museum’s very first special exhibit, we picked a theme titled, “The People Who Lived in Utoro,” focusing on the Utoro residents who had passed away before the museum opened. These “People” are the ones we wanted so much to see the memorial museum more than anyone else. With the intention of reminiscing those who devoted themselves to protect the community and residents for a long time, we will share their popular life stories and moments among the Utoro residents and supporters using their figures and expressions in photographs. We hope you will also feel the meaning of these former residents’ lives and histories in this exhibit catalogue.

"We love the demonstrations of Utoro residents, with the Nongak Group at the front. They are absolutely the coolest!“* Before, in Utoro, countless gatherings were held to defend both the land and the way of life. At those gatherings, the stirring beat of Nongak―the rhythms born on the Korean Peninsula, brought to Japan, and have since taken root here―filled the air. Utoro’s Nongak began with its women as the torchbearers. It was after words like 'eviction,' 'lawsuit,' and 'struggle' were suddenly thrust upon them—amid their long days of labor for their families and raising their children and grandchildren—that they found in Nongak a means to express their resistance. Out of this crucible of challenge to protect their land and home, the women forged a "voice"―Utoro’s Nongak, the musical expression of resistance and hope. Whether they led the protest marches through the main streets of Kyoto or emerged as the center of attention for an audience gathered to learn about Utoro through their performance, the Nongak Group moved countless hearts. To know Utoro is to know its Nongak. Through this exhibition, we hope you will encounter the spirited legacy of Nongak as it was first set in motion by these determined…

In Arabic, there are two words that mean "resistance." One refers to armed resistance, while the other signifies a different kind of resistance—one where, no matter how many times you are struck down, you rise again and refuse to back down, standing firm no matter what. This is called "Sumud."In 2005, Juliano Mer-Khamis, an actor with both Jewish and Palestinian roots, visited the Utoro district. When he signed a signboard in Utoro, he wrote this word, "Sumud." The signboard in Utoro carried messages such as "Utoro is our home," "Even if bulldozers come, we will stay here," and "We will live here, and we will die here." Reflecting on these words, Juliano said, "How many times have I heard the same words from the first-generation refugees in the Jenin refugee camp? This is Sumud. Knowing that there are people in Japan fighting the same fight as us gives us courage and strengthens our resolve."