The Story of Utoro
that Carries Beyond Utoro
The Town of Zainichi Koreans - Utoro
In this town lies the sad history of Zainichi Koreans, but also the power of “small reunification” to overcome it.
Through Utoro, we shall ponder the past, present, and future, from the perspective of universal human rights and peace.
Together, we will create the story of Utoro that carries beyond Utoro.
07/10
Today: Closed
Utoro District and
The Museum
The Museum
51 Utoro, Iseda-Cho, Uji City, Kyoto. This address belongs to all households of a small district of ethnic Koreans, called Utoro. Utoro began as the living quarters for ethnic Koreans, or Zainichi Chosenjin, mobilized for the “Kyoto Military Airport Construction Project” promoted by the Japanese Government beginning in 1940. Over the years, the Utoro district has overcome numerous hardships.
The Utoro Peace Memorial Museum serves as a place to convey the importance of human rights and peace, and the meaning of living together, through the stories of those who have protected Utoro. We aims to be an open community space for people in Japan and the Korean Peninsula and beyond, to meet, mingle and deepen mutual understandings, for the future generations.
Visitors' Voices
It was a wonderful place where I could learn not only about the darker parts of history but also about what the people who lived there valued and how they lived. Unlike other museums that often feel rigid, this museum felt refreshing, allowing me to reflect on peace and discrimination through its storytelling
The Utoro Peace Memorial Museum had a welcoming atmosphere for everyone, with a space where you could even play basketball, and all the volunteers were very kind. I hope that having a place like this in the community will help spread awareness of Utoro’s history and lead to the elimination of discrimination.
Japan and South Korea are often discussed in terms of confrontation, but I believe that everyone involved with Utoro has shown us that a new, peaceful future can be built through solidarity. Utoro is a symbol of hope. I hope you will continue to speak out for solidarity and peace. I would also like to recommend it as a valuable place for human rights education to many people.
I grew up being told by my parents and grandmother that Utoro was dangerous and that I should stay away, so even though I knew nothing about it, I found myself looking at it with a slightly discriminatory perspective. ...After hearing the stories, I realized that Utoro isn’t a place to avoid—it’s a place more people should learn about. I feel like this experience has helped me let go of my prejudice and changed the way I see the world. When I get home, the first thing I want to do is share what I’ve learned with my parents.
Discrimination arises from not knowing the other person. Those who wish to discriminate often make a conscious effort to remain ignorant of others. That’s why I think this remarkably open organization—founded on the idea of knowing and getting to know others, in other words, fostering exchange—is truly valuable in resisting such tendencies.
I thought that a museum run by those directly involved might be more emotionally charged—but personally, I see that as a strength. In reality, though, it was incredibly objective and logical, while the special exhibitions focused on individuals, striking a great balance between history and humanity. It was truly educational.
