Worldwide WAN

The Worldwide WAN (W-WAN) introduces activities of Women's Action Network (WAN) and feminist movements, etc. inside and outside of Japan. We translate selected articles in the main WAN website from Japanese into English as well as other international languages including Chinese and Korean. We also publish W-WAN's original articles on this page.

In the Muddy Waters of Historical Revisionism: Isolated from International Society (Part 2)

2014.09.30 Tue

by Kazuko Itō, Lawyer and Human Right ActivistExcerpt from her Blog(Part 1)Most women who were forced to be taken as sex slaves were minors. If Japanese politicians really believe that under-age girls, who were living their lives threatened by knives and guns during Japan’s military occupation, were all voluntarily and arbitrarily drafted, then they lack common sense and overall sensitivity to human rights. Worse than that, they seek to downpla

Labels: Essays

In the Muddy Waters of Historical Revisionism: Isolated from International Society (Part 1)

2014.09.24 Wed

by Kazuko Itō, Lawyer and Human Right ActivistExcerpt from her Blog August 15th was the anniversary of the end of the war … Why did not Prime Minister mention Japan's responsibility for the damage during the war? Yesterday was the anniversary of the end of the war. Prime Minister Shinzō Abe attended the Memorial Ceremony of the War Dead, which was held by the government. In his address of the ceremony, neither did he mention Japan's responsibilit

Labels: Essays

“The Coming of the New Class Society: Gender Matters” Chizuko Ueno’s Presentation at ISA World Congress of Sociology (July 2014)

2014.09.11 Thu

ISA World Congress of Sociology (Facing an Unequal World: Challenging for Global Society) was held in Japan from July 13thto 18th, 2014. The Congress is held once every four years and over 4,000 sociologists gathered in Yokohama, Japan this time..Program Informationhttp://www.isa-sociology.org/congress2014/Chizuko Ueno, chairperson of WAN, made a presentation at the Opening Presidential Panel, under the title of “the Coming of the New Class Socie

Labels: Lecture

Say No to Makoto Aida Winning the Ango Award: Report on the Symposium

2014.08.31 Sun

Say No to Niigata City Giving the Ango Award to Mr. Makoto AidaGeijutsu to Ieba Nandemo Yurusarerunoka Renrakukai (Liaison Committee of “Can anything be allowed under the name of art?”) reports here on the symposium Houtteokenai Dai 8-kai Ango-sho – Jinken no Shiten Kara (Unignorable the 8thAngo Awards – From the Human Rights Perspective) (on June 22, at Niigata City) as well as on the post-symposium situations.[Report on the Symposium] Mr. Makot

Labels: Organizations

Victory for plaintiffs: the Fukui District Court’s ruling on the suspension of operations at No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of the Oi nuclear power plant

2014.08.30 Sat

[News] Victory for plaintiffs: the Fukui District Court’s ruling on the suspension of operations at No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of the Oi nuclear power plantHere is an on-the-spot report. ＊＊＊[News Flash] Victory for plaintiffs: the Fukui District Court’s ruling on the suspension of operations at No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of the Oi nuclear power plant. The Fukui District Court delivered a sentence at 3 pm on May 21, 2014 on the suspension of operation

Labels: Team Zero Net (for nuclear-free world)

Join us!: How to become a WAN member (Revised)

2014.08.20 Wed

Women's Action Network (WAN) is a certified non-profit organization that aims to support women's activities throughout Japan. Become an official member and help finance the broad range of actions taking place at WAN!WAN members are entitled to:1) Voting right at the annual general assembly meeting; 2) Subscription of periodical "WAN Newsletter for Members";3) Free admission to events sponsored by WAN; 4) Special prizes applicable through the WAN

Labels: About WAN

What is WAN?

2014.08.18 Mon

Created and posted by Eiko Saeki

Labels: About WAN

Another Story Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days, a Japanese Drama Film about Nursing Care, Depicts

2014.07.31 Thu

Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days DVDDirected by Azuma Morisaki(TC Entertainment, 2/7/2014)Buy this DVD (jump to an Amazon page)Pecoross’ Mother and Her Days Comic BookWritten by Yuichi Okano(Nishi-Nippon Shimbunsha, 7/7/2012)Buy this book (jump to an Amazon page)Pecoross' Mother and Her Days (the original Japanese title: Pecoross no Haha ni Ai ni Iku, which literally means “Pecoross Visiting His Mother”) is a well-reputed Japanese drama film direc

Labels: Cinema (C-WAN)

The Present Situation of Single Parents in Japan (from “Traveling is Loitering” No. 52)

2014.07.30 Wed

It has been two years since my daughter decided to be a single parent. Her child is now three years and nine months old and has fun at kindergarten every day. “Single-Parent Households (Hitori-Oya Katei)” by Chieko Akaishi (Iwanami-Shinsho, published on April 19th, 2014) is a very useful book for single parents. The author herself is an unmarried single mother. After all these years, the media has finally started to report about women’s pover

Labels: Essays

WAN STATEMENT: PROTESTING THE SEXIST COMMENTS AND BEHAVIOR IN THE TOKYO METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY

2014.07.05 Sat

June 30, 2014WAN protests against the sexist comments made in the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.Japanese lawmaker Akihiro Suzuki (LDP) has apologized in response to the protests from Ayaka Shiomura (Your Party) though the apology was considered to be too late. The apology was made due to the pressure from public opinion. In addition to Suzuki, there were other male lawmakers in the Assembly who either made sexist gibes or jeered, but remained silen

Labels: What's New

Fundraising for Fishermen Fighting Nuclear Power in Iwaishima: The Sea is for Everyone, not for Sale

2014.06.20 Fri

Iwaishima, a small, heart-shaped island that lies in the Inland Sea of Japan, needs your help and needs it fast. Iwaishima Island has long faced Chugoku Electric Power’s plans to build a nuclear power plant along the Inland Sea. Ninety percent of local fishermen are united against the plans, and their resolve has been strengthened all the more since the TEPCO disaster in Fukushima. While Chugoku Electric Power has offered 1.08 billion yen as comp

Labels: Event Information

Recent Exhibitions by Female Artists

2014.05.21 Wed

An exhibition of OH Haji, a textile artist who received art education in Kyoto and sewing training in Seoul, Korea, is to be opened in Koganei Art Spot Chateau, Koganei City, Tokyo, from 14 to 29 June, 2014.According to the caption on its poster, the exhibition was inspired by OH’s grandmother returning home to the Jeju Island in 1993 after so many years of having imagined about the island without even locating it on a map, and by OH herself visi

Labels: Art (A-WAN)

What’s New on WAN’s Website as of April 30, 2014

2014.05.01 Thu

◆Market Pick-upIntroducing the items selected from "My recomendation" Perfect gifts for Mother's Day!!Mother's Day Recommendations part 1＜Accessories & Fashion＞http://wan.or.jp/market/?p=2359◎Jewelry from "jewelry Sasaki" Red Copper accessories◎Thai silk items from "Thai, Thai, Thai"Ms. Ueno wearing Thai silk stole from "Thai, Thai, Thai"and more…Mother's Day Recommendations part 2＜Sundries & Foods＞http://wan.or.jp/market/?p=2417◎Baskets woven wi

Labels: What's New

2014.03.31 Mon

Category: Forum onLabor,Social Policy,and Gender “To Make a Square Society Round through Triangle Rakugo,Part2,” aRakugo (storytelling) Oral Presentation and Workshop was organizedbyNPO Participation Planet onFebruary 27, 2014. Senkin Tei Ataisenkin talked about the “gender equality”through fun and easy-to-understand form of storytelling known as Rakugo at Tsunagaretto NAGOYA, making this the second time that a Rakugo Oral Presentation and Wor

Labels: Other

What’s New on WAN’s Website as of March 21, 2014

2014.03.23 Sun

Book Review Life Counseling on Every Issue for Senior Living Alone Written by Keiko HiguchiPublished in January 2014 by Shufunotomo http://wan.or.jp/book/?p=7688 Book Review Pro-choice Society: Current Trends in Prenatal ScreeningWritten by Ritsuko Sakai Published in December 2013 by NHK Publishinghttp://wan.or.jp/book/?p=7707 Art A Play Entitled “A Community Story: Caregiver and Caregiving”Venue: Setagaya Public Theater / Theater TramDates:

Labels: What's New

Would the Abe Administration Like to Utilize Women? ---Chizuko’s Blog No. 62

2014.03.15 Sat

A reporter from the political desk in the Asahi Shinbun interviewed me about “the utilization of women” by the Abe administration. Maybe it was my first interview with a political desk. Most of the comments in the articles on “the utilization of women” are made by female managers or entrepreneurs. This issue influences these women directly. I just wondered why they don’t ask female part-time workers and temporary workers. So I asked the rep

Labels: Other

Book Review for “ECCE HOMO -- Essay on Men”

2014.02.27 Thu

“ECCE HOMO — Essay on Men”Written by Mari Yamazaki(Bungei Shunju, 18/12/2013)Buy this book (jump to an Amazon page)“THERMAE ROMAE “ is a blockbuster Japanese comic series which connects Ancient Rome and contemporary Japan through bathing culture.Mari Yamazaki, author of the series, talks in depth about cool guys of all ages and cultures and their extraordinary skills and fertile visions, from Hadrian and Raphael to Kobo Abe and Steve Jobs. All of

Labels: Book (B-WAN) Reading

Book Review of “The 19th Century for Girls – From the Little Mermaid to Alice in Wonderland”

2014.02.27 Thu

Normal 0 0 1 528 3014 （株）アルク 25 6 3701 11.1539 0 10 pt 0 2 $([{£¥‘“〈《「『【〔＄（［｛｢￥ !%),.:;?]}¢°’”‰′″℃、。々〉》」』】〕゛゜ゝゞ・ヽヾ！％），．：；？］｝｡｣､･ﾞﾟ The Little Mermaid Was Dressed in Men’s Clothing!“The 19th Century for Girls – From the Little Mermaid to Alice in Wonderland”Written by Akiko Waki(Iwanami Shoten, 20/12/2013)Buy this book (jump to an Amazon page)I was amazed to learn that the Little Mermaid

Labels: Book (B-WAN) Reading

“A Girl’s Life of One Hundred Years” by Mine Yagi

2014.02.02 Sun

A person’s life has a distinct story. As the personal life belongs only to that person, at the same time, we can see the deep in-rooted history and the broad world.Listening to a radio program Rajio Shinyabin(Midnight Radio Letter) which introduced the topic of “Story about Moms”, I was driven by desire to read the book “Hyakunen Mae no Shoujo (A Girl’s Life of One Hundred Years)” (Kodansha) written by Yumi Funabiki,The book is a story about a gi

Labels: Other

Film Screening and Lecture on DV

2014.01.28 Tue

“The Second Lecture of Film Screening and Lecture on Domestic Violence” Reported by Keiko KawaguchiOn Tuesday, December 17th, “The Second Lecture of Film Screeningand Lecture on Domestic Violence” sponsored by Pandora Inc. was held at Shibuya Uplink. First of all, the documentary film based on the testimony of DV victims in the United States titled, Defending Our Lives (1993 production) was shown. It is a rare piece of film depicting the point of

Labels: Reading