Tokyo Court Rules in Support of 'Comfort Women' Exhibition

Published on 2012/06/30 | Source

The Tokyo District Court on Friday ordered camera maker Nikon to allow Korean-Japanese photographer Ahn Se-hong to hold a photo exhibition on the "comfort women" forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese in World War II.

The exhibition was originally planned for the prestigious Nikon Salon in Shinjuku, Tokyo, but Nikon got cold feet when rightwingers protested and cancelled it citing its political aim.

According to the Asahi Shimbun, the court ruled that the contract to use the venue cannot be cancelled. "Even though this exhibition contains some political elements, it contributes to the development of photographic culture" as Nikon hoped, the court said.

Ahn said, "It is the right decision because freedom of expression should be upheld in a democratic country. I will make the exhibition happen no matter how strong the pressure and threats are". The exhibition opens on Tuesday and runs until July 9.