Museum Activism Against Military Sexual Slavery

There has been political tension in East Asia over Japan's avoidance of facing its history of imperial expansion and wartime atrocities. Peace museums have been battlefields for the debate on how to remember the war. One of the fiercest battles has been fought at the Women's Active Museum on War and Peace, known as the WAM , which focuses on the issue of “military comfort women,” those forced to offer sexual service to Japanese soldiers during the Asia–Pacific War. The WAM has been leading political activism against right‐wing nationalists who deny the history of military sexual slavery. I examine museum activism at the WAM , delving into specific strategies for educating and politicizing visitors. I argue that it takes advantage of the museum's two roles as temple and forum. I also want to show that the WAM is collaborative in every aspect of museum creation and operation: finance, collections, archives, research, displays, and education.