Fighting for dignity as a human beings <2>
<
"SYUKAN KINYOBI" April 5th No.406 issue >
translated by E.T.O.
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Fighting
for dignity as a human beings -
The 500th Anniversary of Wednesday Demonstration
by the Former Comfort Women of Seoul
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" You have come too late." >
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On
March 9th, I visited Nanumujip in northern Seoul after 499th demonstration
was wrapped up.
I am a Japanese man in my late thirties and 180cm tall. My purpose
of visit was not to take care of halmonis voluntarily, but to
make a report. Indeed, I was worried whether halmonis would accept
my stay.
"A Korean journalist from a newspaper company came to stay
for a week. I heard he had a difficult time although he didn't
have any language barrier. But donft worry. There are few halmonis
who speak Japanese. You will have to spend some time with them,
although some have a very strong personality" Ms. Nun Gyuan,
a nun in-charge of the house tried to cheer me up.
There is a living room in the first floor of a house where halmonis
and staff resided. There I saw three halmonis watching television.
I tried to identify them from the documents I had looked through
before my visit. However, I could not match neither of the names
and faces, probably due to my nervousness.
"Annyo'nghaseyo? (Hello in Korean language) " I manage
to greet, but I knew my voice was cracking. " Konnichiwa,"
when I heard a reply in Japanese, I was totally worn out.
A halmoni who was winding thread came out from a room next to
the living room. She was Ms. Pak Touri. Ms. Pak continued to unwind
the thread with other halmonis in front of television. I watched
them for about ten minutes.
I felt calm after a while. Ms. I Nyon helped Ms. Pak. I began
to take some shots of them together. Ms. Pak laughed and her mouth
was wide opened. She had no teeth left. Ms. I did not seemed to
be annoyed for my conduct but later asked me " What are you
here for? Did you come to hear our story? You have come too late.
So many people visit us during the last decade and we have been
telling our stories every day and I am sick of it. You should
have come sixty years ago." I could not ask any questions,
nor utter a word.
An advertisement was aired on the television. Ms. I opened the
door slightly about ten centimeters and lit a fire on a cigarette.
I heard that she was also fond of drinking. " Halmoni, I
hear you like drinking. Do you drink a lot? You know smoking is
bad for your health." I spoke to her to show that I care.
" I could not face my life if I didn't drink or smoke because
it was very hard. It was the Japanese soldiers who taught me how
to drink and smoke,you know!" Again I could not continue
another word.
It was time for supper at 5.30 where all the former-comfort women
got together. I was not sure how I could start a conversation
and the language barrier was not the only problem. I quietly had
a bite. Other than me, at the table there were all women, including
the cook and two nuns. It was obvious that a stranger was disturbing
the atmosphere. gDid you have enough? How about another plate?
Have some moreh Ms. Kim Sundok, who was seated on my left side
tried to make me relaxed, although I was quite stiff. She offered
me a cup of coffee after the supper.
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| History
museum stands in front of the Nanumjip, the "house of sharing".
There is no Japanese speaker and Ms. Nun Gyan, Director is looking
for a Japanese volunteering staff. |
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| A
Japanese group visits the history museum on a study tour. Despite
the language barrier, they seek ways to reconstruct Korea-Japan
relations through an active dialogue on the past. |
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| One
of the study tour members communicates with Ms. Han Dosun, the
eldest halmoni in the Nanumjip, the "house of sharing". In spite
of the language barrier, they somehow tried to understand each
other, shedding tears. |
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