Mao Ishikawa
Here's What the Japanese Flag Means to Me
Published by Mira-sha, 2011
Book Size 26 x 19.6 x 2 cm
Pages 144 pages
Hardcover
Language English,Japanese
Good condition
"I was born in Okinawa in 1953, when Okinawa was separated from Japan, following the end of the war, and was ruled by the American military forces. Until the reversion to Japan in 1972, the American soldiers, intentionally or accidentally, killed, injured, and raped Okinawans, but were never brought to trial. They merely returned home with the help of the American military forces.
Mere child that I was, I thought to myself, "Are Okinawans Japanese? Why is Okinawa treated cruelly like this?"
During the 1987 Okinawa Kaihoh national athletic meet, Mr. Shoh-ichi Chibana dragged down and burned the Rising-Sun flag flying at the site; for this act he was arrested. Later, Mr. Chibana showed me a Rising-Sun flag that he kept in his house. He told me that he would never burn the flag but keep it because it was a token of the reversion movement.
An idea flashed across my mind. "It may be interesting to let people have a Rising-Sun flag and express their feelings about Japan and the Japanese."
I decided to ask a variety of people to openly share their faces and names, along with their ideas and expressions, in a dignified manner. This disclosureis an essential element to any photograph. Locations vary from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Ages range from young to senior citizens. Occupations, ideologies and beliefs are diverse. Let them show the figures of the Japanese people.
Previously, I had taken photos of Okinawans, and Okinawa-related people. This was the first time that I felt inclined to take photos of the Japanese people. I was most eager to people the Ainu, the people from 'buraku' (the discriminated areas), and the Korean residents in Japan.
Between 1993 and 1999, I completed one hundred photos and presented them in a magazine. In 2007, I decided to develop the project into a photobook, and summarized by shooting activities. Initially I had planned to take photos exclusively in Japan, but then I had the fortunate opportunity to take photos of Okinawans residing in London and Paris, as well.
Additionally, I realized, "I should ask the people in Korea, China, and Taiwan - very close to Okinawa, and once colonized by Japan - to express themselves about Japanese DNA Japan."
Introductions provided by friends enabled me to take photos in Korean and Taiwan, but not in China. "Any depiction with a Rising-Sun flag is next to or absolutely impossible under the present political conditions in China. It is better not to because it would create hardships for them." Repeatedly hearing this kind of advice obliged me to give up.
Between 2007 and 2011, I took 84 photos. Having begun this project in 1993, I now have accumulated 184 images. This book contains a total of 100 photos. Some of the people pictured here have died of old age and illness, or committed suicide. Through the passage of much time, this book has now come into being.
Needless to say, our world is filled with many kinds of people, with different ways of life and ideas. I am extremely grateful to all the participants in this project for their bold and fearless expression. As a final figure in this cast of human charachters, I included a photo of myself. My conclusion: "I am not a Japanese, but an Okinawan. And I will live proudly as an Okinawan, forever."
Mao Ishikawa August, 2011
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I was born in Okinawa in 1953, when Okinawa was separated from Japan after the war ended and was ruled by U.S. military forces. Until the return to Japan in 1972, U.S. soldiers intentionally or accidentally killed, injured, and raped Okinawans, but were never brought to justice. They simply returned home with the help of U.S. military forces. As absurd as it may sound, it was taken for granted at the time.
As a child, I thought, "Are Okinawans Japanese? Why is Okinawa treated cruelly like this?"
During the 1987 Okinawa Kaihoh National Track and Field Competition, Mr. Shoh-ichi Chibana dragged and burned the rising sun flag flying at the venue; for this act, he was arrested. Later, Mr. Chibana showed me a rising sun flag that he kept at home. He told me that he would never burn the flag but would keep it because it was a sign of the reversal movement.
An idea crossed my mind. "It might be interesting to let people carry a Rising Sun flag and express their feelings about Japan and the Japanese."
I decided to ask a variety of people to openly share their faces and names, as well as their ideas and expressions, in a dignified manner. This disclosure is an essential element of any photography. The locations vary from Hokkaido to Okinawa. The ages range from young to senior. The professions, ideologies, and beliefs are diverse. Let them show the figures of the Japanese people.
Previously, I had taken photos of Okinawans and people related to Okinawa. This was the first time I felt inclined to take photos of Japanese people. I was very keen to populate the Ainu, people from "buraku" (discriminated areas), and Korean residents in Japan.
Between 1993 and 1999, I took about a hundred photos and featured them in a magazine. In 2007, I decided to develop the project into a photo book, and I resumed filming activities. Initially, I had planned to take photos exclusively in Japan, but then I had the chance to take photos of Okinawans living in London and Paris as well.
Also, I realized, "I should ask people from Korea, China, and Taiwan—very close to Okinawa and once colonized by Japan—to speak about Japan and Japan."
Introductions from friends allowed me to take pictures in Korean and Taiwan, but not in China. "Any performance with a Rising Sun flag is almost or absolutely impossible under the current political conditions in China. It is better not to do it because it would create difficulties for them." Hearing this kind of advice repeatedly forced me to give up.
Between 2007 and 2011, I took 84 photographs. Having started this project in 1993, I have now accumulated 184 images. This book contains a total of 100 photographs. Some of the people photographed here died of old age and illness, or committed suicide. Over time, this book came into being.
Needless to say, our world is filled with all kinds of people, with different lifestyles and ideas. I am extremely grateful to all the participants in this project for their bold and fearless expression. As the last figure in this cast of human characters, I have included a photo of myself. My conclusion: "I am not a Japanese, but an Okinawan. And I will live proudly as an Okinawan, forever."
Mao Ishikawa August, 2011