<Association of Supporters for Japanese Military’s Comfort Women Museum> is a voulenteer organization that supports the museum, which is a part of the House of Sharing. The association was started on November 13th, 1997 in order to support the establishment of the museum that has the main focus of comfort women during the war. Since the inauguaration of the association with 61 sponsors and 13 executive officers, they donated six million yen (about 50,000 US dollars) to the House of Sharing by August 1998, which they received from about 500 contributors.

1. Activities until the establishment of the museum

From December 1997 to August 1998 when the museum was established, the organization led activities such as fund-raising, collection of relevant documents and books, lecture meetings and etc. They also translated a book written in Korean by a Buddhist priest, Hye-Jin, “나, 내일 데모간데이” into Japanese with the title, ‘Comfort Women at The House of Sharing - ナヌムの家のハルモニたち' in Feburary 1998. The books were sold in Japan in order to raise fund for the museum, and they sold 2,240 books, contributing about 1,120,000 Yen (approximately $10,000 US dollars) for the establishment of the museum.

<History until the Establishment of the Museum>

August 1997 ? In August 1997 when there was the comfort women’s art show in Japan, the Buddhist priest, Hye-Jin went to Japan to ask for support for the establishment of the museum.

December 1997 ? Three meetings were held in order to prepare for the establishment of the museum

November 17th, 1997 ? Broadcast a statement of appeal in Japan for the establishment of the museum

December 1st, 1997 ? Official inauguration of the Association of Supporters for Japanese Military’s Comfort Women Museum

December 25th ? December 30th, 1997 ? The Buddhist Priest, Hye-Jin, went to Okinawa in order to collect items for the museum. He visited an island where a comfort woman Bae-Bong used to live, conducted an interview and collected items related to the Japanese military’s comfort women, donated by Kuniyoshi and Wurasaki.

January 21st, 1998 ? Yikewuchi Yasuko, a representative of the association, held a press conference at the Kyoto University in order to ask for support for the museum. The next day, Kyoto newspaper and Asahi newspaper had coverage on the interview.

February 5th, 1998 ? The estimated date of the opening of March 1st was delayed until August 14th. The association sent out letters to its members explaining the situation and also asking for continued support.

February 25th, 1998 ? Published a translated version in Japanese of the book by the Buddhist priest, Hye-Jin, '나, 내일 데모간데이'

February 26th, 1998 ? Held a public lecture by the Buddhist priest, Hae-Jin and Yikewuchi, who are both representatives of the association.

February 27th and March 1st, 1998 ? Held more public lectures in order to promote the establishment of the museum

April 15th, 1998 ? Onoda Misaki, a member of the Tokyo branch of the association, participated in the 5th Solidarity Coneference for Resolving Japanese Military’s Comfort Women Issue in Seoul.

June 27th, 1998 ? The Buddhiest priest Hae-Jin and comfort women were invited to Osaka in order to hold a conference to celebrate the publication of the book, “The Comfort Women at the House of Sharing” and also held a lecture in Tokyo.

August 14th, 1998 ? Opening of the museum (The representative of the Association, Yikewuchi gave a speech)

2. Activities After the Establiehment of the Museum

Since the establishment of the museum, the Association decided to take the following actions after several discussions.

   1) The name of the Association shall be changed to “The Association for the Japanese Military                      Comfort Women Museum” and the current staff members shall be maintained.
   2) Inform the Japanese public about the museum.
   3) Raise money and collect data necessary for the museum

The Association had been sending out letters asking for financial support. In order to have more stable support for the museum, the Association adapted a membership system in December 1999. (Premium membership ? 10,000 Yen a year, Regular membership ? 5,000 Yen a year, Group membership ? 10,000 Yen a year. During the transition, the Association reduced the number of members to the ones who were interested in the museum) Currently, there are 337 members. The Association donated 1,200,000 Yen in 1999 and 1,000,000 Yen in 2000 to the House of Sharing. Also, the Association donated books that were published in Japan regarding the comfort women. In 2001, the Association had 1,600,000 Yen from the membership fee for 2001 and the membership carried over from previous years. The donated money will be used once the Association confirms with the House of Sharing how it was used so far and also after a thorough discussion by the board on the money shall be used in the future.
Last year, the Association made a plan to publish a hand book in order to promote the museum in Japan, and the Association is planning on publishing the book this July.

3. Other Activities
-- Hosts a website that prmotes the Japanese Military’s Comfort Women Museum and also introduces the House of Sharing in Japanese.
-- Sale of the books that are sold by the House of Sharing
-- A signature-collecting campaign in Japan

(The documentation above is written by referring to the website of the Association of Japanese Military’s Comfort Women. http://kyoto.cool.ne.jp/nanum )