Abstract
Japan ranked 101th out of 135 countries in the Gender Gap Index in 2012 and the participation of Japanese women in politics and economy is low. It is necessary to change the working conditions of both men and women and to educate young people and children about gender equality and on building peace at school and communities through media and peace museums. Although the political and economic position of Japanese women is low, they have contributed to rebuilding community at the grassroots level to build peace. Several women’s organizations try to improve the life of women and children and build peace such as the Japan Federation of Women’s Organizations, the New Japan Women’s Association and Mothers’ organizations. These women have worked hard on nuclear weapons, nuclear energy, human rights, the environment and sustainable development in cooperation with women in other countries. The successful opposition against the construction of nuclear power plants in Kochi shows that it is important to educate citizens, especially women, and that they can make a great change for building peace by rebuilding the community.
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- 1.
‘The Global Gender Gap Report 2012’; at: http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-gender-gap-report-2012 (1 November 2012).
- 2.
“The Global Gender Gap Report 2012”; at: http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_GenderGap_Report_2012.pdf (1 November 2012).
- 3.
: “Japan falls down female life expectancy rankings after tsunami”, in: The Guardian Datablog, at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2012/jul/26/life-expectancy-japan-falls-fukushima-tsunami (2 November 2012).
- 4.
World Bank, 2012: World Development Indicators; at: http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS (28 June 2013).
- 5.
Mitsui, Mariko, 2009: “The number of women winners of the general election of the House of Representatives is the highest in history, but the female rate is the lowest in the world”, in: Japan Alternative News for Justices and New Cultures (in Japanese), 2 September; at: http://www.news.janjan.jp/government/0909/0909019596/1.php (2 November 2012).
- 6.
“Association for Increasing Women Politician: Women and Election”; at: http://www.geocities.jp/senkyo_power/data/num_01_shu.html (1 November 2012).
- 7.
“Global Database of Quotas for Women”, A joint project of IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance) and Stockholm University; at: http://www.quotaproject.org/aboutQuotas.cfm (2 November 2012).
- 8.
Honkawa Data Tribune; at: http://www2.ttcn.ne.jp/honkawa/7342.html (2 November 2012).
- 9.
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- 10.
“Ospreys in Okinawa”, in: The New York Times (14 September 2012); at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/opinion/ospreys-in-okinawa.html?_r=0 (3 November 2012).
- 11.
Japan Federation of Women’s Organizations (Nihon Fujin Dantai Rengokai),Address: 4-11-9-303 Sndagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 151-0051; at: http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~fudanren/; email: fudanren@cocoa.ocn.ne.jp.
- 12.
Shinfujin, Address: 5-10-20, Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0002; at: http://www.shinfujin.gr.jp/eng/1_what/index.html.
- 13.
“Wishing the elimination of pollution (Kougai Tsuihouno Negaikomete)”, in: The Akahata (26 July 1970): 5.
- 14.
“We cannot postpone the solution of the pollution any more” (Mo Yuyodekinu), in: The Akahata (28 July 1970).
- 15.
Ibid.
- 16.
S Science Company: “An Outline of S Science Company”; at: http://www.s-science.jp/_co.html (20 Febrary 2013).
- 17.
Japan Mothers Congress, 2009: The 50-Year History of Japan Mothers Congress (1955–2004) (Nihon Hahaoya Taikai 50 nenno Ayumi) (Tokyo: Japan Mothers Congress Liaison Council).
- 18.
“Double Standard in the Recognition of Minamata Disease”, in: The Asahi Shinbun (27 October 2004).
- 19.
“Nations agree on legally binding mercury rules”; at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21078176 (21 February 2013).
- 20.
Ibid., 102.
- 21.
Ibid., 113.
- 22.
The National Council of Japan Nuclear Free Local Authorities; at: http://www.nucfreejapan.com/index.htm (19 February 2013).
- 23.
Yamane, Kazuyo, 2006: Grassroots Museums for Peace in Japan (Saarbrücken: VDM).
- 24.
“The 55th Mothers Congress Held”, in: Zenkoku Shoukou Shinbun (National Commerce Newspaper), 10 August 2009; at: http://www.zenshoren.or.jp/shoukai/fujin/090810-08/090810.html.
- 25.
“We cannot live at the lowest wage”, in: Yomiuri Online Newspaper, 29 May 2009; at: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/yuragu/yuragu090629.htm (15 Feb. 2013).
- 26.
“The 54th Mothers Congress: Peace, Environment & Poverty: Women Paving the Way to the Future based on the Constitution”, in: Shinfujin, 7 August 2008; at: http://www.shinfujin.gr.jp/a_1_shinbun/kiji08/2008_08_7_hahaoyataikai.html (15 February 2013).
- 27.
The Editorial Board of Making 50 Year-history of Kochi Mothers’ Movement (Kochi-ken Hahaoya Undou 50 nenshi Henshu Iinkai), 2004: The History of Mothers’ Movement in Kochi (Kochi-kenno Hahaoya Undou 50 nenshi) (Kochi: Kochi Mothers’ Movement Liaison Council).
- 28.
Ibid.: 61.
- 29.
Ibid., 56.
- 30.
The number of Mothers Newspaper (Hahaoya Shinbun) is 4,000 and it is published monthly.
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Yamane, K. (2014). Building Peace by Rebuilding Community Through Women in Japan. In: Oswald Spring, Ú., Brauch, H., Tidball, K. (eds) Expanding Peace Ecology: Peace, Security, Sustainability, Equity and Gender. SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace(), vol 12. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00729-8_7
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