Event 2015 International Symposium

The synchronized terrorist attacks that occurred in the U.S.A. on September 11, 2001, shocked and terrified the world, throwing a dark shadow on the 21st century. In order to escape from the persistent fear of terrorism, people tend to exclude others who have different backgrounds and values, believing that by doing so they can build a homogenous, peaceful society. However, does such an exclusive society, amplifying the monolithic voice and silencing others, show us the road to peace? Rather, is it not multicultural coexistence, as a means to promote mutual understanding, that we need to pursue? In this symposium, we will consider some examples from the U.S.A. and Japan, in order to explore the possibility of peaceful multicultural coexistence. We will do this by reflecting on the invention of the “official story” to manipulate history and by reinterpreting the representations and the memories of those who have been oppressed.