Ama Museum

The Ama Museum (Chinese: 阿嬤家-和平與女性人權館; pinyin: Āmā Jiā-Hépíng Yǔ Nǚxìng Rénquán Guǎn) is a museum in Datong District, Taipei, Taiwan. The museum opened in 2016, and is dedicated to comfort women in Taiwan. It is scheduled to close in November 2020.

Ama Museum
阿嬤家-和平與女性人權館
Established10 December 2016
LocationDatong, Taipei, Taiwan
Coordinates25°3′37.2″N 121°30′33.2″E
TypeMuseum
Public transit accessDaqiaotou Station
Websitewww.twrf.org.tw/amamuseum/

Name

The museum is dedicated to those who were comfort women during the Japanese rule of Taiwan.[1] Ama means grandmother in Taiwanese Hokkien, referring to the advanced age of those who had survived World War II.[1][2]

History

The original idea to establish the museum started in 2004. Supported by a large donation from the public in and outside Taiwan, as well as the Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation (TWRF), the museum plaque was unveiled in a ceremony on March 8, 2016 in conjunction with International Women's Day.[2][3][4] The ceremony was attended by President Ma Ying-jeou and one former comfort woman.[5][6]

The museum was finally opened on December 10, 2016 in a ceremony attended by Culture Minister Cheng Li-chun in conjunction with Human Rights Day and the 25th anniversary of the efforts made by the foundation towards comfort women.[5] Speaking during the ceremony, Cheng urged people to never forget the past and to strive for better gender equality.[7] Chairperson of TWRF said that the museum would also be a place to promote gender equality and highlight the damages made by sexual abuse.[8] The ceremony was also attended by one surviving Taiwanese comfort woman and advocates from Japan, South Korea and the United States.[1][9]

The Taipei Women's Rescue Foundation announced in July 2020 that the Ama Museum would close in November 2020. The museum had operated at a loss since it opened in 2016, and the TWRF sold its offices in 2019 in an effort to keep the museum running. However, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the museum's income further, leading to the decision to close it.[10][11]

Architecture

The museum is housed in a renovated 90-year-old 2-story building with a total floor area of 495 m2.[2] It features a café and workshop space.[12]

Exhibition

The museum permanently displays photos, documents and videos related to Taiwanese comfort women.[1]

Activities

The museum is used as the venue to host various workshops and seminars on topics related to human rights.[1] In August 2017, the museum launched a campaign to pressure the Government of Japan through the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association to apologize and compensate the remaining comfort women.[13]

Transportation

The museum is accessible within walking distance south west of Daqiaotou Station of Taipei Metro.

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See also

References
  1. Hou, Elaine; Lee, Yu-cheng (10 December 2016). "Taiwan's first 'comfort women' museum opens after decade of effort". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  2. Hou, Elaine (17 February 2016). "Old building to become Taiwan's first 'comfort women' museum". Central News Agency. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  3. Hanyang (8 March 2016). "Ama Museum opens in Taipei". Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. "Nation's 'comfort women' museum in need of funds". Taipei Times. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. "'Comfort women' museum inaugurated". Taipei Times. 11 March 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  6. "Plaque Unveiling Ceremony for Ama Museum". Department of NGO International Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (TAIWAN). Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  7. "Taiwan's first museum dedicated to comfort women opens". Radio Taiwan International. 10 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  8. "Ma vows justice, compensation for Taiwan comfort women". Taiwan Today. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  9. Kyodo (10 December 2016). "A Taiwanese rights group opens a comfort women museum in Taipei". The Japan Times. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  10. Lim, Emerson (6 July 2020). "Taiwan's only comfort women museum to close in November". Central News Agency. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  11. Hsiao, Sherry (7 July 2020). "Ama Museum to close on Nov. 10". Taipei Times. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  12. Ukai, Satoshi (12 December 2016). "Taiwan's first museum for 'comfort women' opens in Taipei". The Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  13. "Taiwan's museum for 'comfort women' launches campaign for compensation". South China Morning Post. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
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