VIETNAMWAR

Japan’s strong presence in the Vietnam War

As the U.S. Pacific Admiral said that “Without Okinawa, we cannot continue the Vietnam War”, Japan served as an important rear vase for the U.S. Army. From Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, under the U.S. occupation, the B-52 stealth bombers flew out and dropped rains of bombs on Vietnam. Also Japan manufactured bombs and toxic gas, military uniforms, bags to carry corpses, cars, electrical equipment and other supplies needed for the U.S. Army enriching the Japanese industry with so called “Vietnam War Special Procurement”.

On the other hand, as the Vietnam War harshened, the anti-war movement inside Japan grew. Myriad of activities such as anti-war meetings, demonstrations and collecting funds to aid the Vietnames people took place.

Chihiro and the Vietnam War

In 1967, in the midst of Anti-War movement, Chihiro illustrated Watashi ga Chiisakatta Toki ni (When I Was a Child), a picture book featuring poems and texts written by children who experienced the bombing in Hiroshima. In this picture book which was her first picture book with the theme of war, there is Chihiro’s wish for the young generation who has not experienced war to know about the tragic character of war. In 1970, for the street exhibition organized by the Association to Help the Children of Vietnam, she participates with a poster work on which she wrote “Peace and Happiness for the Children of Vietnam, Our Children in Japan, Children of the World”. Chihiro illustrated two picture books with the theme of Vietnam War. The first picture book Kaasan wa Orusu (Mother is not at Home) was published in 1972, when the American bombing on North Vietnam was the most harsh. On the same year, Chihiro exhibited three pictures titled “Children” for a group exhibition. While many other artists exhibited their works already published in picture books or illustrations, Chirhiro submitted her new works with a different touch compared to her previous works. She once said “To me, even if a child is all muddy, or wearing torn clothes, he/she seems like a beautiful and dreaming child.” And always painted children beaming with the light of life. But the same Chihiro here painted children who with faces of empty expressions. In these three “children” her anger and sorrow for the war can be felt. “Children” became a start for the second book with the theme of Vietnam War, “Children in the Flames of War” published the next year in 1973. Though here illness and hospitalization interrupted her preparation, she completed the book hastily saying “this is the only way I have”. In 1974, one year after she finished “Children in the Flames of War”, Chihiro passes away. Vietnam saw the end of war in April 1975, eight months after her death.