Constructing the Memory of "Comfort Women" in the U.S.: A Study of Novels and Monuments

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K02563
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Literature in English
• Research Institution: Tokyo City University
• Principal Investigator: Terazawa Yukiko 東京都市大学, 共通教育部, 准教授 (50409439)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 「慰安婦」 / トラウマ / 記憶表象 / メモリアル / ポストメモリー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

My original plan was to examine the reconstruction of the memory of "comfort women" through monuments and novels, using the concept of post-memory. However, the scope of my research expanded to include graphic novels and films. Additionally, by conducting a comparative analysis between the "comfort women" statue and the Japanese American Memorial, I was able to explore the process of memory reconstruction and obliteration through the same type of medium.

Free Research Field

人文学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

文化的産物に表象された記憶のみならず不可視化された記憶を探ることは、その文化的産物や歴史・社会的背景の考察に不可欠である。近年、「慰安婦」像だけでなく、様々な記念碑の設置や撤去をめぐる論争が起こっている中、本研究は、学術的探究に留まらず、現代社会において我々がいかに歴史を認識していくべきかを示唆する役割を果たしていると思われる。