Neo Gomanism Manifesto Special - On Taiwan

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Neo Gōmanism Manifesto Special - On Taiwan (Japanese: 新・ゴーマニズム宣言SPECIAL 台湾論, Shin Gōmanism Sengen Supesharu - Taiwan Ron) is a manga authored by Yoshinori Kobayashi published by Shogakukan in November 2000. A Chinese version was published in Taiwan by Avanguard Publishing in February 2001 sparking controversy and even a ban on travel on the author by Taiwan immigration officials.

Book cover.
Book cover.

Contents

[edit] Criticism

  • Critics of the book say it distorts history by claiming that Taiwanese women volunteered to be comfort women for Japanese soldiers during World War II. Such claims were backed by comments from petrochemical Chi Mei Corporation Chairman Hsu Wen-lung whom the author cited as confirming that no women were forced to into prostitution.[1]

[edit] Responses to the book

  • Taiwan legislators and other protestors stormed Taipei's biggest bookstore, grabbing the books and setting it on fire on the sidewalk.[1]
  • On March 2, 2001 the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of China barred Kobayashi from travel to Taiwan, igniting objections from high ranking government officials including National Policy Advisor Alice King. President Chen Shui-bian spoke out in defense of King and Kobayashi stating that freedom of speech is the right of everyone and must be safeguarded.[2] The ban was lifted on March 23, 2001.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Cartoon of Wartime 'Comfort Women' Irks Taiwan. The New York Times (March 2, 2001).
  2. ^ Chen breaks silence on Kobayashi row. The China Post.
  3. ^ Entry ban on cartoonist may be lifted. Liberty Times (March 23, 2001).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


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