Thank You for Your Support

Dear supporters of the change.org online petition against the removal of the Korean Workers Monument in Gunma Prefecture, Japan,

On January 26, I started this petition in the faint hope of stopping the removal of a very important memorial that was built by Japanese citizens with the intention of promoting remembrance, reflection, and friendship.
Meanwhile, as most of you probably know, the memorial was demolished as planned by the local authorities. This means that the petition did not achieve its main goal. In this respect, the result is obviously nothing to be proud of.

However, I am very grateful for your support. In total, almost 1,800 people signed the petition. Among them, more than 500 from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, more than 70 from Korea, 50 from the USA and Canada, 15 from Great Britain, 10 from Australia and New Zealand. Other supporters came from Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, and the Netherlands in Europe; Guam, Hong Kong, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, and Taiwan in Asia and the Pacific; Kenya in Africa; and Colombia in South America. But by far the largest group of supporters, more than 1,100 people, came from Japan. That is why I am still convinced that despite the destruction of the memorial itself, our petition was a success: Because it gave a voice to those who were most affected.

Of course, there were many other voices of dissatisfaction and protest within Japan. Our petition was only part of the picture. But judging from the comments we received on our website and on social media, as well as the sparse but helpful coverage in the news media (e.g. an article in the Mainichi Shinbun, a commentary in the Tokyo Shinbun, an article in South Korea's Hankyoreh), it seems that showing international support was the right thing to do. Because if such harmful and destructive acts go unnoticed, they will tend to be repeated and more damage will be done. But the world needs Japan to be strong enough to face its inner demons; for only then will Japan be strong enough to overcome the demons that threaten the world from so many directions.

For now, it is time to close our petition. Let me thank you once again for supporting it and thus honoring the spirit of remembrance, reflection, and friendship.

Sincerely yours,
Reinhard Zöllner