A review panel formed by the Aichi Prefectural Government has slammed a high-profile art festival held every three years in the prefecture, saying that the event, which sparked controversy for featuring a statue symbolizing "comfort women," had many faults in its displays and preparations.
The term comfort women is a euphemism used to refer to women who provided sex, including those who did so against their will, for Japanese troops before and during World War II.
The Aichi Triennale 2019, held from Aug. 1 to Oct. 14 in Nagoya and nearby cities, attracted heightened public attention when one of its exhibitions — titled "After 'Freedom of Expression?'" — was closed abruptly three days after opening due to complaints and threats over the comfort women statue.