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Japan: The First Falun Gong Anti-Torture Exhibit in Tokyo (Photos)

July 4, 2004 |   By Falun Gong practitioners in Japan

(Clearwisdom.net) On June 27, 2004, Falun Gong practitioners in Japan demonstrated the torture methods Falun Gong practitioners suffer in China using live models, props and photos in a park in Koto, Tokyo, Japan. Three practitioners demonstrated three different torture methods among a hundred torture methods that have been applied to Falun Gong practitioners in China. The torture methods were "torturing force-feeding," "hammering bamboo spikes into fingernails," and "being held in a small metal cage." On the other side of the park, practitioners were peacefully demonstrating the exercises, two scenes formed a strong contrast, very eye-catching; people were coming in a stream to ask for information.

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Demonstrating torture methods

Minghui School students come to watch the exhibit

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A Japanese practitioner is explaining the demonstration

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Distributing Dafa truth clarification materials

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Passers-by viewing the exhibit

Several who came to see the exhibit told practitioners, "We know Falun Gong is being persecuted in China, but we have never expected that it is so cruel. This should be stopped immediately."

Two war orphan children in their 20's did not understand what was going on at the beginning. When practitioners pointed at photos depicting about a hundred torture methods and explained the situation to them, they said, "Such atrocities are taking place in China, it is inconceivable. We understand now." When practitioners told them to remember Falun Dafa is great, they nodded and took the Dafa truth clarification materials and said, "I'm also Chinese."

A middle-aged woman said that she was just passing by on her way to visit her friend nearby, otherwise, she wouldn't know that such atrocities are taking place in China. Before, she had heard about the persecution, but didn't know that it was so severe. She said she believed in Buddha, and hoped to learn more about Falun Gong, and took down practitioners' contact information. Practitioners told her that she could go buy a copy of the book Falun Gong in Japanese at bookstores, and after reading the book, if she wanted to know more, she could call practitioners.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Itou (in her 60's) acted as a practitioner whose fingernails were being hammered with bamboo spikes. She told reporters that another older woman and her made the police caps that actors wore. As they did not have experience, they tried very hard to make them look appropriate. The older woman's hands sustained blood blisters. But they felt it worthwhile, because they wanted to replicate the facts to the public, it's not enough to only distribute newspapers and look at photos. They wanted people to see how Dafa practitioners in China suffered torture, and therefore leave a deep impression on the public. When she was asked if she felt tired by acting the same role in the same posture for the whole day, she said crisply, "So long as people know the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, I'm very happy, I have only this thought. Us older women can also do some truth clarification, we feel assured."

Another Falun Gong practitioner, Ms. Tanaka, was one of actors who acted as a practitioner suffering "torturing force-feeding." Her family members also have an experience of being tortured in China. Her brother Wang Tongchun suffered torture and abuse in Oilfield Branch of Songyuan City Police Department in Jilin Province and at Yinmahe Labor Camp in Jiutai City. The guards once handcuffed him and shocked and beat his head with electric batons. His head bled a lot and sustained many swellings. When the electric batons ran out of electricity, the guards punched his face, and his face turned black and blue. The guards didn't stop torturing him until they were tired and sweated a lot. Ms. Tanaka said, "I can't see what I look like after making up, but I hear people say how cruel it looks, I feel very sad." The reporter saw her tears welled up in her eyes and she choked with sobs, she continued, "I think of Dafa practitioners in China, their unyielding hearts and strong will in face of the guards' brutal torture, I feel we are outside of China, we should be quick to explain the facts about Falun Gong to the public, and put an end to the persecution, so that people's minds will be less poisoned."

Another practitioner who acted as being held in a metal cage, said, "I know Dafa practitioners in China were being held in a metal cage several days, their buttocks would fester for sitting too long. I have felt very uncomfortable being held inside the cage for only an hour, the back of my two hands felt numb. I think practitioners in China have suffered so much torture in that evil environment, it is hard to imagine. I only had this tiny experience here today. But such a little experience strengthens my responsibility to be quick to clarify the truth."

Practitioners who applied for the venue for the activity expressed, "I saw our fellow practitioners suffer such torture in China, and many people still do not know the truth about Falun Gong, and do not understand Falun Gong. Now, through our reenactment, they will learn about Falun Gong. I feel the effect is good. I'm very pleased. I think I will keep it up, so that more kind-hearted Japanese and the Japanese government will truly understand Falun Gong, and know that Falun Gong has been welcomed in over 60 countries. People with a sense of justice will work together with us to stop the inhuman persecution."