Tadanori Yokoo Poster Removed From School Textbook

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: High school textbooks to get more difficult from 2009
...The latest screening also threw up many detailed objections to expressions or descriptions used in the textbooks. In one case, a poster drawn by Japanese artist Tadanori Yokoo was replaced due to complaints that it was inconsistent with the healthy development of children. Included in a textbook for Art III, published by Nihon Bunkyo Shuppan Co., and titled "A La Maison De M. Civecawa," [above] the poster was accompanied by text that read, "My daughter on sale at an exhibition." The artist was apparently equating his love for his daughter with the passion he puts into his work. Such moves likely will prompt questions about the appropriateness of the textbook screening system...more...

[Mulboyne]

[Captain Japan]

"When Superman battles against bad people, he does it by himself. On the other hand, Anpanman has many friends who are heroes too. They fight against Baikinman together. We think it is because of the idea of cooperation in Japan, and of individualism in America," the textbook says.

[amdg]

[kamome]

[Mulboyne]

AFP: Japanese artist blasts panel over textbook screening

Renowned Japanese artist Tadanori Yokoo voiced anger Wednesday at an order for one of his works to be removed from high school art books because it was inappropriate for students. An education ministry panel that screens state school textbooks asked publisher Nihon Bunkyou Shuppan to remove the image of a poster that Yokoo created for late choreographer Tatsumi Hijikata in 1965. Yokoo, a prominent graphic designer and artist, who is sometimes described as the Andy Warhol of Japan, said the instruction amounted to "cultural isolation." "I was appalled by this," he told AFP. The poster, advertising performances by Hijikata's dance company, features the 16th-century artwork "Gabrielle d'Estrees and One of her Sisters," which shows two women naked from the waist up, one woman pinching one of the other's nipples. But what the ministry panel found inappropriate was a small phrase printed on the poster saying: "Exhibition and immediate sale of my daughters." Yokoo said the word "daughters" referred to artwork sold by Hijikata's supporters at the theatre.

Hijikata, who suggested the phrase, "didn't want to say anything so unsophisticated and business-like as 'sale of works.' So 'my daughters' really meant the artists' works, very precious, like children," said Yokoo. "The phrase was used in the context of art and creative thinking," he added. The education ministry panel said in a statement that the use of the poster in the schoolbooks "lacks necessary consideration for development of healthy sentiment." "It was the decision of the panel that it was inappropriate," a ministry official said. Noriko Horiuchi, who works for the publisher, said she was surprised by the panel's recommendation. "I was amazed that the panel pointed out something so small. The panel viewed the poster differently from the original (cultural) value of the work," she said.