Photo/Illutration Police investigators on July 8 enter the building in Nagoya where works from the “After ‘Freedom of Expression?’” exhibition were being shown. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

An intolerable act of barbarity was followed by a positive action concerning a controversial exhibition.

The event is designed to showcase works from the “After ‘Freedom of Expression?’” exhibition, which was part of the Aichi Triennale 2019 international art festival but temporarily suspended due to protests and threats.

A plan for displaying those artworks in a traveling exhibition is having a rough going.

Every one of us should draw on this opportunity to think seriously once more about what freedom of expression is and what will become of society when that freedom is infringed on.

What we call an “act of barbarity” took place in Nagoya.

A piece of mail gave off explosive sounds when it was opened at a municipal gallery, which hosted the exhibition, on July 8, the third day of the show. A firecracker had likely been planted in the parcel, which also contained a document calling for discontinuation of the exhibition.

No one was injured, but the Nagoya city government decided to temporarily close the gallery, effectively ending the exhibition, which was scheduled to have run through July 11.

A worker found the parcel suspicious and opened it after consulting with police officers who were standing guard, sources said.

We might say the ruckus could have been prevented if tighter security measures had been in place. However, the blame should obviously go to the sender who resorted to the violent act.

Of course, there is freedom to criticize the works on display. But an ironclad rule is that expression should be countered by expression and speech should be countered by speech.

If such despicable acts were to go unchallenged, that could undermine the foundation of democracy, which is premised on free discussions based on access to diverse views and artworks.

Aichi prefectural police have opened a probe into the case on suspicion of forcible obstruction of business. Police should do their best to find and detain any suspects.

The “positive action” was taken in Osaka where the exhibition is scheduled to begin on July 16.

A facility of the Osaka prefectural government, which will host the show, had revoked its use permit on the grounds that it would be difficult to ensure safety, citing protests by sound trucks and other circumstances as the reason.

However, the Osaka District Court overturned that decision on July 9.

The court emphasized the importance of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression. It said the facility is allowed to deny use of the venue only when there are special circumstances, such as when chaos cannot be prevented even by appropriate police security measures and other means.

The court, which referred to the case in Nagoya, concluded that it cannot be said that any specific danger is facing the Osaka exhibition.

The court decision, which took into account a Supreme Court opinion on a similar case, is convincing.

Officials of the facility are set to make an appeal, but they should think carefully about what must be done to ensure a free exhibition.

The exhibition was also scheduled to have been held at a private gallery in Tokyo, but it was postponed after the gallery’s owner called it off over fears of trouble.

Confronted with a trend like that, public facilities face a test of their true value.

The Nagoya city government will also create problems for the future if it just sweeps the matter under the rug by closing the gallery.

The public sector can side with those who defend a democratic society or end up lending a hand to those who undermine it.

Local authorities should make a choice based on what they believe is the role the public sector is required to play.

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 10

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