Okinoshima in sexism
(Text for D-class on Jun.16, 2017) presenter: Koji G.
Japan's Culture Agency announced that Unesco has approved Japan's proposal for the registration of "Okinoshima and related assets" as a World Heritage Site. However most of the related assets including Munakata-Taisha(Hetsumiya) and Nakatsumiya in Oshima were not included in the approval. I guess many of you have mixed feelings over this issue. This tiny little island has been worshipped as a sacred island on which a Goddess resides. That's why landing on the island has been almost forbidden for ordinary people since its history started 1,600 years ago. Worshippers have been supposed to offer prayers toward the faint outline of the island from faraway Oshima located just off the coast of Munakata.
Now that the Island has been approved, many tourists are supposed to visit the place from across the world. Now, many of you may be able to foresee what I mean. No, they can't step into the World Heritage Site nor approach it even though they come all the way from distant countries. The door is to be almost completely shut even after the registration. Isn't this contradictory? We know very limited number of people are chosen by lottery to have an annual visit there. They are supposed to take off all the clothes and soak in the coastal water for purification. However, the thing is that women are still excluded. Their intrusion is totally banned due to long-held sexist views. This nasty truth would be gradually exposed to the rest of the world through SNS, tour guides and by word of mouth. How disgraceful this would be for "hospitality-oriented" Japan!
I have never been to any Muslim countries wherein sexism is known to be prevalent. I have seen on TV thousands of Muslims prostrating in Mosques, without even a single woman in sight. Truly this footage provides us clues to the origin of sexism. I know there used to be lots of holy places in Japan which supported sexism. It is widely known that Koyasan in Kii peninsula used to be a sacred off-limits place for women until some hundred years ago. However, bans have already been lifted. As a result, Okinoshima remains as one of the few places wherein sexism has survived to this day. I can't say I am proud of it though.
As of today, no one in this country has expressed his or her opinion about it. However, the BBC has already reported it in relation to Okinoshima saying that no-women admission rule called "nyonin kinzei" is still lingering in Japan. In the first place, however, can secular tourism coexist with such draconian religious purity? I'd say people should get to know that tourism could be possible only after the death of rule-oriented asceticism in other words. That's why there is no Muslim country with this attitude to willingly admit tourists from abroad. That's also why red-light districts in Kyoto were once reported to be filled with wealthy Buddhist monks every night. I suppose this is the last opportunity for Munakata-Taisha to straighten up its ideas.
What Munakata-Taisha is finally expected is to choose between the two; whether it should harbor sexism and repeal its proposal or it should accept tourism and abandon its stringent religious purity like Kyoto did. Munakata can't have both. Ecotourism? No, it never works here.
Q1 Do you think Munakata-Taisha should use the registration as an opportunity to change itslong-held tradition of sexism? Discuss.
Q2 Why do you think Japanese women and men don't protest against sexism of this kind?Discuss.
Q3 According to an international survey in 2016 about disparity between man and women,Japan is ranked 111th among 144 nations worldwide. What do you think we should do toimprove our poor rating? Discuss.
Q4 Do you have any place in mind as next candidacy for the world heritage site(cultural ornatural) in Japan?