Face to Face

In the portrayal series “Face to Face”, Halmonis (korean for Grandmothers) not only show themselves as survivors of the system, but also as women with their own name and identity. Uniform photography symbolizes their shared experiences, while personal stories become loud through their singing. Their mix of old Japanese military songs and folk songs of foreign lands, which have been changed by women to survive the horrors and pain of slavery, rekindle their own memories and emotions.

Mun-Pil-gi

© Tsukasa Yajima

Mun Pil-gi
(1925 – 2008)

Song: Cry, Guitar String!

© Joshua D. Pilzer
Kim-Sun-deok

© Tsukasa Yajima

Kim Sun-deok (1921 – 2004)

Song: Traveling Entertainer – Taryeong (Minyo-Korean folksong)

© Joshua D. Pilzer
Bae-Chun-hui

© Tsukasa Yajima

Bae Chun-hui (1923 – 2014)

Song: Dance Music of Youth

© Joshua D. Pilzer

Yi-Yong-nyeo

© Tsukasa Yajima

Yi Yong-nyeo
(1926 – 2013)

Song: Medley – Composer Unknown & Take Care, Busan Harbor

© Joshua D. Pilzer
Yi-Ok-seon

© Tsukasa Yajima

Yi Ok-seon
(1927 – )

Song: Tahyang Sali – Life in a Foreign Land

© Joshua D. Pilzer
Yi-Yong-su

© Tsukasa Yajima

Yi Yong-su
(1928 – )

Song: Song of the Pilots

© Joshua D. Pilzer


Tsukasa Yajima

YAJIMA Tsukasa – born in Takasaki, Japan – studied history at Waseda University and photography at the Nippon Institute of Photography in Tokyo. From 2003 to 2006, Yajima lived in the House of Sharing in South Korea, a home for Korean women who survived the ordeal of the ‚comfort women‘ system and worked on the „Face to Face“ photography project. His photographic works have been exhibited in Germany, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

www.tsukasa-yajima.com

The audio recordings were kindly provided by Joshua D. Pilzer.