Praying and cursing polluters to death – We Make Money Not Art

Mitsutoshi Hanaga Collective of Monks Praying to Destroy Proprietors of Firms Responsible for Environmental Air pollution at the Suzuka River in Yokkaichi, 1970. Photograph: Mitsutoshi Hanaga Estate

In the 1960s, pollution in Japan brought on the spread of fatal situations such as the Itai-itai disease and Yokkaichi bronchial asthma. In spite of scientific investigations, area politicians, bureaucrats and business proprietors set profits just before people’s wellness and toxic industrial waste ongoing to be introduced in the natural environment.

In 1970, a compact team of Buddhist monks, exasperated with the lack of governmental intervention, made a decision to protest. They adopted the name Jusatsu Kito Sodan (Team of Monks Bringing the Curse of Dying) and traveled to some of these contaminating industrial web pages. Geared up with conch devices and textbooks of curses and incantations, the monks fashioned a procession, drumming, chanting, praying, and performed ceremonies with the aim of cursing manufacturing unit homeowners to dying.

Hokkaichi bronchial asthma sufferer. Photograph: Mitsutoshi Hanaga estate

Jusatsu Kito Sodan rituals in motion, 1970. Picture: Mitsutoshi Hanaga estate

Jounalist, reporter and photographer Mitsutoshi Hanaga adopted their campaign to document this early example of anti-company and anti-authorities activism.

Jusatsu Kito Sodan fought for spiritual and physical retaliation on behalf of the lifeless, and uncovered injustices in society. “The group challenged industrialists with counter-murder tries, lawfully regarded as as an “impossible crime” that could not be prosecuted in their judiciary method.” (by using)

I discovered this intervention though viewing Unexpected emergency Exit, curated by Ana Mizerit, Bojana Piškur, Zdenka Badovinac and Igor Španjol, at +MSUM in Ljubljana. The display continues to be open until finally 11 September 2022