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Women banned from tour of bullet-train tunnel
August 28, 2001 Posted: 12:50 PM EDT (1650 GMT)

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Women have made enormous inroads in Japan's male-dominated society over the past half century. But there are still places where they're not welcome -- such as the inside of tunnels under construction.

On Saturday, a company building a bullet-train tunnel in central Japan was conducting a tour of the passageway for about 100 local citizens. At the entrance, however, women in the group were barred from entering.

The reason? Bad luck.

Japanese superstition holds that by entering the tunnel under construction, women would arouse the jealousy of the mountain goddess, and cause disaster.

News reports said that 30 women who turned up for the tour were denied entry. Noriyuki Kushige, a spokesman for the Gunma prefecture (state) where the tunnel is being built, confirmed that women were told to stay out but did not have the exact number.

Japan's constitution -- adopted after World War II -- forbids discrimination based on sex and guarantees equal rights to property. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has named five women to his Cabinet -- the most ever -- out of a total of 17 ministers.

But age-old conventions about the roles of men and women still hold sway, especially in traditional settings.

The ruling body of Japan's ancient sport of sumo wrestling has twice denied permission to Osaka Gov. Fusae Ota, Japan's first female governor, from entering the ring to present an award to the winner of a local tournament.

Sumo has its roots in Japan's indigenous Shinto religion, which considers women impure and unfit to enter places considered sacred -- such as the wrestling ring.

Similar superstitions in the past have discouraged women from climbing mountains or boarding fishing boats.

Attitudes are changing -- if grudgingly.

Earlier this year, five teen-age girls were allowed to sit among the court musicians aboard parade floats in Kyoto's Gion Festival, the first female musicians in the festival's 300-year history.

Instead of a tour inside the tunnel, Kushige said the women were given a half-hour tour of the outside. That consisted mainly of being shown around the water drainage equipment.

The 145-meter-long (145-yard-long) tunnel is scheduled to be completed by 2003 to connect bullet train service to Annaka Haruna station in Gunma, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Tokyo.

That is where you are wrong. I think that it does have a thing or two to do with biafra. We also have such or similar superstitions in biafraland and you know it. It is important for us to know what impart the involvement of women here as far as the fight for the actualization of biafra nation is concerned. Is it positive or nagative? Do women have bad luck that will make all the work that men do abortive? I know that if you are into juju and charms, you need to keep women away especially during the monthly nature calls.

I don't know how turbulent the waters of the male/female relations you've had in the past/present has tossed you. However, you exhibit simulated symptoms of a female-hater. It clouds your judgements, affects your every thought and action, and you seem to believe that all your woes are the fault of women, and as such feel better after you'd bashed or lashed out at females. You better seek some help before you irretrievably slide off to the deep end.

Since you're courageously and mentally challenged to stand up to be counted in this on-going fight for Biafra Actualization, respect the women who are able to brave the uncharted waters of Biafra Actualization drives to effect freedom for generations of true Biafrans. Ever heard of what we Ndigbo call, "mmadu di, mmadu ako?" Count your teeth with your tongue. Don't continue to be a sour loser. It's a crying shame.

P/S

Ednut
Have u started eating gworo or have u gone mad. I always knew that u were not for Biafra but why are u concerned about something that u are not supporting. U are reasoning more like a Bature/Adamu Muslim and I wouldn't be surpried to hear tomorrow that u have been converted into a gworo eating allah akbar muslim.

Who told u that our women of BIAFRA are not qualified to join the freedom fighters. What difference does it make if a man or a woman is fighting for what he/she strongly believes in. Look, between u and the women of Biafra I will chose the women without thinking twice 'cause they are smarter than u are. What have u got to offer as a man. U think any reasonable Biafran will listen to your trash just because u are a man. Let me make it known to u that our women fought for BIAFRA during the time of our survival. Now tell me what evidence do u have to prove that women are unreliable and should not be allowed to progress and move our nation forward.

In America u have women as Senators, Governors, Cops, teachers, lawyers, Supreme court judges, name it. Now has America turned upside down. Isn't America the greatest nation on earth. Isn't America the nation with the strongest economy, army,etc.

Ednut are u too crazy to realise that any country where men and women are treated equally is always better than the nations where women are pushed aside and not allowed to progress.

Ednut says,
"I know that if you are into juju and charms, you need to keep women away especially during the monthly nature calls."

Now what in the world are talking about?

If Africans like u will learn to stop being sexist and realise that this world is not only for men but for both men and women then Africa will move forward. If u don't want women then why don't u join your fellow sexists in the muslim world. If the men are so superior then why haven't they been able to move us forward in Africa.

Telling women that they are not qualified to work with men is just like the Nigerians marginalising the Igbos politically.

WE want THE Republic of Biafra not Islamic Republic of Biafra.

Amanda my sister,
Make u no mind this confused Awusa/Igbo man. He knows nothing about the women of Biafra. We need women like Joy, Ijeoma, U , and others in Biafra. Imagine what Biafra will be without u all. Imagine what our sweet Biafra will be with the Folankes.

Keep up the good work. God will reward u all in the end. Who says u should not fight for BIAFRA.

Keep it up my sisters.

Ednut has Openly acknowledged that Biafra actualization is on the way.

He is now questioning the role of women in this venture.