Japanese Collective IDHIA Exposes Systemic Discrimination in Arts Through Surveys

Established in 2020 by cultural professionals, the Hyogen no Genba Chosadan, also known as Investigating Discrimination, Harassment, and Inequality in the Arts (IDHIA), seeks to enhance the working conditions within Japan's creative sector. A survey conducted in 2021 indicated that 82% of 1,449 participants had faced harassment, with nearly 10% disclosing instances of sexual assault. Furthermore, a 2022 survey on gender balance highlighted that, although 73.5% of art school students are female, over 80% of academic positions are occupied by males. Selected by Koki Tanaka as one of ArtReview's Future Greats 2023, IDHIA, which includes members like Yuko Okada and Nodoka Odawara, challenges entrenched inequalities in Japan's art community and pushes for systemic reform.