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© 2011 AFPFormer sex slaves hold 1,000th protest outside Japan's embassy in Seoul
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sfjp330
In 1965, Japan asked Korea to show the concrete number of conscripted workers and soldiers, dead and injured and how much unpaid wages were. They asked to "show the evidences and they would pay". Korea agreed and investigated them. What I want to clarify here is that KOREA DIDN'T CLAIM the compensation for the war time prostitutes. Why didn't they? It's because there was no abducted prostitute. Nobody said at the time in Korea, those prostitutes were abducted. Everyone knew there were many women who were so poor that they sold themselves to live and the Japan army didn't have to abduct Chosun women. There were many Chosun volunteers for Japan army at the time. Therefore Koreans didn't claim it at that time.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Get over it ladies. They apologized a zillion times already.
ParisTiltin
you'd think after 100 or so, they would try another strategy
NetNinja
Japan has never apologized MaboDofu.
You know what has to be done. C.R.E.A.M
Yubaru
The types of responses that Mabo and Paris have made are exactly what the Japanese government are hoping for, that people will get tired of the issue and let it literally die away. It's sad what these and many other women went through during WWII.
This is just one of a number of issues that the Japanese government has failed to properly address and as time goes by gets harder and harder to go back to. The Japanese government paid lip service and minor compensation to many women but through a third party organization and that is the crux of the problem.
Is it so hard now a days for people to apologize and get on with their lives?
nath
Sad case of Japan having vague apologies without addressing specifics leaving the aggrieved feeling no better off. "I'm sorry for what happened" is a poor heartfelt apology.
issa1
Gave me a feeling of disgust at seeing it .No use asking pardon this people they will never be satisfied. Ignore them, is the best thing to do.
sfjp330
In 1965, Japan paid $500 million. There is one more thing people misunderstood. They always compare Japan with Germany and insist "Germany compensated individuals". However Korean regimes including Rhee Syng-man and Park Chung-hee also, refused Japan's pensions for conscripted soldiers who had had tough lives in Japan army and injured conscripted workers. Korea said "Don't do it." and "Korean government will get all of them". Korean government will get the compensations for all claims including those for Korean civilians' assets." Even if these comfort women were included in the compensation, the Korean goverment would've kept all the money and they would still be protesting.
Antonios_M
Well said.
megosaa
SKW:"For the thousandth time...APOLOGIZE!!!"
tmarie
Perhaps they should be outside the government government offices demanding to know what happened to all the compensation money Japan gave Korea to put this all to rest? I think what happened is sick but the Koreans just need to shut up about it now. It was settled. Decades a go. They don't have to "get over it" but the looking for money and apologies when they've been had?? Blah.
tmarie
Should say Korean government offices
Cricky
Japan ignores and discredits these women at every opportunity claiming it has apologized and paid reparations. Seems these women do not feel so nor most educated nations that had the unfortunate experience of Imperial Japan. Anything negative is down played and marginalized, in Japan. This enforces the view of Japan as a dangerous, heatless non-cooperative nation. The statue is a stinging embarrassing thorn that will be a constant reminder of organized rape. There is a book written by a Japanese woman who's drunkard father sold her to the army...it's a hard read. Claiming that these women knew and wanted what happened is a story that negates responsibility and says more about Japan's thinking, lack of remorse and stereotypes foreign women as sluts.
browny1
Nothing is black or white, but some of the "experts" on here seem to think so.
No women / girls were abducted????
So all of these old ladies after 20 years of weekly protest are just simply liars?
Because the fascist jack boot korean govt of the 60's didn't support it's citizens doesn't mean the accusations are false.
spudman
Won't be over till the women have died or Japanese offers a incere appology. Odd that the Japanese government pays former forced prostitutes even today( by "non official" NGOs) but nothing up front. Japanese would be ashamed if their government told the populace what happened. Actually NHK did a documentary on this issue but the broadcast was stopped due to political pressure, thus keeping an ignorant public ignorant.
kukuchai
japan is bad.
Cricky
Exatly Supdman, they don't want anyone to know that 300,000 women were forced into a life of degradation to satisfy the whims and lusts of an aggressive bunch of boys. Being abused to death in many cases. The government seems more embarrassed because it was not as organized as they would have liked it.
sfjp330
Japan should've done more to help these women. Most comfort women were Korean. Most were left with nothing; literally nothing. Beyond being impoverished, many were unable to bear children after their enslavement due to the amount of unprotected and aggressive sex they were forced to endure. Between venereal disease, interrupted pregnancies without proper medical supervision and rape, they were unable to bear children, and therefore many were never able to integrate into post war society. The average comfort women wound up on welfare, leading a life of poverty and alienation. Of course, not all of the women ended up in such an extreme and saddening plight. Some were married, and were able to find financial security. Most, though, were left behind in the lower classes, especially as they aged. If Korean goverment is so concerned with the issue of comfort women, they need to disclose what happened to the $500 million that Japan gave in 1965.
OssanAmerica
"There is a book written by a Japanese woman who's drunkard father sold her to the army...it's a hard read.
Yup, daughters were often sold not just in Japan but in Korea as well. And that's how most of the comfort women were recruited. SFJP330 is correct in saying that "abduction" was not an issue at the time, Korean fathers who sold their daughters, the Korean middlemen who procured the girls, the 240,000 Korean men in the Imperial Japanese armed forces who also made use of the comfort women system, the South Korean government that negotiated with Japan in 1965 and received money,,,,,there are more villans in this story than just "Japan".
CrazyJoe
A peace monument of a teenage prostitute. This is unbelievable.
paulinusa
So the Korean government, which I believe was military, in the 60's didn't ask compensation for these women? Does that then absolve the Japanese government? Don't think so. These women had no voice or power at the time. I'm sure this is, first, a case of Japanese conservatives not wanting to give in and secondly, the fear that this would leave Japan open to other embarrassing claims from the wartime period.
Cricky
OssanAmerica Japan ran the system, it's on them- spreading the blame just belittles and buys into the lie that it was not their fault. It was a systematic rape business. To claim "Koreans" used it too! It's like saying they did it too, so me doing it is OK Pathetic argument
nath
Cricky.
So the US soldiers during their japan occupation walking down ginza streets screaming "Where are the Geisha I want some fun" ain't pathetic. Of course Japan had to provide or face worse.
Every army did similar throughout the war, thinking different is denying reality. Plenty of reports out there that cover most wars and armies.
YuriOtani
It was settled in 65, the current government is bound by the agreements of the old. Otherwise what is the point of making agreements? I feel no need to apologize to these women. They can go and frack themselves. South Korea is free from Japan unlike others.
Cricky
It's Me Are you saying Occupational troops organized "rape" centers? I'm not stupid. There is a big difference between Individual acts of sadism and a Government approved, organized systematic brutalizing of "Gaiijin" and local sluts who apparently loved it, according to Government policy.
nath
Cricky.
Read the Histories. The US forces DEMANDED that Japan provide Brothels, etc for their troops. They didn't care about the girls or where they came from or how they got there. Same was repeated in the Korea, Vietnam war, etc.
As it has been done for centuries and millenia that is what I am saying, nothing more.
Cricky
Point taken! But I still think this subject is beyond and different from your point. Due to magnitude and effected people's feelings 70 years on! Do not have 20 years of protest outside the American Embassy? Also troops were hung for rape when prosecuted. A semblance of empathy goes a long way.
nath
The point is the same, just some people prefer to demonise others and refuse to look at their own acts/involvements.
I could cite more examples from other countries (i.e. Hershey Girls, etc).
supermonk7
If at first you don't succeed....
Cricky
It's not the same, a Government approved policy Vs right of conquest. Please take a pause and imagine those close to you forcibly taken and gang raped, I just don't see how this is acceptable. Then or now.
NeoJamal
so how much money do they want?
nath
Not the same at all.
Can I guess you never served. And no-one here is talking gang-rape, etc. That would be more in inline with what happened in german concentration camps, etc. Guess you didn't know about those.
Like I said you can try to demonise the japanese as much as you want but it shows your true feelings.
Read the Histories and not just what your goverment wants you to believe what happened. The info is out there for the taking by anyone.
lachatamber
get jobs grannies! stop trying to get free handouts from the j-government just because you're poor and old!
LH10
leave japan alone! let's move on, what happened in the past stays in the past.
NeoJamal
But gotta say some outspoken Korean nationalists are pure hypocrits. Recall how they successfully petitioned for the ban of the book So Far from the Bamboo Grove an account of a Japanese woman's experience in wartime Korea because it mentions Korean men raping Japanese women .
Cricky
Ahhh again you change or fudge the topic, served? Is that an excuse? Actually 15 years in the Army what about you? If that's your bench mark. Currently a serving police officer so I am afraid I see the worst of human nature. Forcing woman into a position of having sex 10 times a day, or more...sorry if that does not qualify as gang rape. You can not justify this, I hope. The final solution and a government system of rape...dude have you any empathy?
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Good posts It"S ME
Cricky
Good for you,really that's an admirable thing. Expose myself? Empathy, for these women that's my point. You are helping current victims why be so harsh on past victims? All I wanted to say is these victims are disregarded and I feel deserve some recognition as victims of a government policy that degraded them in a systematic way. The cost of admitting the wrongs and paying compensation while uncomfortable would pay global dividends!
Japan is an Island, in a global world.
Allison Honig
Honestly. They deserve to be kicked out entirly. Japans done with you now shooo
nath
No-one is talking empathy here, we all got it. Japan is not an Island, they did nothing less or more than others did in history. Why demonise/separate them from the world and that is from a non-japanese?
This is my message.
spudman
So Japan should stop August celebrations of the terrible atomic bombings? No, the past remains in the present as a learning tool.
OssanAmerica
May sound pathetic to you but it's a fact, Doesn't absolve the Japanese military at all. But to close your eyes to all the others who played a role in this is. just so that you can blame just one party is not only wrong, it's unfair to the women who suffered.
Cricky
So off topic! Focus on the story, and the victims not me. Claiming this or that to justify an opinion, saying others did similar does not lessen the original action
It is about empathy and It is about remorse 20 years of protest, a public statue, may not agree but it is an issue Resolving this will need a sense of responsibility that obviously is not a strong suit for J- Government.
Still don't get, I exposed myself, but if your happy so am I
Cricky
Don't understand you reasoning apper to justify rape, but claim you help rape victims? Ask me if I served but do not say if you did?
I am guessing Dundgen Master level 10 You belittle rape victims, be proud...
DutchHusband
Treat them a cup of tea, along with sincere apologies.
BurakuminDes
If the Japanese media (and others posting here) are going to continue using the ridiculous euphemism "comfort women" in this issue - then they should also use the term "comfort children" - because, make no mistake, many of those used for sex by the Japanese military were children. Fact.
nath
Sit down with the few women protesting. Find out what they want. Apologize and pay them an annuity. Have them sign a contract to end this issue. Put this to rest, it isn't rocket science. Just another issue the Government is incapable of resolving...
nath
@It"S ME
The key word here being, "Forced"
I like how everyone in Japan, tries to change the subject... Now, let's focus on the U.S., "We'll America did it too...!"
My 4 year nephew says the same thing, after he gets caught do something he's not supposed to be doing... "We'll he did it too..."
And, those that argue Japan has repeatedly apologized, you might want to take a closer look at what Japan has actually said in those apologies, it's something to the effect of: "Well, we're very sorry that the war was extremely hard on you..."
I don't know about the compensation issue, perhaps, that's asking too much, but an apology is something very easy... Once and for all, unambiguous....
nath
Ch1n4Sailor.
You are focusing on a single word. Plenty of records of parents that sold/forced their daughters into that service worldwide. Still ongoing now in many nations, take the blinders off and see the real world for what it is.
Cricky
Twist and turn, it's a uncomfortable topic, but it was wrong! An apology heart felt apology perhaps with cash would end this, politically , for the victims the horror will never end.
genji17
So much for time heals all wounds i guess
nath
Cricky.
Not uncomfortable at all, it is simply history and thus needs to be evaluated based on all accounts and actions need to be derived from the findings.
Feelings got no deal here. Very few nations ever apologised nor paid compensations for their own misdeeds.
Not going into how japan paid Korea and the goverment kept the monies, etc, etc. That is for historians to decide.
OssanAmerica
The Pan-pan girls were a Government approved system. GHQ wanted "safe clean" prostiutes for the GIs, and the defeated J-govt complied. Ironically some of the girls were former IJA comfort girls. Lookmat Vietnam: http://zeroempty000.blogspot.com/2007/04/official-brothel-during-vietnam-war.html And even the South Korean troops in Vietnam: http://zeroempty000.blogspot.com/2007/04/comfort-women-during-vietnam-war-for.html And it not just "then" it;s "now" as well. http://www.uri.edu/artsci/wms/hughes/modern_day_comfort_women.pdf And not every woman in the IJA comfort women system was abducted or gang raped. Nor were they "sex slaves" since they were paid with some making moire than the enlisted men. http://studyofenglish.wordpress.com/2007/09/15/report-of-the-usarmy-at-ww2-on-ianfu-comfort-women-japan-sexslave-korea/ There is far far more to the "Comfort Women" issue than the protests and "accounts" of the few remaining WWII survivors.
nath
In short if anyone asked for compensation due to a countries misdeeds than I say England, Germany, Spain. France, Portugal and the USA would have been bankrupted decades ago.
How far to go back to the roman empire, greek, egytian, etc periods. The world been infighting for millenia and most wars were less than pretty as were the ongoings behind the scenes.
Lets get realistic here.
codomo
they should know what is going on in vietnam before making like this statue.
Riffraff
I have to chuckle when I read comments about war from people that have no clue about the real horror of the waging of a war. In one breath I hear them saying, "Oh please, get over it.... it happened 50 years ago, we have to move on". The next breath is, "Oh they need to apologize and pay money" …… You do not apologize for a war; you either win it or lose it. The consequences of either outcome should be adequate to make you think twice before you do it again. The only reason we are here is because Japan lost WWII. Fifty years on, we are looking at the 1945 era through 2011 eyes and social norms and saying if you just say you are sorry (and give us a whole bunch of money) everything will be fine. If a nation takes upon itself to wage war and loses that war, they do not need to apologize to anyone, war is war. But…. they do need to be ready to accept the consequences of losing said war. China, the US, the Philippines, Korea, etc. all want a piece of Japans a$$ because of that war. Should Japan apologize to anyone? Hell No, those would just be words proffered by a defeated opponent. Japan has never really accepted the fact that it is a defeated nation and will need to continue to do penance until the countries it waged war with are satisfied or until it is strong enough to say enough is enough.
kukuchai
from Cricky.
Read the Histories. The US forces DEMANDED that Japan provide Brothels, etc for their troops. They didn't care about the girls or where they came from or how they got there. Same was repeated in the Korea, Vietnam war, etc.
As it has been done for centuries and millenia that is what I am saying, nothing more.
T_rexmaxytime
They were not sex slaves. They were 肉便器(Niku-Benki)!
nath
kukuchai.
Ahem, that was my post not his. just saying.
Aqualung
War is h*ll, rape, pillage and plunder being the old norm. Having the brothels might have reduced the horrors committed on other civilians. That said, a sincere apology for what likely happened to some of these women might show the world Japan is mature enough to take responsibility for it's actions.
oldsanno
Both the Korean and Japanese government signed the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Article 22 of the Convention states
The Korean government should apologize to Japan.
oldsanno
The Japanese government established the Asian Women’s Fund which gave billions of yen in reparations to surviving "comfort women". An apology and compensation was offered and given to those who wanted one. The Koreans in this article didn't accept this offer because all they want is to hate and hurt Japan forever. It's about their hate, not WW2.
issa1
This is the lucrative business of the courts and Koreans are experts in this area, but they really want is money, money, money, only that. Why do not remember too of the island of Takeshima ?
yasukuni
The lack of sympathy for what some of these women went through is so disturbing. Really.
just-a-guy
They should pass that 'fighting spirits' to younger genrations and keep protesting across the world's japanese embassy! Let teh whole world knows teh Japanese government at present is coverup and denying war time artrocities! It was a kind of collabortion in Japnese politics to deny,glorified and praising WW2 IJ artorcities against women!
just-a-guy
The world most discriminating attitudes over foreign women and trying to run away from responsibilities was the cowardice of Japanese governmnet,both war time and post war until now!
Lilith12
I`m horrified about some of the remarks - p.e. Iachatamber and Issa 1. Remembers me a lot of some old and now unfortunately young people in Austria and Germany, talking about our "own Nazi regime". Or perhaps they have no empathy. That things like that happened in a lot of other countries is no excuse. Thanks to Yasukini
nath
Lilith12.
You are talking from a poor point of view, as you would be aware if you were german, austrian, etc. We take our history seriously and way more so than the USA, etc. ANd that is not the history you were taught.
Our history defines us and and shaped us into who & what we are today, yeah there were many bad episodes across the centuries and millennia but we grew from our experiences.
Ever wondered why most Europeans are anti-war now it is because of our history and experiences.
Things that many americans, etc forgot once they hit those shores.
Lilith12
It`s me - Im Austrian. Always being very interested in this part of history, had familiy members in the "party". Long discussions when I was young and full of hope etc. History defines us, but we can try to see different points and be always interested. But I´m realistic now, being older and heard and seen a lot.
issa1
Japanese never claimed compensation on war crimes of the americans. I think that war is war and there no war that is fair - always will prevail the law of the strongest.
Lilith12
Same as Germany and Austria, they lost but claimed nothing, which is good from my point of view. Anyway they started the whole thing, even reasons can be found in history. Belive me I love Japan though my passed away daughter loved it and lifed there. I have a lot of friends there but this doesn`t make me blind for faults (same for my country).
yasukuni
Start from Pearl Harbor, read about the Bataan Death March, read about the atrocities Japanese committed against not only Americans, but Australians, British, Dutch, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, New Zealanders, etc etc, and you will realize that it would have been absurd for Japan to try to claim compensation.
I think that war is war too. If your country is attacked, I think it's fair to defend yourself.
Issa, you just have to face the reality that people of not only China and Korea, but so many countries suffered because of the actions of your country in the last war. You can argue that Japan doesn't need to pay compensation now, but a little display of sympathy would show you to be a much nicer person.
Lilith12
Forced annexation, yes, but such a lot of people were more than happy about it. OK, you can argue that the economy etc. were terrible during this days etc. We were not, as sometimes claimed, only the poor little Austrians, I`m too realistic.
yasukuni
Which I think is the whole point. I don't think Japan needs to pay people anymore either.
It's true that some comfort women volunteered. It's true that some were sold by their countrymen and family members. Some had worse experiences than others. But what is really disturbing is that more Japanese don't take an interest, that it isn't JAPAN that educates it's people on the suffering caused. I'm not angry about it anymore. Just sad, that such a great nation as Japan has such a huge blindspot.
nath
History ain't black/white not good/bad.
Lilith12
att. It`s me: When I was young, though /´m 56 its a long time ago, history lessons during school were more "japanese" we stopped at World war 1. It was different when my daugther went to school, they learned a lot about this time, read Anna Frank etc. But cause I was an rebellous teenager and had jewish friends, I teached myself, saw a lot of history films, read a lot of books and talked to people. And then the discussions started with family and people from my village, which was not always nice. And I agree there is no black and white, even I thought that when I was very young.
MASSWIPE
"No-one is talking empathy here, we all got it. Japan is not an Island, they did nothing less or more than others did in history. Why demonise/separate them from the world and that is from a non-japanese?"
Well, Japan is an island nation. I'm fascinated by the obsession that many non-Japanese have with trying to establish the idea of moral equivalency between Japan and the West with regards to the events of 1931-45. To declare that Japan "did nothing less or more than others did in history" during those 15 miserable years is really stretching things, but the "moral equivalency" crowd is relentless. Why this is, I don't know. Contemporary Japan is certainly a seductive and alluring country, and it's easy to become a cheerleader for the nation and its people. But really, why get so bothered about the fact that wartime Japan is grouped together with Nazi Germany, and the peoples of those 2 nations are singled out for the grisly, unspeakable crimes their soldiers committed? The sad truth of the matter is that Japan's armed forces during World War II very much earned the distinction of being grouped together with the likes of the Einsatzgruppen and other Nazi organizations.
termarosa
Sigh, the Japanese sat up brothels BEFORE the U.S troops even landed, GHQ disbanded the "state sponsored" brothels in 1946
Japan dind't even have voting right for women back then, since when is Japan world leading propenent for women's right
The Japanese used state sponsored human trafficking program to prvoide sex slaves for the armed forces all over cross Asia, the result was high casuaties among those women because of disease or combat related deathThe Japanese sat a new world record in raping prepubescent girls, even the Catholic Church would abhor,
tmarie
**Because the fascist jack boot korean govt of the 60's didn't support it's citizens doesn't mean the accusations are false.
I don't think anyone is saying they are false. The Japanese paid a large sum of money to the Korean government. They're done paying/. If the Koreans protesting want more money, they need to see THEIR government about it. Haven't you wondered why the Korean government stays out of this? They know Korea accepted money and there would be hell to pay from Japan and a few other countries if they tried to get more money. It doesn't matter who ran the government then, they were paid which settled the matter in terms of apologies and money.
oldsanno
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodo_League_massacre
yasukuni - Do you think America or South Korea will apologize or compensate these victims?
landshark
Several governments, including the American and Dutch governments, have passed resolutions stating that Japan should apologize for this.
Something that astounds me is people insisting that either there were paid prostitutes or there were sex slaves. Who said there cannot be both? I believe that originally the system was more toward the paid prostitutes. But as the war dragged on and things got more and more desperate and they began running out of willing prostitutes, more and more were acquired through downright evil means.
How can one think no Korean women were forced when several Dutch women were? How can one justify the Japanese for buying a girl because her father sold her? How can one think that none of them were lied to about what they were signing up for when the same practice is well known even today?
Three quarters of all comfort women died during the war. Young women. How do you think that happened? You think it was an accident? You think it was just a bit of forgiveable negligence?
I cannot say which of these women protesting signed up, which were never comfort women, and which were kidnapped, coerced or whatever. Does it really matter? Japan majorly messed up and should be remorseful and apologetic about what was done to at least some of these women. Also, many of these women were not even paid what they were due regardless of the circumstances of their title of comfort women. Evidence still exists of that. And much more was burnt to hide the evidence.
When someone burns evidence, I don't mind if they get monitarily charged for a few things they didn't do. As far as I am concerned, their fair trial went up in smoke by their own hand.
landshark
How can they ask for more money when they have been paid none? How can you excuse Japan for paying off a government rather than the individual claimants?
Are you aware that it was only in recent years that it was discovered that the Japanese and Korean governments had a secret agreement concerning compensation? Japan knew her victims never got paid! They were part of the deal ensuring they didn't! This was done to stiff arm these women and end the controversy by Japan. Both Japan and Korea owe them until they get paid. If you were in their shoes, you would feel the same. If your boss gave your wages to your dad who spent all the money on booze, I doubt you would let your boss off the hook.
602miko
gosh that was a long long time ago, world war 2, already erased in history, face the fact now its new era.... nonsence korea nonsence.
tmarie
How can they ask for more money when they have been paid none? How can you excuse Japan for paying off a government rather than the individual claimants?
Because that is often how it works. The governments make agreements, one pays the other and the receiving ones sorts out who gets what.
Wasn't aware but does it matter? Japan has paid. They paid the Korean government. The claims need to go to the Korea government, not the Japanese one. It isn't Japan's issue now since they settled with the Korean government. Does that suck and seem sneaky? Indeed but I would suggest the Korean government is worse for not giving the money to those who should get it.
I'm not in their shoes - and nor are you. If I knew my government has taken money that was supposed to be for this, I would be protesting MY government, not the Japanese government. If my company paid my dad and that was the agreement - and it was legal - blame my dad, not the company.
BurakuminDes
Are you prepared to go down to Hiroshima and Nagasaki next August and tell the locals the same thing? "It's a long time ago WW2, people, get over it, it's erased from history...". Try it and see what reception you get! LOL
tmarie
I'd be more than happy if Japan "got over" the victim mentality with regards to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Not going to happen though - and neither will this until they all die out. The differences being though, Japan won't let Hiroshima and Nagasaki go with the deaths while I think the Koreans will.
BurakuminDes
@ tmarie - mostly agree. But I reckon in all these East Asian nations, there will always exist a core of extreme-rightists wanting to stir and provoke their (remarkably) similar counterparts across the sea/border. Even 500 years from now probably!
602miko
@ burakumin the past is past, why they cant get over it !!! so really its a nonsence ....
BurakuminDes
@ 602miko - it is easy for us to say that, having not lived through war. I never understood when I was a kid why my grand-dad had a hatred and illogical contempt for Germans. Sure - he had fought them and some of his mates been kllled - but I thought he was living in the past and should have gotten over it by now. He even refused to call a dog a "German" Shepherd! Years later, I understood that I couldn't judge his views as I had not walked in his shoes all those years ago. You can't just erase history - memories are surprisingly long.
nigelboy
landshark
Where did you get this from?
??? It is my understanding that the Japanese government initially offered individual compensation but it was the Korean government that refused. Secondly, if there was a secret agreement by both governments to make sure that these women weren't to be paid, there must be a record of such intent in the meetings (minutes) during the two decade long negotiations which lead up to the 1965 agreement, right?
nihoncritic
I really feel bad for these poor women. They are a victim caught in the perpetual duel and jousts between the South Korean and the Japanese governments. The Japanese government believe they have properly compensated the Korean party in the 1965 normalization treaty and declared an end to all monetary compensation, while the South Korean government is clearly using these group of women as a rallying point for nationalistic fervor. These women just want closure, yet continued jousts and fighting between both governments is making it hard to come to any agreement. It really is a shame as I am sure many of these women just want an end to their torment but they are seemingly being played out for obvious political reasons.
Mark マーク
What is the point of a "forced apology"?
Who are they asking to apologize anyway? The Japanese government or the Japanese people? Are these the same ones from World War 2? Or wait did they already been prosecuted for the their crimes? Just because my skin color, my eyes, my hair, looks like the my forefathers, doesn't mean I am them.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT!!! You can either spend your whole life being a victim or live a conquering life. Nelson Mandela was in prison for 27 years and when he became president, he didn't ask for compensation. He just forgave. Hate will only create more hate. Apology or not, alive is alive. Those 60+ millions killed from World War 2, I never think died in vain (on both sides). We are at peace now (at least 90% of the world is) thanks to them.
OssanAmerica
I don't what you're LOLing about because I've been to both Hiroshima andNagasaki in August and while there is indeed considerable "war is evil" and "no nukes" sentiment, I have never ever seen any anti-American sentiment.
سعد بن عبدالرشيد
kukuchai.. if you hate japan then you should stay here... you understand? close the window..... and browse kukuchaitoday.com
oldsanno
landshark
The Netherlands passed the resolution in 2007 saying that they wanted the Japanese to recognize the war crimes of the past and to recognize the victims.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/netherlands-apologizes-for-1947-indonesia-massacre/483664
Netherlands Apologizes for 1947 Indonesia Massacre
Yet they refused to recognize the atrocities they committed until a court forced them to do it.
This is just one example of the hypocrisy and racism in regards to Japan and WW2.
yasukuni
@Oldsanno
I think the South Korean govt, should. Mind you, this is a case of Koreans killing Koreans.
It's surprising that you would use this as an example in your argument. Americans are completely different in their attitudes to their own atrocities. I think the Korean's have made a movie about this very incident, and I saw news events in the US media about it.
If the US had been responsible, by now you would have a major US movie about it. And recent movies about WW2 made in Hollywood seem to make an effort to show the other side.
oldsanno. Like I said, I am not even saying that Japan needs to pay compensation. What I want you to realize is that it's totally disturbing that right wingers in Japan don't seem to have any normal feelings of sympathy toward the MILLIONS who suffered from MANY countries in WW2.
Even just a "yeah, that's terrible" would show something. But instead there are just rants about the evil of other countries. You can love your country, and still recognize that it did terrible things in the past.
Maybe Japan needs the equivalent of a "Roots" drama series.
MaboDofuIsSpicy
Most of the women were selling their hot little bodies at that time because they were hungry.
No one ever considered body lice and STD's though.
oldsanno
Yasukuni,
Thank you for yout reply.
Really let's look at My Lai Massacre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre
completely different ?
Yes. Vietnam could not hold a War Crimes Tribunals like US did. So there are no American class A war criminals.
tmarie
@ tmarie - mostly agree. But I reckon in all these East Asian nations, there will always exist a core of extreme-rightists wanting to stir and provoke their (remarkably) similar counterparts across the sea/border. Even 500 years from now probably!
There are extreme right in every country though - regardless of the history and the like. Sad as it is.
I agree with Ossan - which is a first - I have been to Hiroshima on the anniversary and there was zero anti-American issues. The only people with anti-American issues, in my experience, are usually older drunk guys in bars who are losers in life. Easy to blame the Americans than themselves I guess.
krisallenation
I didn't know much about this story and from a few comments here I guess that's what the Japanese government has always wanted, for people to never get to know the real truth or to be skeptical of the victims' side of story or to never care about them and say "who cares, let's move on". For those who consider themselves a human being rather than a nationalist and refuse to go blind to defend your nation's pride, just Google the story and you'll find some interesting material.
krisallenation
After some government studies into the matter, Yohei Kono, the Chief Cabinet Secretary of the Japanese government, issued a statement on 4 August 1993. In this statement, the Japanese government recognized that "Comfort stations were operated in response to the request of the military of the day" and that "The Japanese military was directly or indirectly involved in the establishment and management of the comfort stations and the transfer of the women". He also noted that "[the] recruitment of the comfort women was conducted mainly by private recruiters who acted in response to the request of the military. The Government study has revealed that in many cases they were recruited against their own will through coaxing and coercion". The government of Japan "sincerely apologize[d] and [expressed its] remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable psychological wounds". In the statement, the government of Japan expressed its "firm determination never to repeat the same mistake and that they would engrave such issue through the study and teaching of history".[35] Although this statement was offered as an apology, it was very carefully worded, thus admitting an unspecified role in the military brothels, yet rejecting legal responsibility for them. Japan continues to contend the brothels were not a "system" and not a war crime or crime against humanity.[55]
krisallenation
Approximately three quarters of comfort women died, and most survivors were left infertile due to sexual trauma or sexually-transmitted disease. According to Japanese soldier Yasuji Kaneko "The women cried out, but it didn't matter to us whether the women lived or died. We were the emperor's soldiers. Whether in military brothels or in the villages, we raped without reluctance."Beatings and physical torture were said to be common. Ten Dutch women were taken by force from prison camps in Java by officers of the Japanese Imperial Army to become forced sex slaves in February 1944. They were systematically beaten and raped day and night in a so called "Comfort Station". As a victim of the incident, in 1990, Jan Ruff-O'Hearn testified to a U.S. House of Representatives committee: "Many stories have been told about the horrors, brutalities, suffering and starvation of Dutch women in Japanese prison camps. But one story was never told, the most shameful story of the worst human rights abuse committed by the Japanese during World War II: The story of the “Comfort Women”, the jugun ianfu, and how these women were forcibly seized against their will, to provide sexual services for the Japanese Imperial Army. In the so-called “Comfort Station” I was systematically beaten and raped day and night. Even the Japanese doctor raped me each time he visited the brothel to examine us for venereal disease." In their first morning at the brothel, photographs of Jan Ruff-O'Hearn and her sisters, who were all virgins, were taken and placed on the veranda which was used as a reception area for the Japanese personnel who would choose from these photographs. Over the following four months the girls were raped up to 30 times a day and beaten day and night. Jan Ruff-O'Hearn and her sisters became pregnant and were forced to have miscarriages. Jan Ruff-O'Hearn continued to have miscarriages into her marriage due to the physical damage she received as a Comfort Woman. After its defeat, the Japanese military destroyed many documents for fear of war crimes prosecution. Historians have searched for evidence of the Army and Navy's coercion, and some written proof has been discovered, such as documents found in 2007 by Yoshiaki Yoshimi and Hirofumi Hayashi. The surviving sex slaves wanted an apology from the Japanese government. Shinzō Abe, the prime minister at the time, stated that there is no evidence that the Japanese government instituted a brutal sex slave industry.
nath
@kukuchai
Oh, you mean like the Yakuza demanded that Tokyo open up Yoshiwara and the various soaplands...? Or if that different...? And why...?
Weren't those girls forced, by YOUR definition of FORCED..? Girls volunteered to work at those places... DO some reading... I would argue that YOUR own Japanese national Yakuza has forced more women into prostitution, in the last 20 years, than the U.S. EVER had anything to do with such activities...
Same in Vietnam, YES, some commanders, hired girls to perform such services for their units... YES, that's TRUE... THey didn't force them at the barrel of a GUN... So please get your facts straight.
nath
If I was hungry and my family hungry too, I would entice as many men as possible to ... well make them interested for a fee.
I got the legs and body, and my teeth are straight. So what is the big deal?
I am sure a lot of the Korean Ladies were in the same situation and only now are complaining as their social welfare state might not be that ideal.
Just my opinion.
oldsanno
krisallenation
Jan Ruff-O'Hearn was not an innocent bystander. The Netherlands raped and massacred Indonesians before and after WW2. She refused to apologize or even acknowledge what the Dutch did.
Pathetic. So it was MacArthur's fault because he let the Japanese destroy whatever they wanted.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
melonbarmonster
How you can claim to have apologized and paid money for something you claim you haven't done seems to be some sort of Japanese government magic trick. Also those of you claiming compensation was already given, just throwing money at atrocities doesn't condone the behavior.
melonbarmonster
Facts of ABDUCTION by Japanese Empire during WWII is something that has been substantiated by both UN inquiries as well as US House of Congress hearings with first hand testimony of Chinese, Korea, Dutch, PHilippines, Australian women. Non-japanese posters here picking up on farcical whitewashing you hear from Japanese right is downright ridiculous.
Tunde-Krisztina Kiss
Here I am ...giving oppinion about confort woman during the war in Japan...it is very sad that this sort of facts are happening and some people feal quait confortable with and if they find a smart woman they simply f;;;it because they want to hawe part from them smartness and genious brain.Can anyone imagine how is to be in them skin,how is to lock at them mother after a such an act or at them grandmother who they love as them bigest tresure?I dotn think so,untill one is getting into them skin.To know that the visit a person can do is very much limited because of the afrayed that some monster monekys would use the loved grandmother,the mother or femail relatives,friends for them genes,just to be smarter can drive people to madness.Where is the humanity in the people?Howcoem could they become such a monsters?Even animals do hawe heart,brain and are using them.There is no way to describe that imense pain,humiliation that those people in talk are fealing,experiencing in that moment,and they hawe to beg for a shit of word,''sorry'' when there is no word on this earth or no way to compensate the pain that is killing people and is driving to madness in this wrold which is degradated under animalik level,Did humans,people become canibales similary to the time when there was no food,there was no way to survive?Can you imagine the familyes,the people who are not visiting them grandmother and saying monstuous things about them mother and that is just the resoult of such a monsters?Good people plz make some judjments yourself.There is no way to compensate the pain,to see how certain people are treating newer making mistake people just because they are poor,but smart a lot smarter than many man in tiers and differenciating themselfs from the rest they do hawe a cheeck,they do hawe a backbone appart from the ones who are livign back with this woman because of them social status and mental ability.It is simply heartdreaking and things has to be doan to reduce the pain,to at least make the life mroe acseptable because things will newer be the same again,and life is too shourt to live and get crazy fro this miserable facts.There are too many lifes out there to be saved.Plz dont let this people in humiliation,suffering and missing,Them soul is as much valorous as the others,and rich or poor,crazy or just mad we are all people,creatures of the God.Nobody can leave a fact like this to happen,not ewen without a word.These people are hurt.Are suffering,are in need at least for a healing word as them life,selfimage it is ruinated and compleetly damaged.It is a total nightmare,and compatible with the tsunami facts..
whiskeysour
Today, there are many comfort women working today for the military & criminal organizations.
It hasn't stopped yet.
I wish the world would stop human trafficking
Koreans can do anything they want in their own country. Protest ! Protest ! Protest ! Peacefully !
Fadamor
As part of the normalization treaty with South Korea, Japan asked for the number of people who would need compensation and how much per person would be needed. Values were set and when it came time to pay, Japan offered to pay the individuals directly. South Korea said "no thanks, we'll do it." So Japan gave the South Korean government the money, whereupon they reportedly spent it on infrastructure upgrades rather than paying it to the people who the money was intended for. Now the South Korean government is trying to "double-dip" by insisting that Japan pay AGAIN. Japan is justified in telling the South Korean government to take a hike.
melonbarmonster
Fedamor perhaps you are ok with criminals raping your family members as long as they throw some cash your way. Most people, including Koreans, will find such a sentiment morally repugnant.
OssanAmerica
The South Korean gobverment needs to take responsibility and answer to it;s own people why the compensation money from 1965 didn't go to them.
Wurthington
Many times has Japan apologized and compensated these women... in South Korea... if you're not agruing or protesting about something you may not be considered normal.
nath
To put it like this:
If this had been Germany most of you would be:
"Booo! Nazis! Say you're sorry!" etc. Since it's Japan on the other hand its:
"They said they're sorry, they paied some money, they did this and that!" etc.
Well guess what? Japan doesn't reach Germany to it's knees regarding apologies. Most people in Europe don't hold a grudge simply because when the Germans said they were sorry, they meant it - Warschauer Kniefall. Now, if Japan mean they're sorry, get the prime minister og Emperor to do the same. Until then things won't change.
So please, if any of you whiteknights are going to attack me, take a look at Germany.
OssanAmerica
You can't compare Germany and Japan as if their post war circumstances were the same. Those who do never seem to stop to consider that German troops have already killed as part of NATO deployments whereas the Japan prohibits military action in their own constitution and their troops have never killed anyone.
melonbarmonster
Again with the same stupid argument about the '65 money. This isn't about money. It's about reconciliation and admission of war atrocities. A rapist and murderer doesn't get to absolve his wrong-doings by throwing cash at the victim. That is some depraved morality at work.
melonbarmonster
The fact that Germany participated in military action has NOTHING to do with the fact that they have fully embraced their guilt and responsibility for Nazi atrocities. Japan still denies, whitewashed and then claims to have paid money the very things they claim they didn't do. It's downright shameful.
melonbarmonster
How Wurthington is able to claim that Japan has already apologized for something that the Japanese government claims it never did seems to be some sort of Japanese government magic trick. Pathetic.
OssanAmerica
Except that compensation (that's money) is being sought.
"South Korean women forced into wartime sexual slavery held their 1,000th weekly protest outside Japan’s embassy Wednesday, demanding COMPENSATION and an apology from Tokyo as they have since 1992"
OssanAmerica
"melonbarmonsterDec. 21, 2011 - 07:07AM JST How Wurthington is able to claim that Japan has already apologized for something that the Japanese government claims it never did seems to be some sort of Japanese government magic trick. Pathetic."
It's not magic. When one administration says one thing at one time and another says something else at a different time that's what happens.
OssanAmerica
Wrong. Having a peace constitution that prohibits military action is the ultimate form of embracing their guilt and ensuring that it will; never happen again. Japan has in fact apologiozed and paid compensation and consequently are in the legal right.