Japan should acknowledge sex slaves' pain: British MPs

And the British Government shouldn't stick it's nose in other peoples business. And I'm English. Maybe the British Government should have been as proactive as this for issues such as the British spouses affected by the child abduction problem here in Japan.

northlondon,

Right on the money!

northlondon, myopic view of things as usual. It is Britain's business for Japan and SK be able to work productively to solve the NK nuclear issue, as well as other regional concerns. And, if Japan recognizing SK's sensitivity to this issue will help, then Britain has every right to urge it to do so.

"Sex slave" was not a new invention of Japan or Japanese army for the WWII.

It is very tragic, but the practice of selling/buying young girls for prostitution had always existed and had been common everywhere in Asia as far back as its history goes and was widely practised at that time. It is unbelievable today, but prostitution as well as buying/selling under-age girls had been legal all over Asia. It's clearly a form of slavery, but it's not in any way an unique creation by the Japanese military.

In fact,even today there are many young girls and women who are being forced to prostitution in many areas of Asia wherever there is poverty. I feel a greater concern for them and I suggest Japan give some assistance for economic development and serious efforts to rescue these women, since the US or UK seem to have no interest or will to help them.

It's a shame Thomas Jefferson owned slaves and bore a child with one of them, but he did neither invent slave system or slave trade, but sadly he was not above the bad custom of that day or did not live up to his words. The same applies to the Japanese military during WWII (and maybe even before that?).

Many descendents of African slaves also maintain the British government hasn't apologized properly yet. Don't they ever feel ashamed to spell out such blatant hypocrisy?

Many Japanese have extended apologies, but it's not possible to do so to their satisfaction or enough to erase such scars.

herefornow, it's only the UK's business to involve itself in Far East Asian affairs if the UK has it's own house in order in relation to direct interests of it's own British citizens first (British soldiers still getting killed in Afghanistan/ British citizens still travelling to Pakistan to join Al Qaeda/ the child abduction issue affecting British spouses in Japan etc etc). You're talking about an issue that has been going on for over 60 years and I'm talking about my own government (the British Government) sorting problems for it's own citizens in the year 2008. My government (the British Government) should keep it's mouth firmly shut.

The British who fought and won against the Japanese , shouldn't interfere? Young people don't remember the scars caused by Japans actions and its lack of sympathy to its victims. British and yjhe Government admits things thay done in the past was wrong, that is why our ild colonied don't moan at us all the time, except for that Mugabe fool.

If you weren't around and ddin't experienec the world pain caused by Jaopan and their Nazi pals, then you don't know.

I mean, strewth the Germans, they've been forgiven for their badnes even by the Jews, because they ruley repented.

The Japanese could learn a lot from Germany, and be honest.

I suggest those who complain gainst a country thst helped save the world from Japanese tyranny, has repented for its sins and who claim to be British citizens should change their nationality. Britain has a right to comnplain about thia issue, shame other countries don't as well. Japan is tainted by its refusal to accept and even truy to change it's evil deeds in the past. BTW the first nation to ban slavery was Britain. Japan = no repentenec, no welfare state, no repentance for bad things done in past, doesn't sign Hague convention . Britain = opposite on all counts.

Stop complaining about Britain expressing its views and start looking at Japan as the country it reallly is.

Sadly you're all living in the past. And that includes the British Government. If anyone has anything to say here then it is the South Korean Government and it's people. Do you seriously think the British Government give a damn about the South Koreans and any potential conflict on the Korean peninsula ?

Alfie Garnett, I've served in the British Army. In a Household Division. It was the British Army who decided to take on the Japanese and it was the British Army who chose to fight on Far East Asian soil when it suffered it's abuses of human rights. It was over 60 years ago matey. I'd rather our government protect our Marines and Paras in Afghanistan today than talk about someone else's war 60 years ago.

"Up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries were kidnapped and forced to work in military brothels used by Japanese troops"

Sick. Good thing this was brought to end. Too bad thousands of innocent Japanese children were killed/sickened by the atomic bombs which brought it to an end.

northl;ondon If the British Government didn't give a damn , this wouldnt have come up. It has been spoken about at parliamentary level for several years now.

I suggest watch British news, ie News 24 or Sky news and see what British opinion is.

northlondon; Never forget the past and never repat your mistakes, something Japan should learn pronto.

Sarge, unfortunately your version of the closing days of World War II seem to conflict with what actually happened. When the US dropped two atomic bombs on civilian cities the Japanese had already lost their war in Asia and they had already retreated out of Korea, China and South-East Asia to try to defend their own country. Your assumption that the 'heroic' act by the US of dropping atomic bombs on women and children to save thousands of Korean comfort women is a little bit sick and straight out of the Bush/ Hollywood book of heroic US war stories that somehow were not actual fact.

northlondon, unfortunately, your version of the closing days of World War II seem to conflict with what actually happened. When the U.S. dropped the atomic bombs on "civilian cities" ( the cities whose adult inhabitants were doing everything they could do support the Japanese troops who kidnapped and raped 200,000 women ) Japanese troops were still prancing over many parts of Asia. Look it up.

Dualta- Britain has apologised and paid thousands of millions Pounds in aids to excolonial countries (with no strings attached). Aklso millions of ex colonial people live in the UK as Bristish citizens, can Japan say that about the sex slaves it abused. NO IT CANNOT. It even tries to play down and even deny the fact it evr happened, that is the difference.

British kids learn the evils of colonial rule , Japanese don't they learn they were liberators, check Japanese history textbooks online, if you don't believe me.

Where is the Japanese version of the Commonwealth? There is none, because nobody would join, becuase of japans behaviour. think about it people, the slave issue is relevent today, to help Japan repent and recover its honour.

Moderator: Britain's colonial rules is not relevant to this discussion. Please stay on topic.

I also agree with Sarge. wise words indeed, the war had to end, shame there were victim, but that was Japans own fault for starting troubole.

With the way they're fighting over those islands I don't see a resolution anytime soon. Seriously, they should stop all that bickering and just SHARE those islands like good neighbors.

Daulta, your quote doesn't prove anything, especially anything of a state sponsored terrorism angle.

From a PURELY MILITARY POV, they may not have played a huge part (I don't agree, but...) but remember.. war is NEVER a "purely military" matter.

I think Japan should simply throw this "advice" into garbage bin and continue to work toward the future.

And the British Government shouldn't stick it's nose in other peoples business.

I would not consider having an opinion and voicing it to be sticking one's nose in other people's business. Passing a binding resolution to force Japan by means of some punishment to apologize, now that would be sticking one's nose in other people's business.

But the simple fact is that this is the business of the British. People from their former colonies were forced to be comfort women. They were still considered British subjects at the time. So, they have every right to side with other countries also wronged by Japan over this.

Anyway, the MPs fell into a bit of a trap. "Comfort woman" is not synonymous with "sex slave". The Japanese had both legitimate comfort women and it also had sex slaves. It can be difficult to differentiate, as some women who began as real paid comfort women had their status degenerate into slavery. Meanwhile others were just so obviously kidnapped and raped, some to death.

Japan could certainly be more apologetic about it.

mcheeky, The Japanese government needs to make amends, that is without question, but to be told that by a bunch of hypocrits will just get their backs up and, therefore, make them less likely to move on the issue.

The Foreign Affairs Committee said that improving relations between Japan and South Korea could play an important part in resolving the nuclear stand-off involving North Korea.

Prof. An Byonjuk 安秉直 of Seoul University who did an in depth survey on comfort women in 1990's said that there is no data (neither witnesses nor physical evidence inasmuch as he could find) to certify that Japanese army kidnapped and forced women to work in military brothels, questioning why it was necessary in the first place to force women for the work in the days when women were quite often sold into bondage of private brothels to help their parents out of financial distress. Why Koreans (and the Wester media) ignore him?

Though they were recruited and managed in the more or less similar process, comfort women were obliged against their will to provide sexual services for the Japanese army therefore very painful and emotive issue whereas so called prostitutes were not so in providing service for private people. How could Japan be reconciled to such recognition? Or rather I tend to suspect that not improving relations between Japan and South/North Korea could play an important part in keeping the stand-off involving security in the Far East?

On the issue of comfort women, yes Japan did have them, and probablyt treated them badly. No more different than the women who were used to comfort the Japanese in the PI, and other places.

A good book to read on this is called "Embracing Defeat." In it, a particluar thing on this subject strikes me as relevant to the issue. It was put out by the Japaese govt, that they set up the system of "pan pan" house or "comfort stations" for the occupying GIs to keep themselves busy so that they would not "be on the rest of the women in Japan (my quotation)."

So if offical propaganda at the time was for those women (native Japanese) to do their "patriotic duty" to serve the occupying GI's, I find it not hard to believe they had women in this type of situation overseas, and that they should just come out and admit it. If they can do it to their own, which the records still show, then I don't see why they just can't come out and admit the truth.

But the simple fact is that this is the business of the British. People from their former colonies were forced to be comfort women. They were still considered British subjects at the time. So, they have every right to side with other countries also wronged by Japan over this.

What utter rubbish. Do you actually believe that because the British Empire ruled over and colonised poorer nations in places such as Singapore and Hong Kong, then 60 years later in 2008 the British Government then has an automatic right to mouth-off about other nations who suffered comfort women ? I am speechless.

People from their former colonies were forced to be comfort women. They were still considered British subjects at the time.

And you seriously believe that these people from 'former colonies' had any choice in becoming British subjects ? You are spouting nonsense.

mcheeky, The Japanese government needs to make amends, that is without question, but to be told that by a bunch of hypocrits will just get their backs up and, therefore, make them less likely to move on the issue.

Dualta, the Japanese have had more than sixty years to move. I don't think even they hypocritical words of an Englishman can do any harm at this point. Still, I find the British to be slightly less of hypocrits than the Japanese, who whine about the nukes (although that is done justly) but go on to deny the sex slaves.

Do you actually believe that because the British Empire ruled over and colonised poorer nations in places such as Singapore and Hong Kong, then 60 years later in 2008 the British Government then has an automatic right to mouth-off about other nations who suffered comfort women ?

What I principally believe is that since there is no one head with any real authority to this rag tag group of nations on the face of the Earth, that any of them have the right to voice opinions on things that happen in the world and it is perfectly acceptable to make suggestions.

I would love it if it could be clearly defined what is whose business, and the wrong do-ers would be punished and the punishment would fit the crime and we had some clear organization with the authority to carry that out. Until that happens, I am quite happy with dialogue within the international community and hopeful there won't be any violence, because basically what we have is anarchy were all nations are free to talk or fight as it suits them.

"sex slaves"

Who would want to force a woman to have sex? I don't get it.

It's apparent, no Tories were consulted in the making of this report. A true Briton would look at more than half of these criticisms lodged against Japan as virtues with envy. Just look at this passage:

...we further conclude that the continuing capacity of the Takeshima/Dokdo islets dispute to disrupt Japanese-South Korean relations is regrettable,” the report said...

regrettable is that a word Labour uses these days to label any opposition against their own acts of continuing capitulation of Britain to the continent?

"Up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, the Philippines" is a load of rubbish! The true number of woman forced into prostitution is about 10 000.

"Up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, the Philippines" is a load of rubbish! The true number of woman forced into prostitution is about 10 000.

Still 10,000 too many.

Japan is too busy playing the victim itself to worry about other countries playing victim.

Too bad the mod deleted the rest of my post. I wish the mods would either delete the entire post or stop deleting selected portions!!!!!!!!!!! The rest of my post said that the 10 000 was about the same number of Japanese woman raped by Australians when they occupied Japan. My wife's aunt was raped after the war, where is the apology?

Moderator: This is of course irrelevant to the discussion.

So if offical propaganda at the time was for those women (native Japanese) to do their "patriotic duty" to serve the occupying GI's, I find it not hard to believe they had women in this type of situation overseas, and that they should just come out and admit it. If they can do it to their own, which the records still show, then I don't see why they just can't come out and admit the truth.

PanPan houses were not for Japanese military but for GI's. Japan had surrendered. Defeated Japan set up those facilities on behalf of the invader.

But back on the the topic, they or dealers didn't recruit women for any "patriotic duty" to serve J-army. They were not offered but recruited and employed as "prostitutes". Brothels were officially approved and institutionalized in those days. So they contract with private dealers and had them manage the facilities also in the areas where the Japanese army stationed. Nobody denies the existence of comfort stations. They object to the allegation that the Japanese army "kidnapped and forced" up to 200,000 women to work for sexual services for the military. Gross propagation by Koreans and the media strangely sympathetic to them.

Japan is too busy playing the victim itself to worry about other countries playing victim.

Well, what's in it for being a perpetrator that lost WWII?

It was the British Army who decided to take on the Japanese and it was the British Army who chose to fight on Far East Asian soil when it suffered it's abuses of human rights. It was over 60 years ago matey. I'd rather our government protect our Marines and Paras in Afghanistan today than talk about someone else's war 60 years ago.

Northlondon- Im amazed that as a Brit, you don't know your own history let alone history as important as the Second World War. the sheer ignorance of this statement is mind-blowing.

Moderator: Stay on topic please. Posts that do not refer to the sex slave issue will be removed.

The thing is admitting the sex slave issue was wrong and not making excuses or denying it later on.

bamboohat had a good point.

It is up to Japan and Japan alone to figure out a way to resolve issues that are now about 70 years old. If they choose to...great. If not, that's fine too.

Thru time numerous countries have found ways to make amends with others. But Japan seems unable or unwilling to.

My personal opinion is...Japan is too much of a face saving culture to allow for such a thing. Losing face would be too tall an order, child-like if you will. Denial is very much alive and well in the psyche of Japan. And by the way, an apology means nothing if your behaviors don't match your words.

Why anyone think Japanese soldier had to go into Korea and kidnap girls when there was a network of pimps and prostitutes in Korea sellin/buying slaves already? Korea did nothing to defend Asia from invading Europeans/Americans but simply chose to hide behind Japan. Koreans should also blame its own cowardice and never-ending infighting. Japan has apologized more than enough. If Korea is no longer Japan's colony, Korean government should apologize to its people for its utter failure of protecting its own people from the ouside threats. Do Koreans ever feel it's their responsibility to protect its own people?

If Brits and Americans really cared about putting Japan and Korea closer together, they should know this kind of cheap talks would only accomplish opposite results. Maybe Japan and Korea are meant to keep distance from each other, I'm certainly fed up with their complains and becoming allergic to them.

Andrew marr says Japan should say sorry to Korea and give up their claim to the islands because they stiole them in 1905.

I looked up about this on the internet , and i agree.

The japanese did awful sex crimes, they should be ashamed ofv their past generations not try to whitewash it.

It seems many people on here are young and don't understand the pain of death and rape.

Why can'T the japanese do the right thing, really show sorrow and regret, not in words but also deeds, then everything can be awight!

Simply put - Japan does not apologize for what happened, it alters history so nothing worthy of an apology ever happened.

Sarge - the Japanese?

Then,I wonder what those apologies by Mr.kono and PM.Murakami are called?

Here is the most important sentence in the above article: "apan has apologized for the military’s involvement in crimes against the women, but denies responsibility for running a system of military brothels before its surrender to Allied forces in 1945." This would be like Germany apologizing for the Holocaust but saying the Nazi government had nothing to do with it. Or, more to a sore point closer to home, imagine if Kim Jong Il apologized for the abduction of Japanese citizens but said the North Korean government was not responsible?

I'm glad the Foreign Affairs Committee socked it to Japan on this and other issues. Human rights, justice, and historical truth are everyone's business.

" This would be like Germany apologizing for the Holocaust but saying the Nazi government had nothing to do with it. Or, more to a sore point closer to home, imagine if Kim Jong Il apologized for the abduction of Japanese citizens but said the North Korean government was not responsible?

Exactly. Many Japanese and sizable number of politicians feel that the military and its government sponsored forced prostitution system is wrong. Former PM Murayama's apology was sincere indeed. The problem is those right wing nationalist politicians who directly and indirectly related to the war criminals who inherited political powers in the post-war Japan. In other words, it is like sons and daughters of Hitler are holding important posts in modern german cabinet or parliament. Gen.MacArthur and Sir Morrison's negligence and miscalculation resulted in the current situation. http://sticerd.lse.ac.uk/dps/is/IS425.pdf The foreign Minister, Sir Morrison did not even attend the important meeting in San Francisco treaty.

As long as Japan never acknowledges properly (both in written and oral) the atrocities (to include the "sex slaves") it incurred to its neighbors during the war, it will always be looked at with disdain and reservation.

I suppose in an alternate universe where Japan was instead conquered and many its women forced into sex slaves and men decapitated or bayoneted to death, they might think their position today differently.

The Sex Slaves are "old news". I do not think any apology will ever be "accepted" by the other countries. Another more sweeping apology will be offered and then rejected. These countries need something to bash Japan. I do not see what modern day Japan has to do with ancient history. I was not alive; my parents were children during this time. Neither my parents nor myself have anything to do with this vie practice. I do not see how Japan prostrating itself for crimes that were committed by our ancestors is going to be helpful. Are we to be forever responsible for our ancestor’s deeds? The old government is gone and the new government (1947) should not be burdened with the crimes of the last.

I do not see how Japan prostrating itself for crimes that were committed by our ancestors is going to be helpful. Are we to be forever responsible for our ancestor’s deeds?

Of course not. You do not need to apologize for the crimes commited by your grandfather. Your grandfather, however, must apologize for you.

Up to 200,000 women from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and other countries were kidnapped and forced to work in military brothels used by Japanese troops during World War II, campaigners say.

Were they really? About 60 to 70 percent of comfort women were said to be Japanese. Why were they not mentioned? Why don't those campaigners investigate the human rights, justice and historical truths of such Japanese women too?

It also seems that they tend to confuse intentionally or not so called comfort women in general with victims such as of Semarang incident. War crimes and any crimes committed during the war should be condemned and Japan should and actually did apologize for them, but those specific cases should not be indiscriminately expanded to comfort women in general. They might as well be more careful in judging the practices conducted according to the regulation of licensed prostitution (公娼制度) that was legal until 1946 in Japan. Such rough incrimination rather smells incendiary and even political distancing Japan from Korea.

Seiharinokaze

About 60 to 70 percent of comfort women were said to be Japanese.

Can you kindly show any documents supporting your statement?

highhope

Japanese historian, Hata Ikuhiko estimated the number and racial component ratio in his book; Comfort Women and Sex in War : Shinchosha, 1999. (『慰安婦と戦場の性』新潮社 新潮選書）

Public documents that recorded passenger's purpose clarifies that many Japanese women passaged as comfort women. Hata estimated 40 percent of comfort women were from brothels within Japan, 30% were Koreans and about 10% Chinese. But as there were cases that were not recorded by the public documents still remaining, it's impossible to give a correct breakdown.

Seiharinokaze,

It is reasonable to say that Mr. Hata is not a historian who can see and perceive the history as it is. He is somewhat biased. I am afraid that I can not accept his side of story as a fact.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ikuhiko_Hata

highhope

Sorry, typo. It should read:

Hata estimated 40 percent of comfort women were those who applied from brothels within Japan, 30% were Japanese women living abroad who applied on the spot, 20% were Koreans and about 10% Chinese.

As for your criticism of Mr. Hata by referring to Wikipeida, does what's said in it negate the fact that still large number of comfort women were Japanese?

And then why was Mr. Hata who you think cannot see and perceive the history as it is often referred to by the media as some authority on the modern history of Japan, when former Japan Air Force head Tamogami was recently criticized for his view on history?

Seiharinokaze, I am sorry that it is not the point to know how many Japanese women were served as prostitutes or sex slaves. It is the Japan to which the British MPs urged to acknowledge and be sensitive to the sex slave issue with south Korea as many Korean girls were sex slave victims of the Japanese military government.

In response to your question regarding Mr Hata's apprearance in Japanese media as a history expert, I would say it is a paid testimony.

highhope

It's you who asked about the documents that supported the statement that 60 to 70 percent of comfort women were Japanese. I assumed you think it important to consider that point too. I wonder why nobody says that Japanese comfort women who occupied a large percentage of them were sex slaves too being kidnapped and forced to do sex service just like "many Korean women"as you say.

As to Mr. Hata's appearance in Japanese media as a history expert, the point is why did those media pay him to say what he has to say?

Seiharinokaze

I wonder why nobody says that Japanese comfort women who occupied a large percentage of them were sex slaves too being kidnapped and forced to do sex service just like "many Korean women"

Oh, I meant that the topic of this thread is the British MPs' request to Japan to recognize and be sensitive to South Korea about the sex slave issue because good relations betwen Japan and South Korea will be beneficial in solving the North Korea's nuclear threats. It is sad that many japanese women had to suffer as much as others from neigboring countries. However, this issue can be discussed later if Japan Today provides the opportunity at other time.

As to Mr. Hata's appearance in Japanese media as a history expert, the point is why did those media pay him to say what he has to say? As you review this article concerning Japanese media controlled by Japanese government, they often represent the ruling elites. It is like a lawyer hires an expert witness for a court trial. You can call and pay someone whom you expect that he will say something favorable for you. It is called 'paif testimony', and it is not only partial but unethical. http://www1.doshisha.ac.jp/~twatanab/watanabe/english/japan.html

As to Mr. Hata's appearance in Japanese media as a history expert, the point is why did those media pay him to say what he has to say?

As you review this article concerning Japanese media controlled by Japanese government, they often represent the ruling elites. It is like a lawyer hires an expert witness for a court trial. You can call and pay someone whom you expect that he will say something favorable for you. It is called 'paif testimony', and it is not only partial but unethical. http://www1.doshisha.ac.jp/~twatanab/watanabe/english/japan.html

highhope

Yes....it is shameful.... But, One questions. Every countries has media control. I think you don't know Japanese media at all and you seems to like are controlled by media. There is many lobbyist from China and S.Korea,N.Korea. Thus, anything offend S.Korea or China's mention about WWII were keep attacking by media. Mr. Hata also. What this article tells maybe different than you think. Japanese media controlled unfortunately. And Japan experience, such Sex Slave card was used for political cards to deal with Japan many times. How come S.Korea keep using this cards?? Most of time Japanese media doesn't show any information will benefit our government and shows support for S.Korea or China. Is it funny. If Japanese government controlled Media then it suppose to be opposite that about Takeshima, how much we paid ODA and gives technology to help those country, comfort women as business and etc.

Western MEDIA control fact: We don't have not enough history of colonize other countries, which including Slave business. Then, I wonder those countries has much longer history in colonization doesn't do any same things as sex slave? Why it doesn't spot light in Media? Answer is simple. Because they ignore them and victim or victim countries almost unable to mention those things because of difference of political power and economics. The United States bombed atomic bombs? Do government apologize? Why any countries doesn't blame the fact of WWII like Japan? Is it funny who still keep suffering by Atomic Bomb sue Japanese government not US government???

You should questions how Politics and Media and political relation between country abuse history and the fact.

Yes....it is shameful....

No, not at all. Which country in the history of the world is free of sins? Where is the perfectly clean man in the world? No country or no man you can find. But... Yes, it is truly shameful that Japan does not acknowledge the shameful history.

The United States bombed atomic bombs? Do government apologize? Why any countries doesn't blame the fact of WWII like Japan? Is it funny who still keep suffering by Atomic Bomb sue Japanese government not US government???

You are slightly confused in this case. Suppose a married man was sentenced life imprisonment because he raped a woman. Can his wife ask any compensation to the judge for the loss of income as the rapist used to earn money? And, where does the victim have to go for compensation? To the court judge or the rapist? The rapist wife has to pay the rape victim from the rapist possession.

highhope

....good relations betwen Japan and South Korea will be beneficial in solving the North Korea's nuclear threats.

Well it seems as if the aim of the comfort women issue is to alienate Japan from South Korea and dampen the image of Japan in the best interest of North Korea. Koreans might listen with a litter more open minds to what Prof. An Byonjik of Seoul University has to say. They tend to be too swayed by sensational image and emotion to try to see through proof and validity and some coolness what actually happened.

As for the Japanese comfort women, I am afraid the issue is unlikely to be discussed later. It's not a matter of opportunity but a matter of perception and facts. They don't think they were sex slaves as the British parliamentarians kindly argue for Korean women. Besides it's nonissue in anyone's interest either.

You can call and pay someone whom you expect that he will say something favorable for you. It is called 'paif testimony', and it is not only partial but unethical.

So you say that Mr. Hata's comment was partial and unethical because he got paid to appear on the media and criticized the former JAFD head's historical view?

Then were the experts also called and paid on the issue of comfort women by the Western media because they would say something favorable to them? Now I can see why Mr. Hata is rarely referred to among Japanese experts on this topic by them.

highhope

The rapist wife has to pay the rape victim from the rapist possession.

Right,and do you know how much Japanese Government paid for the loss of WWII to S.Korea and China?

But... Yes, it is truly shameful that Japan does not acknowledge the shameful history.

PM Murayama comments:http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/press/pm/murayama/9508.html

Seiharinokaze

Well it seems as if the aim of the comfort women issue is to alienate Japan from South Korea and dampen the image of Japan in the best interest of North Korea.

I do not believe that British MPs harrase Japan with the sex slave issue. I think it is a heart-felt sincere advice as a friend to Japan. After all, having good relations with South Korea is beneficial to Japan. Furthermore, I do not believe that Japanese image will dampen by acknowledging sex slaves' pain.

So you say that Mr. Hata's comment was partial and unethical because he got paid to appear on the media and criticized the former JAFD head's historical view?

I am sorry that I was not aware that Mr. Hata criticized the former JAFD head's historical view. The difference, it seems to me, between Mr. Hata and the former JAFD is that the former is a moderate and the latter an extreme of the same denomination of right wing nationalist.

namuo,

As I said, I believe Mr. Murayama's apology is sincere. Korea and China should accept it and forgive old Japanese sins. However, the problem is political elites who inherited political power who deny and whitewash the old sins. They try to erase the sincere apology of Japanese government and hinder to establish constructive relations with Japan and China. It is very sad that young japanese people have to carry the burden of their ancestor's sin. Why those political establishments can acknowledge the wrong doings of their father and gradfather's sin? while the young generations have nothing to do with sex slaves, why do they have to deal with this issue now? Sooner or later, it must end once for all.

Typo error

constructive relations with (Japan --> Korea)and China.

highhope

Furthermore, I do not believe that Japanese image will dampen by acknowledging sex slaves' pain.

I believe it dampens it if some heartfelt and overkind British parliamentarians urge us to acknowledge without any proof by repeating what North Korea says for a time that the Japanese military kidnapped and forced up to 200,000 women to work in military brothels.

The difference, it seems to me, between Mr. Hata and the former JAFD is that the former is a moderate and the latter an extreme of the same denomination of right wing nationalist.

So he is now "moderate" instead of "partial and unethical and somewhat biased"? The real difference, it seems to me, is your own attitude.

highhope

Why those political establishments can acknowledge the wrong doings of their father and gradfather's sin? while the young generations have nothing to do with sex slaves, why do they have to deal with this issue now? Sooner or later,it must end once for all.

True. I wanted to say the History has been used and exaggeration as political cards. You should know why Japan has been accused by S.Korea, China and all ways money involve. Media in Japan is left wing. Because of Mr.Hata, Developing counties aware political relation often time own country will be somewhat change its power relationship.The United States > Europe >.....>Japan = Korea = China. I think British want to deterrent Japan somewhat. Especially Asia is complicated place and it was been involve many political deal who will be a top of ASIA? I just want to mention though It is totally different than Westerner view from the TOP who controlled the political relation.

As source shows http://aangirfan.blogspot.com/2007/08/british-and-american-military-rape.html and http://www.japanfocus.org/_Terese_Svoboda-Race_and_American_Military_JusticeRapeMurder__and_Execution_in_Occupied_Japan/ I don't believe only Japan did such bad things. WWII were CHAOS and even other counties practice same things as Japan. Yet,it seems to like Japan has not whitewashed and other countries are already whitewashed.

Seiharinokaze

I believe it dampens it if some heartfelt and overkind British parliamentarians urge us to acknowledge without any proof by repeating what North Korea says for a time that the Japanese military kidnapped and forced up to 200,000 women to work in military brothels.

You are saying that a rapist did nothing wrong because he was unfairly accused to rape 20 girls instead 10.

So he is now "moderate" instead of "partial and unethical and somewhat biased"? The real difference, it seems to me, is your own attitude.

You are over-stretching. I did not say that Mr. Hata is biased and unethical, but the paid testimony is. To be fair and balanced, mass media should call history experts from both right and left, instead of showing Mr. Hata's in disguised of balanced expertise. According to the Wiekipedia, he is by no means a fair historian.

namuo

Yet,it seems to like Japan has not whitewashed and other countries are already whitewashed.

It is quite a tragedy to taint the glorious history of Japan because of a small portion of shameful incidents. It is like one rotten clam ruins the soup kettle. Instead of adding onions and garlics to cover the foul odor up, the rotten clam has to be taken out before cooking. I believe the shameful history of Nazi Germany was not whitewashed, but forgiven.

highhope

You are saying that a rapist did nothing wrong because he was unfairly accused to rape 20 girls instead 10.

I am saying that if you urge a country to acknowledge something, you should provide proof that verifies it. Is there any one case in which a Korean women was proved to have been kidnapped and forced to provide sex service by the Japanese military?

I did not say that Mr. Hata is biased and unethical, but the paid testimony is. To be fair and balanced, mass media should call history experts from both right and left, instead of showing Mr. Hata's in disguised of balanced expertise. According to the Wiekipedia, he is by no means a fair historian.

You said it's only because Mr. Hata is a moderate right that he criticized the former JAFD head and that his expertise is in disguise of balanced one. Simply you do not want to accept him as a historian and you seem to criticize him mainly according to English Wikipedia which does not seem to be a fair account on him compared with Japanese Wiki. Is it your own judgement? Have you read any of his books?

Seiharinokaze

I am saying that if you urge a country to acknowledge something, you should provide proof that verifies it. Is there any one case in which a Korean women was proved to have been kidnapped and forced to provide sex service by the Japanese military?

I am afraid that it is out of context to argue about the proof of existence of sex slaves here. But I am sure that the British MPs are aware of the extreme nationalists' view denying the existence of sex slaves. I have heard the same thing from ex-PM Shinzo Abe and his cronies last year. Among the countless evidences, I want you hear what old ex- Japanese soldiers were confessing.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUST156410

If you still deny it, you are one of those few who will not believe the existence of conscience.

highhope

I am afraid that it is not out of context to argue about proof and validity on this issue. The article you referred to carried what a medic in the unit of the Japanese army had heard from the comfort women. He said that the women, many of them Korean. were forced into brothels to provide sex for soldiers, and that they were all tricked into going there. But the article didn't mention who tricked them actually. Was it the Japanese army? Does it by itself mean that the Japanese military tricked and forced them?

Why do you ignore the fact that the military brothels were generally run by dealers and the women were recruited by them? If you call for any apology from Japan, you should take it up for fair discussion and make it clear who were really responsible. Otherwise it will not help improve relations in the true sense between Japan and South Korea. That's why I suggest that they might listen to what Prof. An Byonjik and others have to say.

Seiharinokaze It is quite a tragedy for Japan not to be able to take out those few rotten clams, and the soup kettle of Japan will never get rid of that foul odor. You place is not that far from ex-PM Abe and his extreme nationalists who have third class morality.