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© (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013.Korean 'comfort women' cancel meeting with Hashimoto
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Alejandro Dela Cruz
lol
papigiulio
Who can argue with them. Hashimoto has been acting like a douche the last couple of days. Even if they would meet him, i doubt he will change his statements.
Yubaru
Wait and watch, Hashimoto is going to attempt to turn this around to his own benefit, and screw the consequences.
Next up: Foreign Correspondents Club.
Vernie Jefferies
Good for them. They may have prevented the start of World War III because there is no telling what would have come out of the mouth of that ticking time bomb. Hashimoto never apologized to anyone, only defended him and offended others.
sora99
hahaha ...
some14some
Next refusal should come from Foreign Correspondents Club.
Virtuoso
Hashimoto should definitely go. Most of its reporters are usually too drunk to ask coherent questions.
CH3CHO
Do you know how this news is reported in Korea? http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/international/japan/588890.html In 4th paragraph, it translate to,
You see why we do not agree on almost anything since the news reported on the other side is so different.
toshiko
There will be more Hashimoto stories until May 27. Just my prediction.
kurisupisu
He'll be ok, there are plenty of soap lands in Osaka to go to......
shanabelle
I wish the FCC would broadcast Monday's press conference live. I hope they rip him to shreds. God I would hate to be the poor interpretor for him though....his weaving and dodging with words is incredible.
highball7
Shanabelle,
That's exactly the main issue I have with the Japanese. They used vague and ambiguous terms to insinuate an answer while they don't truly honor it. Then they will come back to deny ever saying it at all and complain and charge the other party for lying or twisting their words.
That's exactly why I hate about these Japanese politicians or businessmen. Especially Kansai people. They always say yes but actually they mean no. I mean what the heck is wrong with saying no or telling the truth? ITs not impolite to be up front especially when you are dealing with non-Japanese who won't know or want to constantly guess what you actually mean.
To this day, you can't have a PM from one cabinet saying sorry while the incoming one denies it. Or have your PM or FM or whoever in your cabinet having a divergent point of view on issues such as this. They must ALWAYS be consistently yes or no from top to bottom. That's the problem with Japan. You often say things that you don't mean and try to muddle the issue and hope that enough time has passed so people won't notice anymore.
Qamar
They're so right >_>; Hashimoto is being a dangerous person with a dangerous tongue.
skroknog
What do you mean, 'the last couple of days'? That's his schtick!
summernight
In the recent South Korean news, they determined that what Vietnamese claiming so called Lai Dai Han during Vietnamese war is totally a lie and nothing was happened. Is the article true and Lai Dai Han is a made up story?
South Korean govmnt and South Korean Consul-General in Japan also denid Lai Dai Han. SK claimed Vietnamese are totally liars and massacre never happened. The Korean army also had comfort women. I'm waiting for SK to admit the massacre and apologies Vietnamese gang raped victims.
There's a Japanese proverb "A wise person hears and judges both side". Please, please be wise.
BTW, Hashimoto have never denied comfort women and he apologized. SK media make the information mistaken intentionally to make into Japan a bad fellow. Some comfort woman's testimony is clearly inconsistent. Some said she remembered there was Christmas party when she was a comfort woman. That's not possible.
isoducky
Well on them, as a public figure you don't get to apologize privately while attempting to justify an oppositie position publicly.
summernight
The meeting of Hashimoto and the comfort women was planed to be broadcast live. The reason why Hashimoto wanted to broadcast live is to prevent his word is distorted by media.
Thomas Anderson
Stop being such a Hashimoto.
avatarfx
This is the best name for a group. It is precise and could not be clearer. "Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan"
Shumatsu_Samurai
If I thought someone was going to make a false apology, I would have challenged them at the meeting to retract what they said previously and ask them to confirm what they really happened. If they refused to do so, they would be exposed even further as to what they believed in.
Of course it's up to them, and they shouldn't be criticised for deciding it was going to be a waste of time. But personally I would have gone through with it, if only to put the guy on the spot.
slumdog
I wonder if Hashimoto is self-aware enough to ever be put on the spot.
kwatt
Regarding Lai Dai Han, S Korean soldiers did almost same during Vietnam war as much as old Imperial Japanese soldiers. S Korea has been concealing that for decades. Everyone can see videos in internet.
Crazedinjapan
The man needs lessons on humility. Maybe if he had to perform lewd acts to alleviate "the stress" he's caused his constituents and other parties involved ..he'd realize it's best to keep his opinions to himself rather than make Japan a mockery in the eyes of the world. He's managed to nullify any true apology Japan has made in the past all in a few weeks time...Great Job ! Someone pass the Darwin Award to this genius
Shankun
He would massacre those grannies with arguments in actual discussion and I can actually imagine him asking 'What was that soldier's name, post and unit? We can confirm that, we have the complete lists. Tell me the names!' etc. It's good for those Korean women that someone persuaded them not to go there.
lol, that's indeed what's written :) Mades it even funnier.
CH3CHO
avatarfx
That is another translation problem. Their Korean name "Hanguk Cheongsindae Munje Taechaek Hyeopeuihoi" literally means "Korean 'labor work corp' Problem Counter-measure Council".
"Cheongsindae" which means "labor work corp" is some how translated as "the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery". There is a long history of misunderstanding with that activist organization.
summernight
People here, do you accusing Japan about comfort women are anti-Japan or against sex crime during the war time? If you are NOT anti-Japan, you better investigate what your countries army had done. Rai Dai Han, RAA(forced comfort women house), gang rapes and massacre by every army...
If you believe your country is clean hand, then your government is hiding something.
I believe there's no other country who compensate and apologize comfort women than Japan. If there is, please let me know.
Or, do you say defeated nation's women have no rights to assert human rights?
hidingout
I suspect it was probably the same folks that convinced some of the ROK women not to accept compensation from the AWF back in the 90s because it "wasn't official" enough - this despite the AWF being headed by a former PM, and being funded in large part by state income.
I agree that there was nothing for these women to gain by meeting Mr Hashimoto. Given that these women were not prepared to accept an apology, why bother coming.
If that quotation accurately represents the stand of the victims then it seems like there couldn't possibly be any further point in speaking to them. By accepting an apology they would relinquish some of their victim status and its clear they do not want to ever give that up.
summernight
Why dont you ask South Korean Consul-General in Japan? Or do you want to claim Lai Dai Han issue has never happened like South Koreans?
smithinjapan
“If he truly feels sorry to us and regretful, he must take back his criminal comments and make a formal apology. He should hold himself responsible for his wrongdoing and retire from politics.”
Could not be better said.
CH3CHO: "You see why we do not agree on almost anything since the news reported on the other side is so different."
So you agree with what Hashimoto says because of how it is interpreted in foreign media instead of disagreeing with the original content of his message? Why am I not surprised?
smithinjapan
hidingout: "I agree that there was nothing for these women to gain by meeting Mr Hashimoto. Given that these women were not prepared to accept an apology, why bother coming."
Hahhaaha... Not prepared to 'accept an apology', eh? The truth is they are unwilling to accept the lip-service he promises, and the fact that he defends the 'necessity' of sexual slavery -- err.... "comfort women" -- that he is without a doubt seeking more political points for. But go ahead... prove he was going to say "I'm sorry for my comments". Like these women, I won't hold my breath and wait for you apology for being wrong.
cramp
smart move by these women, limit his limelight
pandering to an idiot makes you one
Onsen
According to: http://sankei.jp.msn.com/west/west_affairs/news/130524/waf13052411210009-n1.htm http://sankei.jp.msn.com/west/west_affairs/news/130524/waf13052413180016-n1.htm
These ladies cancelled their official appointment with Hashimoto 3 hours before the planned meeting. 3 hours.
They had almost 2 weeks and they decided to cancel, when they were the ones asking to meet Hashimoto. "If they had any concerns they should have told us earlier" was the comment from one of the local office employees.
Furthermore the cancellation was informed to Hashimoto side via a Japanese support group that support these ladies, and when asked about how they felt about all the preparations Japan side, they commented that such employees were doing what they were supposed to do, so they did not cause any inconveniences.
Regardless of whose side you are on in this issue, this way of last minute cancellation by the party who asked to have the meeting, is disrepectful at the very least.
Micheal Rhian Driscoll
As opposed to forcing women to be prostitutes?
UsagitoSaru
every time I see this man in the news it makes me do a face palm...seriously this guy has a serious case of foot in mouth.
CH3CHO
smithinjapan, you do not seem to understand. This is what the Korean media reported. http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/international/japan/588890.html
Which Japanese or English media reported Hashimoto was today going to kneel down in front of the former comfort women? Who were those mysterious "Japanese news reporters"? Yet all the Korean media are reporting Hashimoto was planning to kneel down in front of them. We know one side is lying. There are too many cases of un-matching news reports like this when comfort women issue is concerned. I see the real problem here. This phenomenon has its name, which is yellow journalism.
Paul Arenson
To the rightwing apologists who say, well the SK government also violated women in Vitetnam, that the US military has been involved in sexual exploitation in Okinawa historically...well these are all true. but what does it mean? Wormen Agaiant Violence in War, who sued Abe about 10 years ago or presuring NHK to alter a program on the war guilt of the Emperor, has pointed out that the sexual violence was not unique to Japan. Nor was the violence in general...we had our My Lai massacre, the fascist gov of South Korea massacred its own activists in Kwangjeu as it helped the US murder Vietnamese with agent orange, as Japan had its unit 731 and the Nazis the same thing. The difference is that unrepentant Japanese rightists still idealize the fascist regime and pretend it was about liber acting Asia. The US apologists for war and empire are a little different..they say it was isolated cases, that there was collateral damage, or outright lie and say that Okinawan civilians and US service folk were not exposed to agent orange. they wear a different hat, a more caring one, but war militarism is militarism, misogyny is misogyny. Are the govs of Korea or the Us being hypocritical in not looking at their own history? Yes. But it does not make the fascists like Hashimoto, who fires teachers who refuse to sing the anthem and participate in flag ceremonies, any nicer. They all deserve to be condemned for what they deny.
Always the victims are the weak, the poor, the powerless. Always the women forced to satisfy the whims of men, men who themselves were brutalized by the military mentality so that they would feel no pain, whether in killing or in raping. Those at the top bear the greatest responsibility for forcing men to give up their humanity. My late friend Allen Nelson documented the brutality of the US killing machine in Vietnam and how it dehumanized him. It is the same for Japan's wartime fascists. We all kid ourselves and say it did not happen, or that if it did--like the incineration of Nagasaki and Hiroshima--that it couldn't be helped, or that we had god or a divine wind on our side. It is all a lie.
kidojapan
Hashimoto, who has continued to defend his remarks, also said there was no evidence the Japanese military directly abducted “comfort women”, as they are euphemistically known in Japan, to work in the brothels before and during World War Two.
Not sure what kind of evidence Hashimoto stills needs when he planned to have a meeting with the victims (living evidence). Is he stupid or just playing ignorant?
Maybe he is looking for some kind of law or republic act, signed order from the Emperor, Anyway, if there would be such evidence, is Japan Government foolish not to hide or burn that long time ago.
CH3CHO
kidojapan, I thought he was going to question the self claimed former comfort women.
Shankun
Not sure what kind of evidence those women would bring. Probably nothing and they would be more angry after meeting with him personally. Yes, he's looking for ANY proof that that was forced work. No matter what it could be.
hidingout
That's what the article says. Like you, I hope the paper misquotes her because as her comments are reported in this article she seems pretty firm on not accepting an apology period. It appears that she now requires the resignation of Hashimoto (as if that's even on the table or something she even has the right to demand) in addition to an apology for the cruelty she suffered during WW2. Seventy years and seventeen apologies later ..... some people really know how to carry a cross.
This point is made all the more clearly by the link CH3CH0 has posted several times now. Apparently the woman believed (no doubt duped by her "advisers") that Hashimoto was going to prostrate himself before her - and even that wasn't good enough. She calls that "a performance".
Love how you spin that Smitty. He never defended the necessity of sexual slavery. He in fact said it was deplorable that women were forced into sexual servitude and stated the undeniable truth that in that day and age such things went on without much of an eyebrow being raised. In Japan and in other countries as well.
The fact that you would suggest he is speaking up t"seeking more political points" is ridiculous. The man has been slandered and ridiculed by 90% of the people on this board. Just how many political points do you think he's earned himself here? -2000 ?
I'll "prove" it right after you "prove" that any one of the seventeen preceeding apologies has been "insincere" or "lip service" or in some other way not good enough. You are right about one thing, Hashimoto wasn't going to say sorry for his recent comments, obviously. I believe this meeting was arranged long before the comments were made, so no need for them on the agenda. He was going to say sorry for their suffering and terrible treatment at the hands of Japan during the war. I think that would have made it eighteen apologies now by my count ... I guess they didn't want it? So maybe we can all be done with the apology game now.
You should apologize for deliberately and repeatedly misrepresenting Hashimoto's comments. And also for telling everyone on the board for months that Abe was going to rescind apologies and take the country back to rule by racist right wing lunatics. All proven to be chicken little talk. Again.
Thomas Anderson
I can't believe there are still people like this guy.
toshiko
These two living Korean victims decided not to be used as sidekicks of Hashimoto;'s performance. Why some people on this board talking about Vietnam or other countries' practice? These two victims are not covering anything. They are for themselves.
Paul Arenson
Toshiko, the people who defend Hashimoto claim that because S Korea also committed crimes in Vietnam, the women have no right to complain. you are right, this is about the women who were victims of a crime. South Korea as a government is not the same as South Korean victims. Governments do evil, but that does not excuse the countries which victimize women, no matter which country they come from. I agree with you.
CH3CHO
kidojapan, I do not support Hashimoto, but I know what he has in mind. He was a very combative lawyer before becoming a politician. He knows "living evidence" as you say is not evidence unless it goes through cross examination. There are many questions that are floating around about the two. One of the women, Kil Won-ok, claims she became a comfort woman when she was 11 years old. Really.
Hashimoto said today that he was disappointed that the meeting was canceled.
ushosh123
why would they cancel the meeting? what exactly does the former comfort women have to lose by going? Wouldn't hashimoto be now claiming he tried to make amends and these comfort women don't seem to want an apology, so what exactly do they want? Its not like he's personally responsible, he's representing japan of sorts right? So by that why does his personal views matter in this "apology"? An apology is an apology sincere or not, you can't force someone to be sincere, you could argue til the moon goes blue and people's views won't change a bit.
Ron Barnes
Why meet a person that will not withdraw his remarks, it would be the best thing to do at this time by him is to appologise and then say as little as possible. In future about these issues without a public relations person checking his statements first.
ushosh123
And claiming that its a waste of time, indicates that the matter isn't important at all to them, who cares, I'd rather walk my dog!
Maitake
YES!!!
blendover
Regardless of whose side you are on in this issue, this way of last minute cancellation by the party who asked to have the meeting, is disrepectful at the very least
I used to think that last minute cancellations were the height of rudeness - before I came to Japan. Here it seems to be more of a cultural norm.
Ninjazilla
Dear JapanToday why are you referring to them as "comfort women"? Shame on you. These poor women were sex slaves. Shame!!!
nigelboy
Expected. I guess these women "proof" is "You want proof? Our existence is the proof!!". Being saying that since god knows when.
It's funny when these women (Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery by Japan) requested the meeting on May 15th vowing to show Hashimoto "evidence" to make him apologize.
「橋下氏に対して謝罪を求め、知りたがっている(強制連行の)証拠を示す」
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/world/news/130515/kor13051512420002-n1.htm
Then the general public started to review the past statements of Kim Bok-dong and Kil Won-ok and found so many inconsistent and off the wall stories that even a novice could refute them let along a lawyer like Hashimoto.
Classic Texas Hold'em style. The said group raised the bet but Hashimoto re-raised saying that he would apologize to entice them to call. The group folded. The "bluff" did not work.
tmarie
About time someone in the spotlight stated he should resign and leave politics. I don't care that they cancelled the meeting - why they would want to meet him in the first place is beyond me. I wish the media would stop giving this git airtime.
Joel Lim
I am amazed, why should there be a meeting in the first place by the Comfort Women with the Hashimoto? A NECESSITY? Blind me!!!
chucky3176
Nigelboy, please explain this 91 year old Japanese man who claims he was there and how they were treated. I want to see what tramped up excuses against this man, you'll come up with.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/35294
Shankun
He dosn't talk anything that's contrary to Hashimoto's views...
virgo98
Nothing but a laugh.
This is the second time they fled the meeting with Hashimoto, although it was proposed by themselves. I expected so much to see their talks or debates in front of the media. Very disappointing.
But it is convincing enough to Japanese people that these women's assertions are not reliable. Their stories are full of inconsitencies. They say they were abducted in 1940 and forced to work as comfort women for 7 or 8 years. Don't they ever know when the war ended? They say they saw Japanese soldiers had a Christmas party. Don't they ever know Japanese Imperial Army never did that? (This was also seen in the film "The Flowers of War", which was laughed at scornfully in Japan)
@CH3CHO Someone might have lied to those old ladies just as the story written in the Korean media, and persuaded them to cancel the meeting because they thought their assertion would be talked down by the Mayor. In any case, he is a LAWYER. They said they didn't want to be exploited by Hashimoto for his political pergformance, but, to me, they have already been exploited by such human rights or women's rights activists groups (I don't know what they really are. Rather fishy, I'd say.) as well as Korean government. Poor thing.
The more they make a fuss, Japanese people are beginning to disbelieve them. Just search with the words "perjury rate in Korea." Also, 高麗棒子 "Gaolibangzi". Koreans were not believed by Chinese either.
I'm not going to defend Hashimoto's words about women, but it is true that prostitution used to be not illegal even in western nations. If Japan is blamed for that, why not other nations? (Coercion by Japanese Army has not been confirmed) Activists say the comfort women should not be disgraced, then why our ancestors have to be disgraced? Retrospective law? No way. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra7Dj51AniI
Of course what the Korean soldiers did in Vietnam are war crimes with firm evidences, which nobody can deny. Also, Korean government was sued by Korean women because they were used as comfort women forcibly by their government during the Korean War, sometimes abducted. There are many evidences as well for this incident.
Lowly
Good for them. What courage- and stamina- to keep with their issue after all these years and never give up and go out and talk in public.
Hashimoto- what an idiot. As I said before, I wouldn't mind him saying that the comfort women system was necessary if only he would give up his mother, sister, wife and daughters to the comfort woman system, and do it gladly. Since presumably he couldn't imagine doing that, he obviously has no leg to stand on. Obvious, I know, just sayin.
No Miso
If you want to hear the story of someone who was there and thinks it was wrong please read this and see if it helps add any colour to the rather politically charged story that is floating around right now. Then, regardless of nationality of perpetrator, just imagine the scene he paints with men waiting with trousers down, like ready to go to the toilet, but waiting to have a go at your wife, sister, mother, daughter. Imagine that. How do you feel? War sucks, but hopefully we have evolved - I really hope so!
EastAsiaForeigner
After what Hashimoto said. Is this a surprise? He never retracted his statement. Like my japanese brother in law said, what Hashimoto said is not what you say to another human being.
No Miso
The link------> http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/23/us-japan-history-women-idUSBRE94M04720130523
nigelboy
I believe the Japan has evolved. Such operations are now strictly prohibited and she has the record of their military not killing a single foreign civilian for over 60 years.
Even Hashimoto stated that the usage of women by IJA in those days are wrong. But of course, the media especially the western ones, ignored them completely.
No Miso
nigel - did you look at the link?
kidojapan
CH3CHO, well unfortunately during WW2, CCTV camera and alike were not been available, videos and pictures might be available now. However, it is not a coincidence that women in China, Korea and Philippines have the same stories to tell. Hashimoto was not born before 1910 to 1945 so he has no idea what happened and how brutaly did the Japanese soldiers took the women from their houses, then raped in their barracks. And for sure not all victims are still alive at this time and not have the chance to go on media to claim since they were also protecting their dignities as human which they have lost during WW2.
as No Miso posted, please check the link. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/23/us-japan-history-women-idUSBRE94M04720130523
SamuraiBlue
No Miso
The Matsumoto guy's story has some discrepancies. First his age is stated as 91 which means he was born in 1922 and was at the age of 21 in 1943 when he joined the army. At the time the military drafted able men at the age of 19 so he was either hiding for two years or does he have difficulties in remembering certain things. Second why was he stationed as a medic? Was he a medical student? Last, why did he delayed his return for a year?
CH3CHO
No Miso, kidojapan, just read this US Army report in 1944. http://www.exordio.com/1939-1945/codex/Documentos/report-49-USA-orig.html
nigelboy
And yet the thousands of pages of archived documents earthed by AWF revelealed government regulations regarding this comfort stations operated by private operators such as hours of operation, pay scales, age verifications, usage limit by soldier's ranks, alcohol beverage to be purchased within the stations, workers' option to refuse soldiers, etc.
If these women were simply dragged from their houses and raped in their barracks, there is no reason to issue such orders.
EastAsiaForeigner
@nigelboy
You didn't read my post properly and posted something irrelevant again. You said western media didn't explain it properly. Yes they did. They did mention Hashimoto saying it's not right.
You fail to understand why the rest of the world is looking with disgust.
nigelboy
Perhpas I'm mistaken but you could qualify your statements with links and exerpts.
EastAsiaForeigner
First link by typing in Google.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/16/toru-hashimoto-international-sensitivity_n_3285372.html
Hashimoto already said it''s not to justify. The newspapers and even the reporters on Canadian TV mentioned this. It's the way that he just brings up other countries and tries to compare Japan's atrocities to others and being contradictory to his original defense that it's not to justify. It's even more insulting cuz none of the Allied powers crimes had ever committed crimes of Japan's caliber in WW2. Add into the fact that Japan lost the war as an aggressor and it pissed off everyone.
melonbarmonster
Why would these women meet with a man who thinks they are liars and common prostitutes?
virgo98
I am sure Hashimot has already checked the documents of AWF.
That's what lawyers must do before the trial or any other case, as long as he is not incompetant as a lawyer.
EastAsiaForeigner
@melonbarmonster
It's all an act. The nationalistic posters here just wear their goggles and fail to see what the rest of the world sees.
"Bu bu bu but, why don't they meet with him. They have nothing to lose! =3"
If anyone with an ounce of self respect started insulting you like that, you would be a fool to go and meet him. Especially if you know the idiot does not even mean it.
The level of common sense in this thread makes me lol hard.
nigelboy
Why don't you ask them. They requested a meeting with him last year but cancelled.
toshiko
Hashimoto used to be a popular TV show speaker. Maybe he thinks he can fool foreign correspondents with his performance?
SunnysideUp
lol, the punk out-maneuvered by two old ladies...
toshiko
@Sunnysideup: I fully agree with you,
sfjp330
Why is a small time mayor like Hashimoto and Ishihara getting involved with the international disputes to create hostile incident? Proper thing to do is to let Abe and the central goverment handle the situation. Hashimoto and Ishihara has problems with their cities and they should focus on cleaning up their rat infested city. What this tells me is that Abe and the central goverment is too weak to do anything about controlling local mayors who get involved in areas that they should not be in. Abe should fire Hashimoto.
sfjp330
In the U.S., you don't see local mayor from New York,Los Angeles or Chicago getting involved in delicate international middle east policies critizing Israel, Iran or dispute with China. That is up to the federal goverment to handle. If they did, the goverment will shut you down quickly. However, why is it so common for many of the rat invested small time mayor in Japan getting involved in countless international disputes? Hashimoto has no intention of improving relations with South Korea.There should be a strict boundaries of responsibilites that should be followed for local mayors like Hashimoto.
chucky3176
It was the Japanese civic action group called the Kansai Network, a group that is advocating the rights of Comfort women who brokered the meeting with Hashimoto and the two Korean ex-comfort women, two weeks prior to Hashimoto's verbal deluge. The women, up to the last moment really thought Hashimoto was going to meet with them to tell them that he really did change his mind, but the Kansai Network got an inside information that Hashimoto will put on a performance in front of the reporters in Osaka City Hall. He was going to get down on his knees to "apologize" to the women as a performance to the world. Hashimoto has already made his position known, that Japan never forced these women, but that Japan should apologize anyway as a form of sympathy and "kindness" to these women. The Japanese civic group advised these women against meeting this guy who was only planning to use these women for his own sympathy show so that he can say to the world - look how we Japanese are apologizing to them even though we did nothing wrong. It's best not to even deal with slime balls directly.
nigelboy
Source please. I know this was reported by the Korean news source as addressed above by CH3CO but I have yet to see any evidence as to this mysterious Japanese reporter that one of the comfort women is referring to.
Logically, this does not make sense for it was the organization itself that asked for a meeting with Hashimoto to compel him to do EXACTLY THAT by bringing forth a convincing evidence right in front of him in a live coverage meeting. (5/15 statement by the organization)
To me, it looks like Hashimoto called the bluff and the organization folded.
No Miso
@samuraiblue
Not everyone was called up at the begining. As the war went on, more and more got drafted, and the age was random. Look at Niinomiya's character in Letters from Iwojima just to get an idea of how it was. Although fiction, it is based on true stories.
probably because his "real" lifetime job was medical related. Would make sense, huh?
The displaced forces took up to two years to return. Unlike a football game when the final whistle blows and everyone goes home, an army is slightly more logistically challenged. My own father took a really long time to be demobbed in the UK - it was probably the most frustrating part of the war.
Where these actually discrepancies?
@nigelboy - why don't you go and meet them and discuss your viewpoints? Don't you think it is clear that if Hashimoto is going to make such crass statements to the press that he was just warming up in an effort to tear them apart? Do you think that wouldn't be intimidating for ANYONE who has been sexually abused? Do you think they would want to go through that level of animosity on TV?
toshiko
@slip330: The structure of government system of Japan and USA differ, USA is United of 50 different states. In Japan, one government, Unlike USA where people speak up about federal issues from anywhere, Japanese people do not operate like that. Mayors in USA speak up for state business. there are government agencies in USA that handle federal issues. CIA, FBI, IRS. Years ago, when Mafia had hard time with Mafia, IRS took care of. Arrested Al Capone, etc. So, Mafia agents operated casinos sold their operations to mega-back legitimate companies and ended their business. Abortion, gay marriage, education, law enforcement are not federal. Some mayors in USA like NY speak up against Federal. regulation such as Coca Cola, etc.
Toshiaki Haginoya
Kim Bok-dong (87) said to the newspaper reporter that: “I was “abducted at 14 and forced to serve as a comfort woman for 8 years at various comfort stations at front-line war zones in Asia.”
2013 minus 87 equals 1926 (year of birth) 1926+14=1940 1940+8=1948 The WWII ended in 1945. What kind of war zones in Asia for 3 years after 1945?
smithinjapan
No Miso: "@nigelboy - why don't you go and meet them and discuss your viewpoints? Don't you think it is clear that if Hashimoto is going to make such crass statements to the press that he was just warming up in an effort to tear them apart? Do you think that wouldn't be intimidating for ANYONE who has been sexually abused? Do you think they would want to go through that level of animosity on TV?"
nigelboy would never do such a thing, same as the people in the black trucks hide behind darkened windows while they preach hatred. I made a similar point to Upgrayedd on another thread related to Hashimoto's comments and sex slaves, and he's still trying to blame it all on them and not admit what happened. These women were traumatized, to put it mildly, but there is still so much denial here -- of COURSE the women backed out of such a situation. I can only imagine how Hashimoto would have twisted the interview to his advantage and tried to make them victims again while he proffered up a false apology.
toshiko
there is no report on these two older women's comments on their age or how many years they worked as comfort women, etc. Pictures of them shows a lot older than 90 years old. Asian women live longer. .