politics

U.S. lawmakers urge Japan gov't to distance itself from Hashimoto

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Hopefully, this combined with the Okinowan women's groups' complaints will spell the end for this fool. And, let's pray he takes his old fogy godfather Ishihara with him!

10 ( +12 / -2 )

They say that when a student is ready (Hashimoto) a teacher will appear (Ishihara).

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Perhaps THIS will nake Hashi step down? Doubt. Watching him last night trying to defend himself on this was sickening. A spoiled asshat who really doesn't get how disgusting an individual he is.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Hashimoto and Ishihara will probably sit up and bark that the US has no place in interfering with an internal Japanese matter and STFU.

Time to buy some more popcorn!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

You are right Yubaru. This is going to be a good show to watch now.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Such comments from public figures in Japan can have a negative impact on Japan's Olympic Bid. I wonder if the politician thought about that before making his speech public.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Yeah he's a true moron. What exactly was he thinking the ideal response to his stupid comments would be?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If Japan truly is a group oriented society, this politician should be the nail that gets hammered down.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

American politicians have to stop meddling in the internal affairs of Japan. Take care of oneself,idiots!

-18 ( +1 / -19 )

I believe the fool was elected based on the fact that he WAS the nail sticking out.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

According to AFP:

Japan mayor ready to apologize to comfort women

TOKYO (May 16, 2013 13:48)

The maverick mayor of Osaka on Thursday offered to meet former comfort women to apologize for their suffering after causing an international storm when he said they served a necessary role in wartime.

I think I have to apologize firmly for what Japan did as I talk to former comfort women, Toru Hashimoto, who is co-leader of the national Japan Restoration Party, told a television interview.

I will tell the comfort women that I am sorry for having had such a system no matter whether it was forcible or not, Hashimoto said. It was a disgraceful act and should never be repeated.

But Hashimoto, who jointly heads a national political party and has been mentioned as a possible future prime minister, insisted the system was not unique to Japan.

Japan was not the only one doing so,he said. Everybody was doing bad things. I think Japanese people should offer objections if there is a misunderstanding of facts in the world.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

If Japan truly is a group oriented society, this politician should be the nail that gets hammered down.

But that is the point. You only get hammered down if you are down the hierarchy. And it is only group oriented for those who are being told what to do. It is all ideology designed to keep people in their place. Japan has a long history of producing the verbally incontinent and insensitive like Hashimoto. They make endless comebacks.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

“comfort women” forced to provide sex during World War II were a military necessity

Essentially, what Hashimoto said is that since every man has sexual drive, so it is "necessary" for every man to keep a sex slave regardless of whether he is from the military.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Two U.S. lawmakers on Wednesday urged Japan to distance itself clearly from an outspoken politician who said that “comfort women” forced to provide sex during World War II were a military necessity."

These two lawmakers must be either stupid or completely ignorant of recent history.

After Japan surrendered, the U.S. military arranged with Japanese authorities for Japanese prostitutes to "service" occupying U.S. soldiers. I have seen photos on the Net of brothels in Tokyo in 1945 with queues of U.S. servicemen lined up outside.

The only reason these brothels were closed down in 1946 was because McArthur learnt - and became concerned - that American soldiers would take STDs back to the States.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@tmarie

you are really dreaming if you think mini hitler is going anywhere. unfortunately a sizable portion of the japanese electorate agrees with him on most of his views.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Under this guys logic if US soldiers rape Japanese woman I would be okay? I think not... this guy needs to be removed from office ASAP!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@rickyvee : Uhh, I don't think so.

I don't know who your friends are but I haven't met a single Japanese person who thinks it's necessary to have sex slaves during war..? Or anyone for that matter who thinks that US troops should make good use of the Okinawa fuuzoku scene..

Hashimoto's moronic statements don't reflect the opinion of a "sizable portion of the japanese electorate" at all..

1 ( +2 / -1 )

"An Associated Press review of historical documents and records — some never before translated into English — shows American authorities permitted the official brothel system to operate despite internal reports that women were being coerced into prostitution.....Tens of thousands of women were employed to provide cheap sex to U.S. troops until the spring of 1946, when Gen. Douglas MacArthur shut the brothels down."

What? This can't be true? Surely these two American lawmakers can't be complete hypocrites?

www.nbcnews.com/id/18355292/ns/world_news-asia_pacific/t/us-troops-used-japanese-brothels-after-wwii/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@dcog

please read my post carefully. i said "most of his views," not ALL of them. he's said and done a lot of controversial things, but still remains popular with japanese people. or should i be more exact and say SOME japanese people? and you're assuming that every japanese person is going to give you their honest opinion about these issues.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Hashimoto has a large following. If he modifies his views and appears apologetic, it will influence those people.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"this guy needs to be removed from office ASAP"

I would bet 10,000 yen that will not happen. He'll come up with some lame apology, and he'll continue as Osaka mayor.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

in fact, because its osaka, he'll prolly get re-elected

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Steve Israel and Mike Hyundai the two on the KA vote payroll Since I'm paying their salaries I'd like them to worry about issues that concern Americans.

.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Steve Israel and Mike Honda are a disgrace. I can't believe my tax dollars pay for these two when they should be concerned with matters that involve the United States and Americans. They are going for the "Asian " read Korean-American vote. As a country that used the Pan-Pan girls, it's utterly hypocritical of these two to be commenting at all. Then again, it was utterly ridiculous for the Osaka Mayor to be commenting on it to start with one way or the other.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Distancing is not too good advice. Condemn Hashimoto would be better advice. Is hashimoto advertising Japan's shameful acions during WW II to entire world?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Honda sponsor HR 121 in 2007 which says:

A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Forces' coercion of young women into sexual slavery, known to the world as "comfort women", during its colonial and wartime occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from the 1930s through the duration of World War II.

This resolution was passed with no opposition. Can't believe someone brought up "pan pan girls" who were not restricted to the Japanese government version of comfort women for occupying forces since they though occupying forces would act as the Imperial Japanese forces acted in countries that they occupied. The pan pan girls symbolized the liberation of Japanese women and the emasculation of Japanese men and the Japanese patriarchal system.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ka-chan: ///////////currently USA did survey of sexual misconducts for 1,4 million female soldiers. 26,000 female encxountered. The victims usually keep mouth shut. pan pan girls are not same us comfort women Japan had. Can you read Japanese or aby other language? I suggest you read about comfort women during WW II in WikiPedia so that you do not sound ignorant in your comments.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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