sidewinder comments

When I saw the headline I immediately thought of that rather large district in Osaka behind the shopping arcade in doubutsuenmae where there are several blocks of obvious prostitution.

Then I read the last paragraph about how Japan is upset with the statue and how it wrongfully depicts them as embracing prostitution and for blaming them for the thousands of women they kidnapped and coerced to work as prostitutes in military brothels. Then, I still think of that same district that is still thriving at this very hour and has been for over 100 years.

I realize that there is a difference in the comfort women's situation and that particular district, but it's more similar than it might seem. Few if any women set out to become prostitues. Most of them are coerced, tricked, or forced into the profession.

I just found it a bit amusing (for lack of a better phrase) that Osaka officials would be appalled that someone is linking such a thing to them and attempting to deny the past when I would bet a sizeable sum of money that all of them are aware of those several blocks of brothels behind dobustuemae arcade.