Comfort Women What do you think?

[Han Chan]

I know Japanese communists and the similar lefts, and some liberal politicians such as Yohei Kouno, who is believed to be a victim of Chinese honey trap, criticize Japanese government on the so-called comfort women and other war crimes of Japanese army.
But, the majority of Japanese people including myself call them "the Chinese and Korean puppets."
We know their aim is to sell Japan to the Chinese communist party for their own profits.

This sounds like what is called "paranoid cold war rhethoric". But we are not living in the cold war era anymore!

During and after the US occupation there were created paranoid stereotypes about the left-wing opposition in Japan, who were all banded as subversive communists. It would seem like there are still some who are stuck in a time warp.

Maybe this is the real reason for the line taken by those who deny any past wrongdooing - including the abuse of women in occupied areas.

 

[KirinMan]

Hanbei wrote;

But, the majority of Japanese people including myself

Good gracious the mouth of the nation. In my opinion it is arrogant to assume to know what the majority think or feel about an issue as difficult as this.

Personally I would like to see a survey conducted by a reliable media source asking the Japanese public what their opinion is on this subject.

However the manner in which the questions were asked would need to be unbiased in any shape or form. So I doubt that it will ever happen.

 

[hplaserjet6p]

No media in Japan denies the existence of comfort women. The government recognises its wrong doing. It refuses to pay money, because it consideres all repartition has been dealt with in 1962.

now, where do ppl get the idea that Japan denies its past????
I really want to know.

 

[KirinMan]

No media in Japan denies the existence of comfort women. The government recognises its wrong doing. It refuses to pay money, because it consideres all repartition has been dealt with in 1962.

now, where do ppl get the idea that Japan denies its past????
I really want to know.

You miss the point it isnt just about the money, and in fact it has less to do with money than with recgonition of the manner in which the women were coorced into the borthel's.

That is something that few if any Japanese politicians or media will recognize as wrong doing.

That's the denial issue, that the Government and Army at the time, was involved in the coorcement, recruitment, management, overseeing, abuse, and rape of these women.

 

[hplaserjet6p]

You miss the point it isnt just about the money, and in fact it has less to do with money than with recgonition of the manner in which the women were coorced into the borthel's.

So where is the evidence? 200,000 women coerced into the brothels, there must be at least one witness. What are those military adverts recruiting women with high pay? What are those victims who say their families sold them off, or they were kidnapped by koreans? Thats what those politicians are talking about, right?

But Abe said he stands by the Kono statement. He is the head guy, he is Japan. And the public apologise for the atrocities through AWF.

Now, please tell me Japan denies its past.....

 

[frostyg02uk]

Really this whole thing has turned into a farce. Japan has said sorry before but everytime a Chinese or Korean politician wants to use it to make a name for themselves or get some talks to go their way its brought up again and again. I can imagine some little politican shouting "look mum look Japan and denying it!!"
lol

 

[KirinMan]

Now, please tell me Japan denies its past.....

I just did, whether you choose to believe it or not is another story.

Oh and the witnesses, what do you call all those women?

 

[pipokun]

I just did, whether you choose to believe it or not is another story.
Oh and the witnesses, what do you call all those women?

They are honest to say they were sold by their families.

 

[hplaserjet6p]

I just did, whether you choose to believe it or not is another story.
Oh and the witnesses, what do you call all those women?

They are victims. silly.

 

[KirinMan]

They are victims. silly.

Sure silly they are victims but more improtantly they are witnesses as well.

Think about that one.

 

[hplaserjet6p]

????
I merely stated those points questioned by some.

I said PM stands by the Kono statement, and the public apologised through AWF.

I ask you what makes you still think Japan denies its past.
What do you think Japan needs to do to make someone like you to admit that Japan does not deny its past?

 

[KirinMan]

????
I ask you what makes you still think Japan denies its past.
What do you think Japan needs to do to make someone like you to admit that Japan does not deny its past?

Read through this thread, your answers are there.

 

[hplaserjet6p]

Kono statement admits military involvement.
Abe stands by the Kono statement.
AWF sent letters signed by PMs admitting military involvement.
Where do i see denial?????

拝啓

手紙や目録 このたび、政府と国民が協力して進めている「女性のためのアジア平和国民基金」を通じ、元従軍慰安婦の方々へのわが国の国民的な償いが行われるに際し、私の気持ちを表明させていただきます。
いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題は、当時の軍の関与の下に、多数の女性の名誉と尊厳を深く傷つけた問題でございました。私は、日本国の内閣総理大臣として改めて、いわゆる従軍慰安婦として数多の苦痛を経験され、心身にわたり癒しがたい傷を負われたすべての方々に対し、心からおわびと反省の気持ちを申し上げます。
我々は、過去の重みからも未来への責任からも逃げるわけにはまいりません。わが国としては、道義的な責任を痛感しつつ、おわびと反省の気持ちを踏まえ、過去の歴史を直視し、正しくこれを後世に伝えるとともに、いわれなき暴力など女性の名誉と尊厳に関わる諸問題にも積極的に取り組んでいかなければならないと考えております。
末筆ながら、皆様方のこれからの人生が安らかなものとなりますよう、心からお祈りしております。

敬具

平成13（2001）年
日本国内閣総理大臣 小泉 純一郎
(歴代署名：橋本龍太郎、小渕恵三、森喜朗)

 

[undrentide]

English translation of the letter from PM Junichiro Koizumi to the former comfort women that hplaserjet6p quoted is as follows:

The Year of 2001

Dear Madam,

On the occasion that the Asian Women's Fund, in cooperation with the Government and the people of Japan, offers atonement from the Japanese people to the former wartime comfort women, I wish to express my feelings as well.

The issue of comfort women, with an involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of large numbers of women.

As Prime Minister of Japan, I thus extend anew my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.

We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future.

I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations.

Furthermore, Japan also should take an active part in dealing with violence and other forms of injustice to the honor and dignity of women.

Finally, I pray from the bottom of my heart that each of you will find peace for the rest of your lives.

Respectfully yours,
Junichiro Koizumi
Prime Minister of Japan

The above translation is available at the website of MOFA (The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan):
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/pmletter.html

More information on "The Asian Women's Fund"
http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/women/fund/index.html

 

[KirinMan]

Abe stands by the Kono statement.

When did Abe "stand by" Kono's statement?

English translation of the letter from PM Junichiro Koizumi to the former comfort women that hplaserjet6p quoted is as follows:

Thank you, just fyi this has been posted here on more than one occasion, hplaserjet has evidently NOT read through this thread and is rehashing things that have been discussed ad naseum here.

Next time I would suggest that people read through the thread before repeating things here again.

To continue to do so will only get the mod's or admin here irritated and lock the thread.

 

[hplaserjet6p]

OK I read

Still dont know why people say Japan denies its past.
I guess Im stoopid.

 

[hanbei]

ok. since you want me to stop draggin this issue, i will try to restrain myself. But here is why i called certain japanese politicians a "nazi"
Ishihara, the governor of Tokyo.

Everybody knows nuclear warfare can ruin the civilization.
US had used the nuclear weapons against Japan for the first time in the human history.
US president Harry S Truman had made the devil's decision.
US government and American people are the devil's reincarnation continuing their massacres in Vietnam, Iraq and everywhere in the world.
The atrociousness of American people overwhelms "nazi".

We should not forget the fact that US are the most malicious nation in the world for polluting the Earth.

There exist relations between comfort women and atomic bombings.
You have no right to press for Japanese apology on the comfort women issue until you apologize to Japan for the atomic bombings.
You should not blame others by shelving your own crimes.

 

[hanbei]

To Obeika:

You should confess your origin.
China? Korea?
It is necessary for understanding your true motive to pursue the comfort women issue tenaciously.

 

[hanbei]

Mr. Honda, a US congress member who has led the comfort women issue, sang a karaoke with an ex-***** in celebration of their victory. This indicates he has a very close relation with Koreans, perhaps involving a big money.
ttp://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/08/01/2007080101825.html
(please add "h")

 

[Han Chan]

Mr. Honda, a US congress member who has led the comfort women issue, sang a karaoke with an ex-***** in celebration of their victory. This indicates he has a very close relation with Koreans, perhaps involving a big money.
ttp://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2007/08/01/2007080101825.html
(please add "h")

Merely because Mr Honda is singing karaoke together with a former "comfort woman" you claim that he is corrupt. How about Aso, whose family made a fortune using korean slave labor? Aso was after all the one who claimed that the US congress resolution were not based on facts. Aso certainly has a very close relation with Koreans, involving a big money.

 

[hanbei]

I doubt Mr. Honda is corrupt.
Mr. Honda reportedly received a large sum of money from a Chinese group established for anti-Japanese movements in US.
ttp://www.global-alliance.net/
(please add "h")

His true name is "Hongda", not "Honda".
We Japanese don't inscribe "g" for one's name in such a manner.
It is a Korean manner.
Perhaps, his ancestor is a Korean who immigrated to Japan, and then US before WW2.

Also, there are rumors the ex-****** had stocked up a big savings owing to their testimonies.

 

[Han Chan]

I doubt Mr. Honda is corrupt.
Mr. Honda reportedly received a large sum of money from a Chinese group established for anti-Japanese movements in US.
ttp://www.global-alliance.net/
(please add "h")

His true name is "Hongda", not "Honda".
We Japanese don't inscribe "g" for one's name in such a manner.
It is a Korean manner.
Perhaps, his ancestor is a Korean who immigrated to Japan before WW2.

Also, there are rumors the ex-****** had stocked up a big savings owing to their testimonies.

Even if your speculation regarding Mr Hondas origin indeed turned out to be true, I can not see how it should influence anything.

The link you gave is for an NGO - I can certainly not see that it should be a "Chinese group established for anti-Japanese movements in US".

Anyhow, thanks for the link - it has a lot on credible information. I will recommend it to anyone who want to know more about this issue: Global Alliance for Preserving the History of WW II in Asia

 

[hanbei]

To Han Chan:
If your name "Chan" is a true name, it may indicate your origin is Chinese.
"Chan" is a derogatory term to Chinese in Japan.

I know almost all Korean and Chinese hate Japanese as if they have a "hate gene."
If Mr. Hongda is a Korean origin, it accounts all his behavior.

>>The link you gave is for an NGO - I can certainly not see that it should be a "Chinese group established for anti-Japanese movements in US".

Don't you see Chinese characters on the top of the web site?
It is obvious the NGO is a Chinese related one.
Then, it is definitely anti-Japan strongly biased with hate..

 

[hplaserjet6p]

To Han Chan:
If your name "Chan" is a true name, it may indicate your origin is Korean.
"Chan" is a derogatory term to Korean in Japan.

Chan = chinese, not korean.
if you are going to embarass yourself, why dont you do it properly.

 

[hanbei]

Chan = chinese, not korean.
if you are going to embarass yourself, why dont you do it properly.

I am sorry. I have mixed up.