"A prominent Japanese politician has described as "necessary" the system by which women were forced to become prostitutes for World War II troops. Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto said on Monday that the "comfort women" gave Japanese soldiers a chance "to rest". On Tuesday, Japanese ministers tried to distance themselves from his remarks. Some 200,000 women in territories occupied by Japan during WWII are estimated to have been forced to become sex slaves for troops. Many of the women came from China and South Korea, but also from the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan. Japan's treatment of its wartime role has been a frequent source of tension with its neighbours, and South Korea expressed "deep disappointment" at Mr Hashimoto's words. "There is a worldwide recognition... that the issue of comfort women amounts to a war-time rape committed by Japan during its past imperial period in a serious breach of human rights," a South Korean foreign ministry spokesman told news agency AFP. Mr Hashimoto is the co-founder of the nationalist Japanese Restoration Party, which has a small presence in parliament and is not part of the government." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22519384
A couple of years ago I viewed a documentary on Burma involving interviews with veterans of both sides. Having heard one of the Japanese Veterans explain that life in the IJA was so hard and harsh, deprived of even the basics that the only "relaxation" was the comfort women. Thus I am not surprised - just disgusted.
Has anyone else noticed an increase in this sort of behavior by Japanese politicians over the year or so? Just over the past few months, PM Abe has denied that Japan 'invaded' China, and has implied that he will effectively retract Japanese apologies for war crimes.
One assumes therefore that the modern Japanese politicans ALSO accept that anything and EVERYTHING done to THEM...on the 6th and 9th of August 1945...was equally "necessary"... Can't cherrypick on the exigences of war, boys....
Well no, of course the bombs dropped by the Allies were an aggressive evil warmongering act committed against the peaceful & innocent Japanese. [/sarcasm] Amazing how total control of media & education can allow you to brainwash the population isn't it?
It seems there are same slimy opportunistic politician type in every country. Even Japan is not immunie to these types. Remind you several Japanese politicians and statesman also denounced what Mayor Toru Hashimoto said about comfort women issue. Though if Japan is invaded again and Japanese womaanhood is subjagated to same treatment I wonder Mayor Toru Hashimoto would say !
