●Focusing historical issue from the overseas point of view chapter 15

意見広告 海外から歴史問題を考えるシリーズ

Audaciously spreading the fabricated story of “Comfort Women”

On August 15 of this year, it will be 73 years since the Pacific War was ended by the unconditional surrender declared by the Japanese government.  When the Japan-China War (so-called Japan-China Icident) had started on July 7, 1937, I was a second-grader in elementary school.  When I was a sixth-grader, the Pacific War had started by attacking the U.S. Pacific Fleet which had anchored at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by the Japanese Pacific Fleet.  Then, the Japanese Army started to march into such Asian countries as the Philippines, Singapore, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. (At that time, those countries were the colonies of the British, France and the U.S.A. ). Soon after, the United States and its allied forces turned together the aim of their attacking to Japan.

I fully experienced all kinds of disaster which were caused by the war.  The air raids by the American bombers every night which caused almost all the Japanese cities to become burnt ruins; the draft of the high-school students to work in the factory or farms since all young men over 17 years were drafted by the military; and unbearable poor living condition by the strict ration of food-stuff, clothing, and daily necessities.  Therefore, I fully understand the disasters and hardship which are caused by the war.  However, when I heard and read about many brutal acts of the Japanese military during the war, some of which are fabricated or exaggerated to justify their allegations, I fully realize that the “silence is not necessarily gold but “oratory” or “make-up-story” are gold to convince the people.  I am not trying to justify the brutal acts of the Japanese military in the many areas of  Asia.  However, I regret very much to observe that some witnesses of the war are still living with the vivid memory of their war experience, and feel deeply regret to observe that some people distort their true experience and observation to their own benefit and gains.

The good examples are the stories of “Comfort Women” and “Nanking Massacre”.  For the honor of my country, I would like to describe in this article the fact of “Comfort Women”.  On June 22, 1965, then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and then President of Korea Park Chung-hee agreed and “The Peace Treaty between Japan and Korea” was duly signed. During the numerous talks to conclude the Treaty, the Korean Government allegedly insisted that the indemnity payment to the comfort women should not be paid individually, but should be paid to the Korean Government in order to decided the amount of indemnity on the base-by-case basis. Accordingly, the Japanese government to pay gratuitously three hundred million dollars, two hundred million dollars onerously, and three hundred million dollars as civil financing.  In addition, the assets of the Japanese government which were held in the Korean Peninsula and was estimated fifty-three hundred million dollars, were surrendered without any condition.  The Japanese government believed that the indemnity was paid to each Korean comfort women who allegedly insisted that they were forced by the Japanese Government.

It is most incomprehensible allegation that was made by Korean women who appeared publicly at the international arena 60 years after the end of the Pacific War.  They audaciously appeal at such an international arena as the U.N. Humane Rights Committee meetings that they were abducted and forced by the Japanese military to sexually work for Japanese soldiers.  Their appearance at the U.N. Humane Rights Committee was irresponsible act which was arranged by the Korean Government.  However, it seems to be more irresponsible and unjust act is that the U.N. Humane Right Committee, the members of the Committee believe the one-sided story and didn’t elaborate for fact-finding at all.

There are still some living witnesses of the history such as myself.  The Japanese Government paid two hundred million dollars twice to the Korean Government for the remuneration for the alleged comfort women and then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama and the Cabinet Secretary Taro Kohno sent a letter of apology to the former comfort women through the Korean Government.  Yet, the former Korean comfort women insisted that they received neither remuneration nor a letter of apology.

If you don’t know the historical facts of both Japan and Korea where the social status of women was much lower than that of men, and the licensed prostitution was officially approved.  As a human being, you should know better about this historical fact, otherwise you cannot talk about the comfort women.

Yoko Wiles
Publisher, Potomac Newsletter