Report No. 49: Japanese POW Interrogation on Prostitution.
http://www.exordio.com/1939-1945/codex/Documentos/report-49-USA-orig.html

I’ve changed my mind. I WOULD like to see that.

“the disputed point is “comfort women station”(this word was made in the 70’s)was run by private contractors and not under the direct control of the military.,therefore GOJ do not possess the list of ＡＬＬ the women in the job.,or at least that is where the GOJ stands.”
This reminds me of the fully owned but technically separate supply company that Ritsumeikan uses to avoid competitive bidding, and offer low paying jobs to employees they like without having to give them real employment contracts.

“Go over to their website if you have the time.”
I could not remember the name of this group yesterday. I’m too busy today, but I will read through their site later and see how well it answers my questions from before.

“Sorry for the incoherent tone of my earlier comment, I was really too tired to write something like this today.”

Hey,I’m the one who’s been typing comments in the typical manner of east asian net troll,Why is it you to apologize,Besides this is “Mutantfrog Travelogue”,not “Aceface Travelogue”.Act like the big guy.

“Do you know if the Japanese government has ever published a list of all the women that they admit were comfort women? I know that private organizations and perhaps other governments have lists ”

I don’t put myself onto the duty of the constant comfort women watch,but the disputed point is “comfort women station”(this word was made in the 70’s)was run by private contractors and not under the direct control of the military.,therefore GOJ do not possess the list of ＡＬＬ the women in the job.,or at least that is where the GOJ stands.The list you’ve mentioned is the people who proclaim that they have worked in the station,though this would not make the concrete proof
The way Asia women Fund had paid the money to the ex-victims were different in the countries,due to the difficulty of reconfirm the validity of the individual case.That is why GOJis reluctant to pay compensation to each individuals.

Go over to their website if you have the time.
アジア女性基金Asian women Fund
http://www.awf.or.jp/

SJ332: Involuntary servitude of Africans;
General Assembly to atone therefor and call for reconciliation.

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 332
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 3, 2007

Atoning for the involuntary servitude of Africans and calling for reconciliation among all Virginians.—————Patron—Marsh—————Referred to Committee on Rules—————
WHEREAS, slavery has been documented as a worldwide practice since antiquity, dating back to 3500 B.C. in ancient Mesopotamia; and

WHEREAS, during the course of the infamous Atlantic slave trade, millions of Africans became involuntary immigrants to the New World, and the first African slaves in the North American colonies were brought to Jamestown, in 1619; and

WHEREAS, the Atlantic slave trade was a lucrative enterprise, and African slaves, a prized commodity to support the economic base of plantations in the colonies, were traded for tropical products, manufactured goods, sugar, molasses, and other merchandise; and

WHEREAS, some African captives resisted enslavement by fleeing from slave forts on the West African coast and others mutinied aboard slave trading vessels, cast themselves into the Atlantic Ocean, or risked the cruel retaliation of their masters by running away to seek freedom; and

WHEREAS, although the United States outlawed the transatlantic slave trade in 1808, the domestic slave trade in the colonies and illegal importation continued for several decades; and

WHEREAS, slavery, or the “Peculiar Institution,” in the United States resembled no other form of involuntary servitude, as Africans were captured and sold at auction as chattel, like inanimate property or animals; and

WHEREAS, to prime Africans for slavery, the ethos of the Africans was shattered, they were brutalized, humiliated, dehumanized, and subjected to the indignity of being stripped of their names and heritage, and families were disassembled as husbands and wives, mothers and daughters, and fathers and sons were sold into slavery apart from one another; and

WHEREAS, a series of complex colonial laws were enacted to relegate the status of Africans and their descendants to slavery, in spite of their loyalty, dedication, and service to the country, including heroic and distinguished service in the Civil War; and

WHEREAS, the system of slavery had become entrenched in American history and the social fabric, and the issue of enslaved Africans had to be addressed as a national issue, contributing to the Civil War from 1861 to 1865 and the passage of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude on December 18, 1865; and

WHEREAS, after emancipation from 246 years of slavery, African Americans soon saw the political, social, and economic gains they made during Reconstruction dissipated by virulent and rabid racism, lynchings, disenfranchisement of African-American voters, Black Codes designed to reimpose the subordination of African Americans, and Jim Crow laws that instituted a rigid system of de jure segregation in virtually all areas of life and that lasted until the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act; and

WHEREAS, throughout their existence in America and even in the decades after the Civil Rights Movement, African Americans have found the struggle to overcome the bitter legacy of slavery long and arduous, and for many African Americans the scars left behind are unbearable, haunting their psyches and clouding their vision of the future and of America’s many attributes; and

WHEREAS, acknowledgment of the crimes and persecution visited upon other peoples during World War II is embraced lest the world forget, yet the very mention of the broken promise of “40 acres and a mule” to former slaves or of the existence of racism today evokes denial from many quarters of any responsibility for the centuries of legally sanctioned deprivation of African Americans of their endowed rights or for contemporary policies that perpetuate the status quo; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, during a trip to Goree Island, Senegal, a former slave port, President George W. Bush stated, “Slavery is one of the greatest crimes of history, and its legacy still vexes the United States … Small men took on the powers and airs of tyrants and masters. Years of unpunished brutality and bullying and rape produced a dullness and hardness of conscience. Christian men and women became blind to the clearest commands of their faith and added hypocrisy to injustice. While physical slavery is dead, the legacy is alive. My nation’s journey toward justice has not been easy, and it is not over. For racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation … and many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times … But however long the journey, our destiny is set: liberty and justice for all”; and

WHEREAS, in the Commonwealth, home to the first African slaves, the vestiges of slavery are ever before African American citizens, from the overt racism of hate groups to the subtle racism encountered when requesting health care, transacting business, buying a home, seeking quality public education and college admission, and enduring pretextual traffic stops and other indignities; and

WHEREAS, European and African nations have apologized for their roles in what history calls the worst holocaust of humankind, the Atlantic Slave Trade, and racial reconciliation is impossible without some acknowledgment of the moral and legal injustices perpetrated upon African Americans; and

WHEREAS, an apology for centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices cannot erase the past, but confession of the wrongs can speed racial healing and reconciliation and help African American and white citizens confront the ghosts of their collective pasts together; and

WHEREAS, the story of the enslavement of Africans and their descendants, the human carnage, and the dehumanizing atrocities committed during slavery should not be purged from Virginia’s history or discounted; moreover, the faith, perseverance, hope, and endless triumphs of African Americans and their significant contributions to the development of this Commonwealth and the nation should be embraced, celebrated, and retold for generations to come; and

WHEREAS, the perpetual pain, distrust, and bitterness of many African Americans could be assuaged and the principles espoused by the Founding Fathers would be affirmed, and great strides toward unifying all Virginians and inspiring the nation to acquiesce might be accomplished, if on the eve of the commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the first permanent English settlement in the New World, the Commonwealth acknowledged and atoned for its pivotal role in the slavery of Africans; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby atone for the involuntary servitude of Africans and call for reconciliation among all Virginians; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Executive Director of the State Council of Higher Education, the Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System, and the Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Virginia State Chapter, requesting that they further disseminate copies of this resolution to their respective constituents so that they may be apprised of the sense of the General Assembly of Virginia in this matter.

“Comfort women were never a taboo subject in Japan,MF.There are lots of description in the books and representation in the movies.”
I was mostly thinking about the rest of the world when I wrote this. I don’t think it was reported in say the US until much later, but I honestly have no idea.

“Still don’t understand what this “there has never been any official confirmation of individual victims”means.But there have been many apologies to comfort women issue.”
Yes, there have been several apologies. I really should have written in the form of a question. Do you know if the Japanese government has ever published a list of all the women that they admit were comfort women? I know that private organizations and perhaps other governments have lists (they also keep exact counts of how many are still alive) but I would be curious to know if Japan does as well.

I mentioned the Virginia thing in response to Adam’s comment that the US has not apologized for slavery, I think for obvious reasons. I actually checked a couple of US news sites quickly to find a non-BBC source (it feels silly to quote the BBC on an American story) but they didn’t seem to have posted an article yet, or I just didn’t spot it.

It might be a good idea for the US Congress to issue a statement like the VA one, but of course the diet should keep out of it, it goes both ways! Incidentally, VA is not the first state to make that sort of apology but it is one of the first. Missouri is considering one as well, so maybe the campaign will grow. Also, the US Senate made an apology on June 13 1995 for not enacting anti-lynching legislation earlier.

As for the BBC, I won’t deny anything you said (partly because I don’t feel like checking their archives right now), but maybe that is a debate for another time. Don’t worry, I’m sure we’ll get to that discussion eventually.

“maybe have the Japanese government acknowledge what happened to them. Yes, the Kono Statement says that the Japanese government apologizes for the treatment of comfort women in a general sense, but as far as I know, but I could be mistaken.”
Still don’t understand what this “there has never been any official confirmation of individual victims”means.But there have been many apologies to comfort women issue.
Kono Statement河野談話was made during Miyazawa administration.when Kono Youhei was cabinet minister of the administration.PM Miyzawa Kiichi apologized more than once to Roh Tae Woo when he visit Seoul in ’92.
PM Murayama Tomiichialso apologized in ’94 specifically about comfort women.
In added to that PM Obuchi Keizo in Japan-South Korea Joint declaration of’98(this time in print) to Kim Dae Jung.Supposed to be the declaration to end all of the apology issue.

“It may be a matter of treaties and international law and all that for the governments and politicians, but many of the former victims are just not as interested in abstract things like that.”
No.Because,they could always take money from Asia Women’s Fund built by Socialist PM Murayama and runned by liberals like.Wada Haruki,and Ueno Chizuko.Since most of the Korean and some Taiwanese didn’t accept money,(Most of the Phillipinos, Indonesians and Dutch had accepted)this is the proof either they are interested in abstract things or they were under heavy pressure from focus groups in their countries not to take the money.

“However, that was long before the stories of comfort women were public knowledge and long before the Japanese government acknowledged their truth,
Comfort women were never a taboo subject in Japan,MF.There are lots of description in the books and representation in the movies.
GOJ acknowledged the fact(not truth)that there is a letter from Ministry of Army to the chief of staffs of expeditionary force in China that some of the recruiters could be accused of kidnapping in colonial Korea,because local police warned Army that they may start an investigation.

“comfort women were not among the victims that would have been compensated then anyway.”
I don’t need to tell you in the basic treaty covers all aspects of Japan’s victims.

“Even if you suppose that the Korea payments in the past were enough to discharge Japan’s obligation to Korean victims, what about the recognized victims in other countries?”
Covered in the bilateral agreements in the 50’s.

“I believe that Japan still should make more reparations and have some kind of truth commission create a more detailed report that actually lists by name all of the verifiable victims of sex slavery, forced labor and so on”
Truth commission is hardly working in any country.Besides it is covering the cases of atrocities ,both victim and the victimizer belongs to the one same country.

“What does mentioning how you don’t trust BBC on Japan have to do with this particular story”
A)Since you brought up out of context event bu quoting the very institution.

B)BBC covered so-called “Japanese orgy”in Zhuhai in Sept 2003 based fully on highly anti-Japanese Chinese media report with no concrete basis that it ever happened in the scale or timing.(Chines claimed it coincided Sept 18’s memorial day of Manchurian Invasion)Somehow BBC dismissed the slaughter of an entire family of 4 including elementary school kids,in Fukuoka by Chinese Students which happened exactly at the same time.

Ｃ）Nisshin Maru case.BBC was total mouthpiece of Greenpeace through the entire coverage.

Ｄ)On this particular topic we are debating right now,BBC had extensive coverage
While completely lacking what I mentioned in above.

E)I confess,the troll part in my head made me type that out…...

Maybe our diet should push the capitol hill to follow the foot steps of Virginia,what do you think?

I met several last year, three from Taiwan and one from Korea, and I am just repeating what they were saying. After their time as “comfort women” they all had pretty miserable lives, ostracized from society and divorced by husbands who found out about their past. The Taiwanese ones at least survive on minimal welfare payments from the Taiwanese government, but they have never gotten anything from Japan and would certainly like be able to live out their last years in some comfort, and maybe have the Japanese government acknowledge what happened to them. Yes, the Kono Statement says that the Japanese government apologizes for the treatment of comfort women in a general sense, but as far as I know there has never been any official confirmation of individual victims, but I could be mistaken. It would certainly be a nice thing for the government to do.

It may be a matter of treaties and international law and all that for the governments and politicians, but many of the former victims are just not as interested in abstract things like that.

Also, yes Japan paid money to Korea that was supposed to go to former victims, and it was never delivered by the Korean government to the people, so that is really an issue that should be taken up with the Korean government. However, that was long before the stories of comfort women were public knowledge and long before the Japanese government acknowledged their truth, and so comfort women were not among the victims that would have been compensated then anyway. The Kono statement also recognized that there had been comfort women born in Japan, China, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, New Guinea, Hong Kong, Macao, and French Indochina. (I assume Taiwan is included as part of China due to the one China police-HK and Macao were still European ruled at that time.) Even if you suppose that the Korea payments in the past were enough to discharge Japan’s obligation to Korean victims, what about the recognized victims in other countries?

I still don’t see why the US Congress should be getting involved in this matter. It’s fine for members of congress to get involved in the debate as individuals, but it’s just silly for an outside government to be doing this. I believe that Japan still should make more reparations and have some kind of truth commission create a more detailed report that actually lists by name all of the verifiable victims of sex slavery, forced labor and so on, but I wouldn’t say I’m passionate about it and I really dislike getting into discussion about what they should or shouldn’t do. The important thing though is that I am only making a suggestion about what I think the best course of action for the Japanese government would be. I’m not saying they “must” do anything or making any silly statements or threats. Also, as a US citizen I think my government has no business making an official statement about this. If reparations or more apologies or truth commissions or whatever seem like they’ve been forced from the outside then it would probably wouldn’t seem sincere enough to actually help improve relations between Japan and other countries anyway.

What does mentioning how you don’t trust BBC on Japan have to do with this particular story?

There are a half century of loooong political and legal framework for normalization of Japan’s relation to the world.World simply shouldn’t just forget this and demand Japan to start all over again.
Could good people of the world,first do some research on the Tokyo’s effort on this issue in the last 60 years,THEN jump onto the multinational birchfestwagon?Otherwise we will continually confuse ourselves.

Japan had paid and paid and paid to Koreans(and others)in the name of both reparation and better bilateral relations for the last four decades(although they are not always named “reparation”).Maybe Seoul should just sell out all the facilities of POSCO et al and give that money to their righteous victims.They were supposed to be doing so as their part of the responsibility according to the Korean declassified documents of normalization treaty with Japan.

If Koreans chose to hate Japan and live with it,then that is the cross we will carry eternally.
By the way,I would never use the word “waiting and simply wear out and die”,MF.
It is natural to come up with the conclusion only the time will heal the wounds.

But reaaly how much do you all know about identity of these women.