comfort women

World News

'Japan Times' Newspaper Redefines 'Comfort Women' And 'Forced Labor'

8:31pm November 30, 2018

by Vanessa Romo

An editor's note explained the changes are intended to provide clarity but they have been met with anger and the paper is accused of trying whitewash the country's wartime atrocities.

The Column of Strength monument to "comfort women" was unveiled last year. This week, the mayor of Osaka, Japan, said he was withdrawing his city from a six-decade "sister city" relationship with San Francisco over objections to the statue.

Osaka, Japan, Ends Ties With San Francisco In Protest Of 'Comfort Women' Statue

8:03pm October 04, 2018

by Sasha Ingber

The memorial is meant to commemorate women who were sexually enslaved by Japan's Imperial Army during WWII. Osaka's mayor has long threatened to sever relations with the California city because of it.

A "comfort woman" statue is placed on a bus seat to mark the 5th International Memorial Day for Comfort Women in Seoul in August.

'Comfort Woman' Memorial Statues, A Thorn In Japan's Side, Now Sit On Korean Buses

8:21pm November 13, 2017

by Elise Hu

Statues symbolizing the World War II sex slaves abused by Japanese soldiers have appeared this year on Korean city buses — including on a bus line whose doors open right in front of Japan's embassy.

Queue Listen Now

The Comfort Woman statue, with bird on shoulder, beside an empty chair symbolizing survivors who are of an old age without having yet witnessed judgement, in Glendale, California.

Books

This Week In Race: Honoring Forgotten Women, A Sporty Hijab, Carson The Revisionist

5:01am March 10, 2017

by Karen Grigsby Bates

Cities in several states have honored "comfort women" who were forced into sex work during World War II. Memorials have appeared in New Jersey, Michigan, Virginia and California, with more on the way.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is greeted by members before speaking to a joint meeting of Congress, the first Japanese prime minister to do so.

Japan's Prime Minister Makes Historic Address To Congress

3:08pm April 29, 2015

by Jackie Northam

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid out his vision of increasing ties with the U.S., and expressed his remorse over Japan's wartime atrocities.