Japan Press Weekly

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2007 February 28 - March 6 [HISTORY]

PM Abe says no coercion proved in wartime sex slavery

Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on March 1 stated, “The fact is that there is no evidence to prove there was coercion” by the Japanese military during WWII in using Asian women as sex slaves (“comfort women”).

With respect to the need to review the 1993 statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono Yohei that admitted to Japanese military’s involvement in the “comfort women” issue and expressed apology, Abe said, “The definition [of coercion] has been largely changed, and we have to keep this in mind.”

Referring to the move of a Liberal Democratic Party Dietmembers’ group to issue a statement calling for a revision of the Kono statement, Abe said, “There is nothing wrong with researching history and facts.”