Japan Press Weekly

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2013 July 3 - 9 [POLITICS]

Osaka mayor again makes remarks insulting women’s rights in Okinawa

Osaka Mayor and Co-leader of the Japan Restoration Party Hashimoto Toru again made remarks insulting women’s rights on July 5 during his visit to Okinawa for his party’s election campaign.

His remarks were made in his street speeches delivered at four locations in the prefecture when he objected to the criticism of his previous remarks defending the Japanese Imperial military’s comfort women system.

Hashimoto said that he wants to “express his appreciation to Okinawan women” who worked at comfort facilities established by the Japanese government to supposedly help to prevent U.S. soldiers from committing sex crimes during the U.S. occupation of Okinawa.

Ishimine Masako, the head of the Okinawa Prefectural Women’s Groups Liaison Council, said that Hashimoto’s remarks inferred that Okinawan women should play a role as an outlet for sexual gratification of the U.S. military in the prefecture. “How dare he insult us like that!” she said.

In August 1945, the Recreation and Amusement Association, which was founded by the Japanese government, set up comfort facilities at various locations mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area under the pretext of protecting Japanese women from U.S. soldiers’ sexual assaults.

At that time, however, in Okinawa, the exercise of Japan’s administrative right was suspended, so the Japanese government did not engage in the operation of such facilities. In addition, the existence of the RAA’s facilities in the prefecture has yet to be confirmed.

Related past articles:
> JCP Ichida criticizes Hashimoto for refusing to retract ‘comfort women’ remarks [May 28, 2013]
> Protests continue against Hashimoto’s remarks on ‘comfort women’ [May 15-19, 2013]
> Osaka mayor’s remarks an insult to human dignity: JCP Ichida [May 14, 2013]