Japan Press Weekly

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2007 July 4 - 10 [HISTORY]

LDP policy research council chair says Kono Statement is masochistic

On a radio program aired on July 6, Liberal Democratic Party Policy Research Council Chair Nakagawa Shoichi denounced the 1993 Chief Cabinet Kono Yohei’s Statement recognizing that the Japanese military coerced women into wartime sex slavery by saying, “He has a masochistic view [of history].”

“In foreign countries, they proudly speak of their nations, even telling lies. It is hard to understand why the Japanese government seals up what is supposed to be true,” said Nakagawa.

The U.S. House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee in June overwhelmingly passed a resolution demanding that Japan apologize for the wartime sex slavery. The House is also expected to pass the resolution this month.

Nakagawa’s remark represents a grave affront to the growing international criticism. - Akahata, July 7, 2007