Hashimoto fights back in 'comfort women' saga
- By Wang Yanfang
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 23, 2013
Mayor of Osaka Tōru Hashimoto has responded to U.S. criticism of his recent comments about Japanese military brothels during World War II by attacking America's inaction over the misconduct of its soldiers on the island of Okinawa. Hashimoto was speaking during a television interview on May 19.
Hashimoto had initially apologized on May 18 for his comments about so-called “comfort women”, Kyodo News reported.
The following day Hashimoto appeared on a TV Asahi program during which he faced on-air condemnation about his comments from invited experts and guests. In response he claimed that Japan had been unfairly singled out for criticism and countries such as Germany and the U.S. had also committed similar acts during the war.
He added that as the U.S. government attached so much importance to the issue of human rights it should take action to ensure that there are no further instances of rape by U.S. servicemen on Okinawa.
In an interview on TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System Television) Hashimoto admitted that Japan had committed evil acts during the war, but, echoing his earlier comments, he added that as other countries had engaged in similar acts it was wrong to criticize Japan alone.
He went on to claim that his comments about Japanese military brothels and comfort women had been quoted out of context and he denied that he would be resigning as mayor of Okinawa and leader of the Restoration Party, emphasizing that he was in politics to pursue his ideals not prestige.
There has been speculation in the Japanese media that Hashimoto's controversial comments stemmed largely from his declining popularity and sense of menace.
TV Asahi reported that the Restoration Party's approval ratings have fallen to 4 percent and the party now finds itself under attack as other parties in Japan look to distance themselves from the now controversial party.
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