Preparations are underway by a powerful Chinese activist group in the US to erect a memorial to “comfort women” in Chinatown in San Francisco. It is the first such move by the Global Alliance for Preservation of the History of World War II in Asia, demonstrating that China has come to the fore of a new war over history against Japan in the US.
　　　　　On August 29th, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in its final report on human rights conditions in Japan once more urged Tokyo to “conduct investigations into the violations of the rights of comfort women by the military, bring to justice those responsible, and …provide apologies and provision of adequate reparation to surviving (Korean) comfort women and their families.” We can only now expect further unpleasant Chinese and Korean initiatives to defame Japan in connection with the “comfort women” issue
　　　　　The Asahi Shimbun’s egregious fabrication concerning the “coerced wartime recruitment of ‘comfort women’” has only recently been exposed, with the mass-circulation liberal daily admitting it has for years relied on false testimony by a self-styled former “comfort woman” recruiter. However, international perceptions of Japan vis-a-vis the “comfort women” have taken on a life on their own long before this, and have over the years evolved in a very disturbing direction.
　　　　　The source of these misplaced perceptions of Japan and the “comfort women” can be found in the so-called “Kono Statement.” (In 1993 then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono publicly stated that the Japanese military had forcibly recruited Korean women into military brothels, contradicting the long-time position of the government that the military was not involved in such recruitment. A recent review of Kono’s statement by a government panel found that Tokyo and Seoul held weeks of secret negotiations in order to come to terms with the wording of the statement, with the administration in office at the time anxious to　appease Korean sentiments.) Japan’s name will never be cleared unless the “Kono Statement” is rescinded. It is imperative that the inconsistencies and inaccuracies of this document be taken apart one by one.

Criticism of Japan by the UN: Unfair and Harsh

　　　　　Anyone hesitant to rescind the “Kono Statement” should give due consideration to the unfair and harsh criticism Japan has been subject to over the years because of this document. In 1996 the United Nations Commission on Human Rights issued a report—commonly known in Japan as the Coomarawasmy report, taking the name of its author—which declared that the “comfort women” had been subjected to “a system of sexual slavery by the Japanese military.” The UN report cited the “Kono Statement” and the testimony of Seiji Yoshida, the supposed “comfort women” recruiter upon whom the Asahi Shimbun had relied for its stories. The report further infuriated the international community.
　　　　　One finds the following statements in the “Cooramaswany Report”:
　　　　　—“The girls seized from villages appear to have been very young, the majority between the ages of 14 and 18…”;
　　　　　—“…(the ‘comfort women’) were expected to serve as many as 60 to 70 men per day);
　　　　　—“One Korean girl…once demanded why they had to serve so many—up to 40—men per day. To punish her for her questioning, the Japanese company commander Yamamoto ordered her to be beaten with a sword…they (then) took off her clothes, tied her legs and hands and rolled her over a board with nails until the nails were covered with blood and pieces of her flesh. In the end, they cut off her head.
　　　　　The statements above were based on the testimony of Chong Oksun. She also said:
　　　　　—“Another Japanese, also named Yamamoto, told us ‘it’s easy to kill you all, easier than killing dogs.’ He also said ‘since those Korean girls are crying because they have not eaten, boil the human flesh and make them eat it’”;
　　　　　—“One Korean girl caught a venereal disease from being raped so often and, as a result, over 50 Japanese soldiers were infected. In order to stop the disease from spreading and to ‘sterilize’ the Korean girl, they stuck a hot iron bar in her private parts”; and,
　　　　　—“I think over half of the girls who were at the garrison barracks were killed.”
　　　　　No Japanese would ever believe such testimony, because from ancient times Japanese have never tortured even the most vicious criminal in such a barbaric fashion. And yet one must realize that the above quotes represent only a portion of the UN report, a report that became an introductory chapter to an anti-Japanese chorus heard throughout the English-speaking world.
　　　　　Two years after the “Coomaraswamy Report” came another UN report. This one was compiled by Ms. Gay McDougal of the UN Human Rights Commission, and was entitled “The Final Report on Contemporary Forms of Slavery.” Defining military brothels as “rape centers,” the report declared:
　　　—“Most of the enslaved women were juveniles between the ages of 11 and 20”;
　　　—“They were raped daily and … subject to physical abuse. Only 25 percent of them survived”; and,
　　　—“The actions by the Japanese military constitute crimes against humanity.”
　　　　　In a nutshell, the report recommends that those responsible in Japan be indicted for these crimes, and states that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights should be instrumental in implementing criminal prosecutions of those responsible, with other members of the international community also cooperating.
　　　　　The McDougal Report also attaches great importance to the “Kono Statement,” charging that the Japanese government continues to deny its culpability despite the fact that the then chief cabinet secretary already publicly admitted the government was deeply involved in the establishment of military “comfort stations.” Relying heavily on the legitimacy of the “Kono Statement,” which had powerful support from the Asahi, international judgment of Japan on the “comfort women” issue became ever more harsh.

Conspiracy against Japan by China and South Korea

　　　　　That is why neither China nor South Korea have tolerated any effort to discredit the “Kono Statement.” Beijing and Seoul have joined hands in a deepening conspiracy against Japan in a new war over history in the US. They have been successful in their endeavor so far, managing to have a resolution quoting the “Kono Statement” pass the US House in 2007 (H. Res. 121) urging the Japanese government to compensate the “comfort women.” The Netherlands, Canada, and some EC nations have followed suit. Is there anyone in Japan unable to hear China and South Korea laughing at us? Are we to pretend to not hear them laugh, or will we fight back?
　　　　　In mid-August two symposia were held in Washington, DC, sponsored by a conservative US think tank, where several powerful South Koreans, including former top government officials and the incumbent Korean ambassador, sternly criticized Japan in their keynote addresses.
　　　　　However, nobody represented Japan. Even the Japanese ambassador was absent. Amid this blatant negligence on the part of Japanese diplomats, the South Korean participants bitterly criticized the Japanese government’s review of the “Kono Statement” as the main diplomatic stumbling block between Tokyo and Seoul. Even a senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation, which sponsored the symposia, maintained that a “coercive recruitment of ‘comfort women’ by the Japanese military is a historical fact,” showing his readiness to fall into step with South Korean assertions.
　　　　　So, unless the Japanese government rescinds what was construed as an official statement, replacing it with what represents the historical truth about the issue in question, Japan most likely will end up being criticized forever, as the Statement constitutes proof in the eyes of the world that “the Japanese government itself recognizes its involvement in the recruitment of the ‘comfort women.’”
　　　　　In order to redeem our honor, we must make serious efforts to tell our side of the story, fully aware that we are far behind in such efforts. It may take 10 or 20 years—or even longer—to achieve our goal, but we must be determined to earnestly grapple with the vital national task of setting the record straight on the “Kono Statement” and letting the world know the truth about our wartime history.
　　　　　We cannot possibly let the Foreign Ministry undertake this important assignment, as it has produced the worst possible results for Japan over the years. Precisely because we have a long battle ahead of us, it will be critical to recruit able human resources and establish an effective organization aside from the Foreign Ministry.
　　　　　The overriding task of this organization will be to globally disseminate pertinent facts about modern Japanese history, so as to achieve a legitimate victory in the ongoing war over history. For that purpose, we must be determined to fight deceitful fabrications by China and South Korea with passion and the rule of virtue.
　　　　　It is not necessary for Japan to pretend to be what we are not. All we need to do
is work hard to spread relevant information which will allow the international society to evaluate Japan and its people strictly on the basis of objective facts. It is time for thinking Japanese to take a fresh step forward with a strong determination to get the “Kono Statement” rescinded by their government, rather than merely being satisfied with criticizing the Asahi for its failure to perform its functions as a responsible member of the media.
　　　　　The world may at first react angrily to what we present it in terms of facts about Japan’s past. And yet, we must all remain assured that nothing is stronger than the truth. If we concentrate our efforts on getting the truth out, in the end the truth will win. That much is certain.

(Translate from the regular monthly column “Towards a Beautiful and Strong Nation” in the September 1, 2014 issue of The Sankei Shimbun)