1894-1895

Sino-Japanese War

1904-1905

Russo-Japanese War

1905

Korea is made a protectorate of Japan.

1910

Japan annexes Korea

1914-1918

World War I

1925

Japan ratifies the Convention for the Suppression of Traffic in Women and Children, with reservations as to the application of the Convention to its colonies, i.e. Korea, Taiwan and Kwantung and as to the setting of the age of minority, making it 18 instead of 21.

1927

Japan withdraws its aforesaid reservation about the age of minority and accepts the age of 21 set out in the Convention.

1931

Japan invades Manchuria

1932

Japan sets up military controlled comfort houses/stations in Shanghai.

1937

Japan takes Nanking in what is notoriously referred to as the "Rape of Nanking", also marking the beginning of the systematic establishment of military comfort stations in China and elsewhere.

1937-1945

Asian and Pacific War

1937-1942

The Japanese military sets up a network of comfort stations wherever it sends its' troops.

1942

Japan occupies the Philippines.

1943

Cairo Declaration refers to the status of Korea indicating that it should be free and independent.

1943

Moscow Declaration foreshadows war crimes trials at the close of war and again refers to the status of Korea

1945

Potsdam Declaration foreshadows the creation of an international war crimes tribunal for Japanese and German war criminals and further defines crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Cairo, Moscow and Potsdam Declarations indict Japan and Germany for their war of aggression, war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes against peace, during World War II. The United Nations Organization is established.

9/2

Japan signs the instrument of unconditional surrender, and World War II ends.

11/15

The Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces submits his report (released by the allied translator and interpreter section), entitled: "Amenities in the Japanese Armed Forces", which contains detailed documentation on comfort stations of the Japanese military.

1946-1948

Allied nations also create "satellite" tribunals in Asia and the Pacific to try Japanese war criminals (Classes "B" and "C").

1/19/1946

Proclamation establishing the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE) to try Japanese war criminals (Class "A").

1948

The Batavia Trial is held in Indonesia, includes a trial of Japanese military personnel who forced about 35 Dutch women to become Comfort Women.

1951

The San Francisco Peace Conference is held. The treaty of San Francisco between Japan and the Allied Powers is signed.

1956

Japan is admitted as a member of the United Nations.

1970-1980

There is considerable public unrest and opposition to the 1965 treaty in the Republic of Korea.

1988

Women's organizations in the Republic of Korea hear of the institution of comfort stations in the Japanese military, and demand an investigation.

1989

Japanese school textbooks authorized for first time to characterize Japan's role in World War II as "aggressive."

June 1990

Motooka Shoji, Senator, Socialist Party, Japan, demands, in the Budget Committee of the Japanese Diet, that the government look into the matter of military Comfort Women. The Japanese Government responds that the Comfort Women issue was the work of neither the Japanese government nor the military, but rather that of private entrepreneurs.

Oct 17 1990

An open letter to the Japanese Government is sent by the Korean Women's Association (an NGO), demanding an apology, a memorial and a thorough inquiry.

Nov 1990

The Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Sexual Slavery by Japan (an NGO) is formed in the Republic of Korea.

April 1991

The Japanese Government replies to the Korean letter, stating that there is no evidence of the forced drafting of Korean women as Comfort Women, and thus there is no question of any apology, memorial or disclosures by the Japanese Government. The Japanese government again states that Comfort Women were voluntary prostitutes.

Aug 1991

Kim Hak-soon, a former Comfort Woman in the Republic of Korea, testifies in public that she had been forcibly taken as a Comfort Woman by the Japanese military.

Nov 1991

Yoshida Seiji, Japanese ex-labor mobilization director, of Yamaguchi Prefecture confirms in the newspaper "Hokkaido Shimbun" that he took part in the wartime employment, by force and deceit, of Comfort Women by the Japanese military.

Nov 1991

Mr. Watanabe, Press Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan, states on NHK Television that evidence was insufficient to warrant an investigation.

Dec 1991

A lawsuit is filed by Kim Hak-soon and others against Japan, in the Tokyo District Court, for damages and other compensation.

Dec 1991

The Government of the Republic of Korea requests the Japanese Government to conduct an investigation

12/12/91

The Japanese Government initiates an investigation

Jan 1992

The "Asahi Shimbun" publishes the Japanese archive documents obtained by Professor Yoshimi, a well known Japanese historian and researcher, establishing the direct role of the Japanese military in maintaining a huge net work of military brothels known as 'Comfort Houses'.

1/13/92

Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato admits for the first time that the Japanese Imperial Army was in some way involved in running military brothels.

Feb 1992

The Comfort Women issue is raised at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

May 1992

The Comfort Women issue is raised at the United Nations Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery.

July 1992

The Task Force on Filipino Comfort Women (an NGO) is formed in the Philippines.

July 1992

The Japanese Government makes public findings releasing 127 documents admitting the involvement of the Japanese military in organizing military brothels.

Aug 1992

The Comfort Women issue is raised at the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

Sep 1992

Lola Rosa, the first Filipino surviving Comfort Woman, speaks out in public.

Dec 1992

Washington Coalition for Comfort Women Issues, Inc. is formed.*

Dec 1992

An international public hearing is held in Tokyo. Former Comfort Women and forced laborers testify about their experiences. International law experts meet to discuss the relevant international legal issues.

Feb 1993

The Comfort Women issue is once again raised at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

May 1993

The Comfort Women issue is once again raised at the United Nations Working Group on Contemporary Forms of Slavery. The Japanese Government once again repeats its stand that all claims have been settled under bilateral treaties and that Japan is not required legally to pay compensation to individual victims.

8/4/93

The Japanese Government issues a carefully-worded statement admitting an unspecified role in the military brothels, yet rejecting legal responsibility for them. Japan continues to contend the brothels were not a "system" and not a war crime nor crime against humanity

Aug 1993

The Comfort Women issue is raised at the United Nations Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.

Nov 1993

Twenty-four members of US Congress write to Japanese Prime Minister Hosokawa urging his government to investigate the sexual slavery of Comfort Women.

Apr 1994

The United Nations Commission of Human Rights appoints Ms Radhika Coomaraswamy as Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, with a special brief to investigate crimes against Comfort Women.

June 1994

Large protests on behalf of Comfort Women and other victims on Japanese war crimes confront Japan's emperor Akihito during his visit to San Francisco, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and New York City.

July 1994

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kozo Igarashi states in a press conference that Japan refuses to pay reparations or individual compensation to Comfort Women victims.

Aug 1994

The United Nations Sub-commission of Human Rights appoints Ms Linda Chaves as Special Rapporteur on Sexual Slavery During Wartime.

Aug 1994

Japanese Prime Minister Murayama announces first version of "Private Fund" plan. It stresses job training programs for Japanese companies employing Asian women; yet rejects reparations or individual compensation for Comfort Women.

Nov 1994

The International Commission of Jurists concludes in a special report that "It is indisputable that these women were forced, deceived, coerced and abducted to provide sexual services to the Japanese military…[Japan] violated customary norms of international law concerning war crimes, crimes against humanity, slavery and the trafficking in women and children."

Dec 1994

The International Commission of Jurists publishes "Report of a Mission" on Comfort Women: it states that the treaties referred to by the Japanese Government never intended to include claims made by individuals for inhumane treatment.

Jan 1995

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (Japan's professional association for attorneys) concludes that the "Comfort Women system was created and administered by the Japanese State and Imperial Army and implemented by related authorities" and that "immediately after the war the Japanese government issued orders to destroy or burn all evidence…on Comfort Women." The Bar Association recommends that Japanese government pay individual compensation and take other measures.

March 1995

United Nations Commission on the Status of Women NGO workshop adopts resolution supporting Comfort Women.

July 1995

The Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama offers formal personal apologies to Comfort Women.

July 1995

The Japanese Government announces establishment of Asian Women's Fund

July 1995

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights 47th Session adopts resolution on the Prevention of Crime & the Treatment of Offenders. Japan Times reports that the Justice Ministry is "hiding war crime records" concerning comfort women. The Ministry states that in order to protect the privacy of convicted war criminals, it will refuse to release records of public trials of persons accused of crimes against Comfort Women.

August 1995

Japanese Prime Minister Murayama offers what the Washington Post describes as "a near apology" for wartime atrocities against China, Korea, and other Asian nations.

Sep 1995

United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing adopts resolution supporting Comfort Women, despite intense lobbying effort by Japanese government representatives.

Jan 1996

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, issues detailed report on crimes against Comfort Women to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

April 1996

The United Nations Commission on Human Rights, bowing to intense pressure from Japanese representatives, adopts "compromise" resolution that "takes note" of the Coomaraswamy report. Observers from NGOs contend that the resolution is calculated to evade Japanese state responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Aug 1996

The Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Human Rights submits a preliminary report on Sex Slavery During Wartime.

Aug 1996

The United Nations Sub-commission on Human Rights adopts a resolution on the Prevention of Discrimination & protection of Minorities urging Japanese government to further cooperate with the UN for solution of the wartime sex slavery issue.

Dec 1996

A immediate News Release by US Department of Justice announcing Suspected Japanese War Criminals Placed on "Watch List" for the first time. The men on the watch list are prohibited from entering the U.S.

July 1997

Members of US Congress (53 as of 3/11/98) headed by Rep. William O. Lipinski introduced H. Res. 126 urging Japanese government to extend a formal apology and pay reparations to all the victims of Japanese war crimes during World War II.

Nov 1997

National Assembly, Republic of Korea adopts the new immigration law to prohibit Japanese war criminals entering the Republic of Korea.

April 1998

In his surprisingly sharp ruling, Yamaguchi District Court Judge Hideaki Chikashita awarded the former military comfort women the equivalent of $2,300 each.

June 1998

WCCW hosted the exhibit; "Comfort Women of WWII: An Indisputable Tragedy" at the Rotunda of Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. It was supported by congressional caucuses and international human rights organizations.The opening of this exhibit coincided with a visiting delegation of surviving Comfort Woman, as well as an internationally respected historians, traveling to the United States to testify before Congress.

June 2000

Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL) and other thirty House Representatives introduced H. Con. Res. 357, calling on the Japanese government to formally issue an apology and pay reparations to the victims of war crimes committed by the Japanese military during WW II.

Sep 2000

Fifteen former Comfort Women from Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., using the Alien Tort Claims Act of 1787. This is the first time the issue of military sexual slavery was addressed in the U.S. Courts, as well as the first time Japan is named as a defendant.

July 2001

Cong. Lane Evans introduced H. Con. Res. 195 to call upon the Japanese government to formally issue an unambiguous apology; it was followed by a press conference at which former Comfort Women, Kim, Soon Duk gave a statement.

Aug 2001

Hearing held for the class action lawsuit filed by the fifteen Comfort Women at the U.S. District of Columbia Circuit Court.

Sep 2001

United Nations Human Rights Committee recommends that Japan should ensure that school textbooks and other teaching materials present history in "a fair balanced manner...also victims must be compensated and that they should submit a report of implementing U.N.s recommendations by June, 2006."

Oct 2001

Judge Henry Kennedy dismissed the Comfort Women class action law suit filed in Sep. 2000.

Dec 2001

Hague Tribunal (Mock) held in Netherlands; Japan's war criminals were prosecuted.

May 2002

The Asian Symposium Demanding Liquidation of Japan's Past held in Pyongyang, North Korea.

Dec 2002

The appellate Hearing on the Comfort Women was held at the D.C. Circuit Court

June 2003

Judges Douglas H. Ginsburg, Judith W. Rogers, and Davis T. Tatel dismissed the appeal of the Comfort Women.

June 2003

Cong. Lane Evans (D-IL) introduced H. Con. Res. 226, urging Japan should formally issue a clear and unambiguous apology for the Comfort Women issues.

July 2004

United States Supreme Court issued an order in the Comfort Women case Hwang v. Japan; Petition granted, judgment vacated and case remanded for further consideration in light of Republic of Austria v. Altmann.

Dec 2004

A petition was filed with the Supreme Court, and won. When the Supreme Court decided Altmann v. Austria last term (holding the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act applied to all cases, even those arising out of facts that pre-date the statute), it also vacated the Court of Appeals decision in the Comfort Women case. That means the Court of Appeals must reconsider the case. The Court of Appeals recently asked for additional briefing on the impact of the Post-War treaties with Japan, which we provided. We also had a strong amicus from a number of ngos and international law scholars. Its possible that the Court may rule as early as March of this year. The Court can send the case back to the District Court to resume consideration, or dismiss on another grounds. It can't dismiss on the same grounds it relied on the first time, as the Supreme Court rejected its reasoning.

Court Hearing on Comfort Women at the Federal Court Demo-nstration held to voice the justice on Comfort Women at front of the Federal Court

The International Conference Demanding Redress from Japan was held in Tokyo, Japan. NGO’s from various countries and Japanese Diet members updated their activities and explored future strategies.

WCCW jointly with nationwide human right groups, launched a worldwide signature campaign to reject the Japanese bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council.

H.Res. 759, bi-partisan measure was passed by Int’l Foreign Affaires Committee nanimously

Cong. Mike Honda (D-CA) introduced H.R.121, a bipartisan resolution, urging that the Government of Japan should formally acknowledge, apologize, and accept historical responsibility in a clear and unequivocal manner for its Imperial Armed Force’s coercion of  young women into sexual slavery, known to the worlds as “comfort women,” during its colonial and war time occupation of Asia and the Pacific Islands from 1930s through the duration of WWII. The original co-sponsors are rep Edward R. Royce (R-CA), Christopher Smith (R-NJ), Diane Watson (D-CA), Davis Wu (D-OR), Phil Hare (D-IL) and delegate Madaleine Bordallo  (GU).