Japanese Officials Request Removal Of New Jersey’s Comfort Women Memorial

By Tina | Friday, October 19, 2012 | 17 Comments

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When I first read the report by the New York Times’ Kirk Semple over Japanese officials’ request to remove a comfort women memorial back in May, I was livid. So livid in fact that I tried to write and rewrite about this but ended up feeling all I could do was rant about how angry I was and not be able to put together a coherent article. So let me just tell you what happened.

Basically, Japanese officials showed up at Palisades Park, New Jersey to request the removal of a small monument that has been set up in memory of women and girls who were kept as sexual slaves by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Requests for removal included ironically offering books for the local library while admitting Japanese use of “comfort women” and then subsequent denial of there ever being comfort women at all.

WHAT?!? I’d like to grab those officials by the hair and drag them over to stare THESE WOMEN in the eyes and repeat what they said to mayor James Rotundo of Palisades Park. Just revisiting this topic is making me so angry that I’m about to turn green and start smashing things. In the end, I know there’s controversy over how widespread the comfort women tragedy was during World War II and beyond, but to deny that it happened at all adds a new meaning to the saying “insult to injury.” Plus, coming into our country and trying to tell us who we should and shouldn’t memorialize? This is UNACCEPTABLE on so many levels.

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ma

maybe japan needs the same kind of memorials of raping by the US army LOL

but how come koreans can unabashedly blame japan because they also raped and killed so many women during the Vietnam War?
LTE2

Back in the early 60′s Japan signed an agreement with South Korea that included economic development as part of the compensation for Japan’s past actions. From the Japanese viewpoint this ended the WW2 issues including the comfort women. They appear to have no intention of reopening the issue.
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Like the Atomic bombings, they have a mindset that they were the victims. The Japanese won’t accept any connection to their actions.
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They accepted defeat in 1945 yet never accepted it, sort of creating this odd maze of mental walls around their history from 1905-1945.
Takuma

War is bad no matter what but people should move on from events that were 70 years ago. In the Phillipines people don’t seem to care anymore about the horrific things as it is old news. Besides, Japan signed several agreements for economic help as compensation to both SK and China. After many years of such help they feel like it is enough apology. Even if nothing can make up for war atrocities they did try in a way that can be seen in both economies.
This bitter rivalry that persists throughout east asia and people from the area needs to stop for mutual economic prosperity and tolerance. Putting the past behind you is part of that.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Ahmed-Sanchez-De-La-Cruz-Kim/58700922 Ahmed Sanchez De La Cruz Kim

Although it’s been many decades, some of these people who lived through those tough times in the past are still alive. We’re only like a couple generations away from a conflict that was that widespread. With media and education constantly reminding us (including the generations that came after the conflicts) of what happened, it’s hard to blame people who carry such strong emotional sentiments. Not just WW2, but all the other wars and man-made major disasters that came afterwards still affects many Asians.

Yes, it’s true that a father’s or grandfather’s crimes should not burden the younger generations, but more or less, we are all a product of history. There’s no realistic way in which the past doesn’t affect the present somehow, and take this in mind, what we do now (how we handle these things) will also affect our descendants.

With time, East Asia will move forward eventually. In the meantime, I guess Asians should keep working hard at developing relations and for the younger people to do their best and maximize their full potential in whatever they want to do in life. The most important thing in international/cultural/ethnic relations is that people don’t stop trying. The best revenge for past transgressions and the best antidote to cure historical poisons is for the younger generations to be happy, safe, strong, comfortable in their own skin and find success in whatever they do.
KAMIKAZIPILOT

I’m all for justice for all but what seems unjust is that the certains crimes/atrocities are given priority over others, in other words there are double standards. Another way of putting it is that the winners write the history books.

For example, did you know that the US NEVER apologized for the trans atlantic slave trade until Obama did in 2009 and that they refuse to pay any reparations for this despicable practice. At least various Japan officials have apologized in an official capacity although that never seems to be enough. Also the Western colonial powers haven’t apologized or given reparations (as far as I know) to their former colonies. What about the US stealing land from Mexico in the Mexican-American War? Has the British apologized for forcing opium on the Chinese? I could go on and on. My point is that those in power are able to determine who has to apologize for what while ignoring their own crimes.

Now I am Japanese American but I try to be objective as possible. I do believe the photographer is doing a good service by trying to show the photos. But if you hold all the people in the world to the same standard when it comes to evil perpetrated on other humans, you will find that many atrocities get far more publicity than others based on whoever controls the media. That’s my main concern here. How many times has this topic been beaten to death while other equally or even more brutal events go unpublished. Just something to think about for everyone.
LTE2

“For example, did you know that the US NEVER apologized for the trans atlantic slave trade until Obama did in 2009 and that they refuse to pay any reparations for this despicable practice.”

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These types are arguments always hinge on “the other guy did it too”.
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If that is the case, all the other guys practiced slavery (since the beginning of time) so why should the US apologize? Keep in mind the first known slavers were black and slavery was an old practice (ask the ancient Jews).
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By the way, the United States corrected the practice of slavery by having a bloody, messy civil war which slavery played a part. The men who died (in many cases painful deaths) and those who survived with horrible wounds made an apology far above the poor power of someone like Barack Obama to add or detract. For many Americans who were alive then and those who appreciate the history of the time, that WAS the apology.
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The problem with history is, many people remember the lesson and carry on the grudge. You should remember the lesson but lose the grudge.
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If it makes you feel any better, my father spent his military years fighting the Japanese. Like many WW2 vets, he never said much about his experiences and though he did see many horrors I never heard him speak against the Japanese.
http://www.facebook.com/ken.conrad.5 Ken Conrad

LTE2–
You are not black so please don’t try to speak for those who are. If you are going to take it upon yourself to decide that the Trans-Atlantic slave trade has been atoned for then shut up when some Japanese or other non-Korean decides the “comfort women” issue is a non-issue.
The Civil War no more “makes apology” for the greatest crime in human history than WW2 “makes apology” for the enslavement of Korean women. It’s a deflection and a poor one at that.
Get it through. Only an apology is an apology. Unless someone says “I’m sorry,” and makes restitution to the satisfaction of the agrieved then no apology has been given. You may be satisfied to slough off slavery by saying the Civil War was apology enough, but all you’ve done is show that you’ve memorized the pathetic denials of white southerners. You ought to ask black people if they’ve received an apology for slavery. Because only their opinion counts. Not yours.

A war is simply a struggle to end a practice. It does nothing to admit to or make up for the crime itself. Unbelievable that you actually need someone to tell you that.

And as for the “first known slavers were black,” please give us a source. Your deflections and obfuscations are as damaging and despicable as any denials you accuse the Japanese of.
Takuma

I will have to agree with pilot on his well thought out answer in spite of his name. What was done in WW2 was definitely atrotious but the winners write the history books and give dispropportionate weight to the crimes of their enemies when theirs throughout history were no different. Using nuclear weapons wice in quick succession on two cities to not only level them but leave the area filled with radiation the civillian survivors in terrible agony for having their skin melted and fused to their clothes. We can all make a case for what is bad on all sides of a conflict.

In this day and age we should be striving for coexistance. And putting away the past.

And to those who would downvote for my handle name. No, I am not of Japanese descent. Just a person who wants to believe that others would not hold a grudge after 70 years.
LTE2

“then shut up when some Japanese or other non-Korean decides the “comfort women” issue is a non-issue.”
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If you had read what I posted, I didn’t pass judgement on the Comfort Women issue, I merely offered observations on the post war issues concerning Japan and it’s neighbor South Korea. if I have any real concern about Japan and it’s post war attitudes, it just the odd thinking that the Atomic Bomb was dropped on them for no reason at all. This is one wall in their mental maze of denials and acceptances of the past. Overall, I have a positive image of Japan and it’s people and their ability to build a modern nation and then rebuild that nation in a 100 year span is remarkable and impressive.
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“You may be satisfied to slough off slavery by saying the Civil War was apology enough”

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Very satisfied with it. I don’t think an apology to blacks would matter anyway as their identity is wrapped around it and constantly promoted by their leadership. Black failure in social and economic development would expose their liberal leadership as the failures they are if the slavery issue disappeared.
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“all you’ve done is show that you’ve memorized the pathetic denials of white southerners”

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Many southerners did not want their conflict with the north to be confused with a fight for slavery. Their issue with the north was local governmental control, not saving slavery.
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“And as for the “first known slavers were black,” please give us a source.”

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If you have to ask…
KAMIKAZIPILOT

LTE2 I see your point. I guess the American case stands out so much because of the great impact it had on America’s growth as a nation and the sheer numbers and the fact that a nation that prides itself on being a beacon of freedom and equal rights for all could perpetuate such crimes against humanity.
BTW, as far as I’ve heard the primary reason for the North to fight the South was to prevent secession of the southern states. I doubt the average soldier in the North believed he was fighting against slavery even though that was the end result. I also doubt many blacks consider the Civil War an satisfactory apology.
Agree that we should all remember the lesson but lose the grudge. I admit that’s kind of ironic coming from me, as I consider myself someone who does hold grudges. Therefore, I completely understand and maybe even justify the feelings of other asians who suffered under Japan’s aggression. If I were them I’d probably feel the same way.
Just because your father doesn’t talk about his experience doesn’t mean he doesn’t hold grudges. Maybe he hurts so much he can’t bear talking about it, or maybe not, everyone is different.
All I ask if that everyone try to judge others on a consistent basis using the same standards. Don’t just rely on mainstream media, which we know is Western biased. If you don’t then you lose all credibility in my book.
LTE2

It appears you did a rewrite of your original post.
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“Your insulting and irresponsible comments in fact reinforce the Japanese position”

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I offered my thoughts on the events of WW2. My father did fight the Japanese and was part of the occupation forces in Japan. Keep in mind he ducked Japanese bullets and cannon fire, saw the wreckage they left behind. None the less, he left Japan with a positive view of the people. He EARNED the right to be very critical of them, yet he was not.
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My opinions were not formed by my father’s experiences. I talked with other vets, listened to interviews from both sides of the battle. On reflection I felt it was of no useful purpose to carry a grudge against the post war generations of Japan (and Germany). They should not have to bear the sins of their parents and grandparents. War and battle has always been part of the human condition.and new wars are started over the nursing of old grudges.
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I do some business with the Japanese (and Germans) and have found them good people.
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“paltry half-million who died in the US Civil War.”

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It wasn’t paltry if you had half your body blown off and you had to spend the rest of your days in an opium induced stupor to relieve the pain.
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“Unbelievable that you actually need someone to tell you that.”

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Do not underestimate my knowledge of history.
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“And you really need to refrain from telling us whether you think an apology has been given in any shape form or fashion.”

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I can offer my opinion. I can also say no slave or slave owner is alive today and they are the only 2 groups that could make amends, not some immigrant that came over in 1955.
LuoFS

Whether or not someone believes that Japan has made sufficient apology and reparations for the Comfort Women issue, the fact is we’re simply talking about a memorial. I see people mentioning slavery, the civil war, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, etc. The fact is, every one of those events have many memorials to help us remember that if left unchecked, the human race is capable of great evil. By interfering, the current Japanese government connects themselves to this issue where otherwise I would hold my ire for the Imperial Japanese govenment of the past. It is almost as if they are TAKING BACK the apology.
LTE2

“the American case stands out so much because of the great impact it had on America’s growth as a nation and the sheer numbers and the fact that a nation that prides itself on being a beacon of freedom and equal rights for all could perpetuate such crimes against humanity.”
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One must keep in mind while the Founding Fathers had noble ideas, it doesn’t mean they drop into place automatically. Many of these men were fairly well placed in society, but life for the vast majority of Americans was a dog eat dog existence (or close to it). Great ideals are nice but not easy to practice, more so for the lower orders of society. Your crimes against humanity was someone else’s trying to keep their head above water.
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Just because your father doesn’t talk about his experience doesn’t mean he doesn’t hold grudges.

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I think he wanted to put the whole experience behind him. Getting any information from him was a major effort with little reward. When I asked him about his occupation experience, he responded with, the people were very nice to me and they treated me well. What was remarkable about it is he said it in a tone like it just happened the day before. After decades, he was still struck by the contrast with he had seen on the battlefield with his time on the Japanese mainland.
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“I completely understand and maybe even justify the feelings of other asians who suffered under Japan’s aggression”

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In the movie Farewell My Concubine, a scene takes place were Japanese soldiers get into a brawl and at one point, a soldier with all his might elbows Gong Li’s pregnant character in the stomach, causing her to lose her baby. I thought what a cruel act at the time of seeing it, I didn’t realize the implication.
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Several months ago I watched a tv show of great irony, Chinese women who saved Japanese babies that the parents left behind as they retreated from Manchuria. These babies were left along the side the road and the women who found them didn’t have the heart to let these babies die despite their hatred for the Japanese. One woman spoke of how during the occupation she went to the market to sell her wares. She was in late pregnancy and as she was headed to her stall a Japanese soldier came up to her and kicked her in the stomach, causing the loss of her baby. The women spoke of similar acts of cruelty against children, their husbands and others. Why did the soldiers do it? Because the could.
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I doubt people who suffered such programmatic cruelty will ever forgive and in the end, it’s an issue that has to be settled between the Japanese, Chinese and Koreans.
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There are men alive today who were part of the Imperial government. While in advanced age, maybe the current Prime Minister of Japan could contact these men, ask them to compose a letter of regret. If any group could reduce the anger, these surviving members of the Imperial government could.
http://www.blasianbytch.com BlasianBytch

I used to live there and had no idea such a monument existed. Though enraged that they would dare ask for its removal.
KAMIKAZIPILOT

The founding fathers are no heros to me or to millions who were oppressed under their leadership. You have to remember only white males were considered full humans back then. That was official policy. While that may be considered noble by some, it was downright evil to others. There’s no excuse for slavery, nothing you say can even remotely justify it. It really was an evil almost beyond imagination.

I’ve heard stories similar to your father’s before, I also know there were a lot of crimes (murder, rape, forced prostitution, assaults) committed by US occupation forces that isn’t well know among the general public. Another case of the winners write the history books. Everyone handles war differently. Some act out in anger, others learn to forgive or at least accept what happened.

I’ve heard of those stories of Chinese women saving japanese babies after the war. That’s truly admirable, I probably wouldn’t have it in my heart to do that.

Even if some soldiers apologize, which I think some have, it wouldn’t totally stop the anger amoung chinese. Part of the problem is the Chinese governments constantly reminding their populace of what the Japanese did. I have a feeling no amount of apologies and restitution will be enough. Just like you have blacks still angry over slavery, in 300 years you’ll still have Chinese angry over WWII. BUt yes, that would actually be a good idea, as well as those Japanese politicians not visiting Yasukuni Shrine.

Again my whole point is that there are no double standards, that’s what really bothers me. I hate when one side gets vilified (justifiably) but the other side, who has committed equally horrific acts, gets a free pass.
KAMIKAZIPILOT

Yes you are right, a memorial is appropriate. By requesting a removal of the memorial, it almost sound like trying to justifiy the atrocities. There’s just overwhelming evidence that there were comfort women, no use denying it.
LTE2

“While that may be considered noble by some, it was downright evil to others.”
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Millions came to the United States. The Founding Fathers win by the best vote of all… people using their feet. I do not join the Founding Fathers pile on, they tried to do unusual things and tried to keep opposing forces together to start America. At the time they realized the problems but accepted it was the best they could do. I had spent sometime in the political world, I know how difficult it is to get things done when everyone thinks they have the best way to deal with a problem. No shortage of prima donnas in politics, not in 1789 or in 2012.
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“I also know there were a lot of crimes (murder, rape, forced prostitution, assaults) committed by US occupation forces”

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I am sure there was. For a variety of reasons. The troops didn’t get the memo, spend your free time reading fine literature. Pull men from their lives back home, dump them in a land and people they know nothing about, fighting in miserable weather against a tough enemy, some soldiers develop an attitude problem. Social graces tend to go by the wayside. Overall, the US military behaved well, the occupation of Japan by the US military went far better than the occupation of China by Japan.
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Any mayhem by US soldiers was not sanctioned by the US government. The actions of the Japanese soldiers was sanctioned by the government’s policy. Amusing because the Japanese sold their war policy as one to benefit all of Asia, the Co Prosperity Sphere. I wonder how many Chinese thought, it wasn’t half this bad under the British.

8 Asians