Pioneer of Comfort Women Research, Japanese Professor: "Sexual Slavery Is Evident... Japanese Government Still Refuses to Acknowledge"

Yoshiaki Yoshimi, Professor Emeritus at Chuo University in Japan

Yoshiaki Yoshimi, Professor Emeritus at Chuo University, Japan Yonhap News Agency

Yoshiaki Yoshimi, Professor Emeritus at Chuo University in Japan and a pioneer in research on the Japanese military's "comfort women," criticized the Japanese government's refusal to acknowledge the coercive nature of the comfort women system.

On December 18, Professor Yoshimi delivered the keynote speech at the symposium titled "35 Years of Research Achievements and the Future of Counter-Memory for Resolving the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue," held at the Seoul Global Center International Conference Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The event was organized by the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance and the Japanese civic group "Fight for Justice."

Professor Yoshimi stated, "The women who became military comfort women were in a state where their freedom and autonomy were severely violated," and pointed out, "It is globally evident that the comfort women system was a form of sexual slavery, but the Japanese government still refuses to acknowledge this."

He emphasized, "We must pay attention to the various forms of resistance by the victims," highlighting that "cases where victims refused to become sexual partners or attempted extreme actions, including suicide, demonstrate the agency of the comfort women victims."

Na-Young Lee, Chairperson of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance, analyzed the "transnational denial of history" regarding comfort women-especially in relation to the 'Statue of Peace'-as a form of erasure of memory.

Chairperson Lee stressed, "Far-right groups are attempting to erase memory by labeling the Statue of Peace and the Wednesday demonstrations as diplomatic friction or hate monuments," adding, "How we overcome injustice and realize justice is a challenge for all of us."

The symposium was held to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance and the publication of Professor Yoshimi's book, "Japanese Military Comfort Women." Professor Yoshimi also serves as co-representative of Fight for Justice.