SEOUL — Many South Koreans gathered in Seoul on Jan. 30 to mourn the death of Kim Bok Dong, a human rights activist and a symbolic figure among those who were forced to work as “comfort women” in Japan’s wartime military brothels. Kim, who died Jan. 28 aged 92, had traveled to various places in […]
San Francisco ‘Comfort Women’ Memorial unveiled
September 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The “Comfort Women” Justice Coalition unveiled a monument Sept. 22 at the Saint Mary’s Square Annex in San Francisco’s Chinatown, capping off a two-year effort to install a memorial dedicated to Japan’s wartime sex slaves. Organizers estimated that more than 500 people attended the unveiling, including former Rep. Mike Honda, Consul General of the People’s […]
U.S. top court dismisses appeal over ‘comfort women’ statue in Calif
March 30, 2017 by 2 Comments
LOS ANGELES (Kyodo) — The U.S. Supreme Court on March 27 rejected an appeal filed by Japanese Americans seeking removal of a statue in California symbolizing women who were forced to work in wartime Japanese brothels. The decision came despite the Japanese government’s opinion presented to the U.S. Supreme Court in February asking it to […]
Wartime sex-slave memorial’s inscription finalized
January 19, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The San Francisco Arts Commission’s Visual Arts Committee at its Jan. 18 meeting unanimously approved — with amendments — the proposed inscription for the “comfort women” memorial statue, which will be erected on Saint Mary’s Square. The inscription will be printed on a plate that will be installed on the statue. Created by Steven Whyte, […]
Mike Honda is our Nikkei of the Year
January 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Mike Honda has had a long and storied career in public service, which started with the Peace Corps in El Salvador to his steady rise up from a teacher, principal, member of the San Jose Planning Commission, San Jose Unified School Board and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He was elected to the […]
Reflections on Day of Remembrance: Supporting the SF ‘comfort women’ memorial & delving into our own history of sexual violence against women in times of war
February 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Last year, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution to create a “comfort women” memorial. The resolution garnered broad support from both within the Japanese American community as well as veterans, women’s and labor rights groups, students, educators, and scholars. However, there was also opposition from some members of the Japanese and […]
Japan, S. Korea strike landmark deal on ‘comfort women’
January 7, 2016 by Leave a Comment
SEOUL — Japan and South Korea on Dec. 28 struck a landmark deal to “finally and irreversibly” resolve the protracted dispute over Korean women who were procured for Japan’s wartime military brothels. As part of the deal, Japan will contribute 1 billion yen ($8.4 million) from its state budget in a foundation South Korea will […]
Memorial would ‘justify’ anti-Japanese sentiments
October 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
I agree with Janice Mirik(i)tani that a memorial concerning the “comfort women” would only result and justify anti-Japanese discrimination and hatred. If a “comfort women” memorial must be placed in San Francisco, I can only agree to the memorial if several other memorials were placed adjacent to the “comfort women” memorial: 1. Memorial stating there is no justification […]
S.F. Board of Supes unanimously passes ‘comfort women’ memorial resolution
October 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Following hours of testimony at San Francisco’s City Hall, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pass a resolution urging the creation of a memorial in San Francisco for the so-called “comfort women” of World War II Sept. 22. The resolution pertains to the women the Japanese Imperial Army enslaved for sex during […]
Contributing to Japan’s ‘moral salvation’
THE QUESTION BEGS ITSELF: How does a fourth-generation Japanese American justify on the one hand writing very critical things about the current Japanese government and about Japan’s WWII Fascist Imperial past, and yet extend his hand in friendship to Japanese male counterparts in Japan and say, “I love you” to Japanese women from Japan? It […]