This essay analyzes the political structure behind the comfort woman statue in San Francisco and the limits of municipal diplomacy.
It highlights the need for decisive information gathering and action by the Japanese government and diplomatic missions.

San Francisco has a population in which Chinese and Korean Americans account for more than 20 percent, giving them strong political influence.
2018-01-19
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Expressions of “regret” are meaningless.
—You say that once the next mayor, scheduled to take office in June, is decided, you will issue a notice. If the new mayor were to change course, might a reversal be possible?
Yoshimura.
Of course, who becomes the next mayor depends on the choice of the citizens of San Francisco, so I cannot speak definitively.
However, basically I have no expectation of a change in policy.
Behind the installation of the comfort woman statue and its inscription lies lobbying by Chinese-American groups.
Mayor Lee is also of Chinese descent (Chinese name: Edwin Lee), but in San Francisco it is primarily the city council that has taken the lead in promoting the installation of the statue.
In San Francisco, Chinese and Korean Americans account for more than 20 percent of the population and wield strong political influence; of the 11 members of the San Francisco City Council, four are of Chinese or Korean descent.
Furthermore, local governments such as Osaka City have no budget for diplomacy, so responding concretely to the installation of comfort woman statues now being erected around the world is fundamentally the work of the national government.
The government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and local consulates and embassies must gather information and take firm action and responses.
No matter how many times one says “we express our regret” or “we strongly protest,” it is meaningless unless the installation of such statues is actually prevented. Initial response is crucial.
In that sense, regrettably, I do not believe that the local consulate accurately gathered information regarding the actions of the city of San Francisco, nor was there appropriate information provided in response to requests from Osaka City.
Questions remain regarding information gathering and public relations activities to assert Japan’s position.
To be continued.