This essay argues that the resurgence of the “comfort women” issue in the United States reflects China’s strategic anti-Japan policy and a globalized propaganda structure.
Citing Shoichi Watanabe’s analysis and referencing U.S. congressional actions, the text examines how historical narratives about Japan have been shaped and circulated internationally.

January 24, 2019

As will become clear, this U.S.-originated “comfort women” issue is in fact a problem created by China’s anti-Japan policy.

The currently available Monthly Hanada Collection, Korea: Two Lies — Conscription and Comfort Women (926 yen), is a book that every Japanese citizen and every pseudo-moralist across the world who dances to ignorant propaganda must read above all else.
For if one does not read this special issue, one will not only be complicit in the falsehoods that have persisted in the postwar world, but will continue to participate in the evils of “bottomless malice” and “plausible lies” emanating from China and the Korean Peninsula.
Some may continue to participate in such evils thinking they will never be punished in this world… for example, Alexis Dudden in the United States, the Süddeutsche Zeitung in Germany, the disgraceful self-styled Italian journalist who dominates the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, and certain ignorant, foolish, racially prejudiced idiots living in Paris who are manipulated by the propaganda of “bottomless malice” and “plausible lies”…
But remember this: there is no gate of heaven awaiting you… only the King of Hell preparing the harshest torment.

The following is taken from a paper by the late Shoichi Watanabe—one of Japan’s great scholars and benefactors—reprinted on pages 122–131 of the special 2007 issue of WiLL.

Prosecute Anti-Japan Japanese Under the Crime of Insulting the State

On June 26, 2007, a resolution concerning the “comfort women” issue was passed by the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The “comfort women” issue is an extremely unpleasant matter for Japan.
It became an issue because Congressman Mike Honda submitted a resolution in the U.S. House in 2007, but in Japan the facts had already been clarified and the matter had been settled.
Then it returned after being forgotten.
In Japan, through the efforts of Tsutomu Nishioka, Yoshiaki Itakura, Chitose Uesugi and others, it was thoroughly refuted that there had been “coercion by authorities,” and the term “comfort women” disappeared from textbooks.
The Asahi Shimbun, which had ignited the issue in Japan, had come to be recognized as a disgraceful fabricating media organization.
However, this time the problem arose from the United States.
We are deeply concerned about this “U.S.-originated” development.
The “Nanjing Massacre” issue, too, had largely been settled in Japan as “nonexistent,” to the extent that even the Asahi Shimbun no longer reported on it.
Yet with the so-called 70th anniversary of the fall of Nanjing, more than ten anti-Japan films about “Nanjing” were to be produced in the United States.
All of these are the anti-Japan policies of China and Korea, which have long assaulted Japan, circling the globe and returning via the United States.
According to reporting by Yoshihisa Komori and others, Congressman Mike Honda received donations from anti-Japan groups of Chinese origin.
As is clear, this U.S.-originated “comfort women” issue is a problem stemming from China’s anti-Japan policy.
Since South Korea is also involved, it eagerly rides along.
Furthermore, Japanese leftists and the Asahi Shimbun happily join in as well.
Although it has been proven domestically that the “comfort women” issue is fabricated, the core problem is that this has not been conveyed abroad.
In such circumstances, Prime Minister Abe visited the United States.
Before his visit, we discussed this issue with him out of concern.
At that time, Prime Minister Abe said that the issue would not arise in talks with President Bush and that if asked at a press conference he would brush it aside lightly.
The reason, he explained, was that in contemporary America prostitution is regarded as evil and a human-rights issue.

The Accusers Do Not Know the Era

When I heard this, I felt an ominous impression that rather than Abe’s own will, he was being carried along by the Foreign Ministry’s long pattern of apologizing without reason.
Unfortunately this premonition proved correct, as the resolution passed the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and moved toward passage in the full House.
Under such circumstances, I believe that the Japanese people must now review the “comfort women” issue once more.
(To be continued.)