Philip J Cunningham is a freelance writer and political commentator. Boy is he one who does not mince his words!
Taken from
Bangkok Post:
Abe's discomfort with comfort womenThe political men of today's Japan are understandably upset by the foreign media 'propaganda' about the so-called 'coercion of comfort women' during World War TwoBy PHILIP J CUNNINGHAM
[ The main problem with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's incendiary comments on ''comfort women'' _ suggesting that Chinese and Korean girls were not coerced into servicing Japanese soldiers _ is that his remarks were taken out of context. What he had to say would have sounded better in a bar, or better yet a hostess club frequented by right-leaning politicos, cigarette in one hand, whiskey in the other. In such a controlled environment, he wouldn't have been so quickly misunderstood.
Whenever Tokyo's right-wing war-whitewashers characterise the downtrodden sex slaves as yen-hungry prostitutes who voluntarily, indeed eagerly, trailed after the noble and heroic young Japanese nationalists who were busy invading and occupying Korea, China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Siam, Malaya, Singapore, Indonesia and Burma, not to mention fighting enemy America for control of every other island in the Pacific _ a technically impressive effort for the somewhat less than impressive goal of making East Asia safe for Japanese prosperity _ they get a predictable rise out of the non-Japanese media, though much less is made of it in Japan.
Japan's post-war baby-boomers, especially well-heeled Japanese pols of Mr Abe's generation, know a thing or two about women and comfort because they are of an age where it is not uncommon to spend much of what little free time one has being pampered by them in hostess clubs.
And it is this luxurious lifestyle that makes for alchohol-fuelled insights into human nature, insights which help one to reconstruct contested historical issues, if only as an extension of one's own narrow but comfortable life and lifestyle.
What man doesn't want to unwind after work in a dimly-lit room lined with soft sofas, attended to by sexy young things supervised by an eagle-eyed mamasan who knows just what her customers want?
What better atmosphere to freely talk the down and dirty of business and politics than a Japanese-only club? What better place to lament about how foreigners are ruining the purity of Japan than a dark bar where young Korean, Chinese, Thai and Filipino females attend to creature comforts, pour drinks and giggle in the darkness?
While shapely young things in uncomfortably tight dresses hand out hot moist towels, attentively light cigarettes, obediently wipe ashtrays and kneel and crouch in appropriate awe, the grandchildren of Japan's greatest generation, dream up schemes to restore broken Yamato pride.
After a brief round of melancholy, nostalgic karaoke ballads, what better time to discuss the lack of patriotism and shocking disregard today's youth has for the sacrifices of the old generation?
Make today's youth stand up for the flag, one might say, raising a shot glass high above the low table. Give them textbooks we can be proud of, another might add, clinking glass to signal bottom's up.
Through a veil of smoke and inhibition-releasing shots of mizu-wari, the men collectively bemoan the rise of China while cuddling next to qi-pao clad hostesses.
Irrasshaimase!!! the girls shout in imperfect unison, greeting a late arrival. In walks another regular, necktie loosened, newspaper in hand, breaking the spell.
Look at this. More foreign media propaganda about the so-called ''coercion'' of comfort women, he complains. Our patriotic prime minister chooses his words carefully, trying to please the foreigners, and he still gets no respect.
Coercion of women? What is that supposed to mean? Is this not yet another dagger impugning the dignity of Japan's Imperial Army?
What are they saying, that the hardy boys fighting under the blinding red sun of the Hinomaru flag had to push girls around to pillow them?
The conversation deepens. What kind of self-respecting sex workers would have the nerve to ask for money and an apology after all these years? Were the brothel workers not poor, semi-illiterate girls who were gently lifted from their impoverished homes and homelands, bestowed with the flattering assignment to ''follow'' the troops?
Coercion my foot!
It was a business opportunity, wasn't it? Nothing more, nothing less. How unchivalrous to blame the ardent young soldiers, poor boys no more in control of their fate than petals blown off a sakura tree in a spring storm. Who can blame them for cherishing a quick female embrace before plying the sea and sky?
So-desu ne. The Japanese Imperial Army had no hesitation about roping men into doing a man's work, why all the noise, so many years later, about getting some idle, ignorant girls to do their part for the glory of greater Japan?
Japan has been at peace for 60 years, during which time the Communists have gotten away with killing millions and the Americans invade where they will. What's the world coming to?
This is our land, is it not? Japan, the pristine land that has belonged to the Yamato man since time immemorial, right? Just like the education minister says? Kampai!
How the world misunderstands the gentlemen of Japan!
The men pay their bills and disperse, helped into taxis by attentive hostesses who see them off longingly as they return to the home front.
What a beautiful world it would be if it wasn't for the... for the... well, whatever. Life is good. But where are the sakura petals of yesteryear?
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Utopia
