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No evidence Japan sex slaves coverage harmed country’s image, say experts No evidence Japan sex slaves coverage harmed country’s image, say experts
(35 minutes later)
There is no clear evidence that a Japanese newspaper’s erroneous coverage fuelled international criticism of the country’s wartime use of sex slaves, according to a report.There is no clear evidence that a Japanese newspaper’s erroneous coverage fuelled international criticism of the country’s wartime use of sex slaves, according to a report.
The finding, by an independent panel formed to investigate articles in the Asahi Shimbun containing discredited testimony by a former Japanese official, contradicts claims by the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, that global media coverage of the “comfort women” – which he said was based on the paper’s reporting – had tarnished the country’s image. The finding was made by an independent panel formed to investigate articles in the Asahi Shimbun containing discredited testimony by a former Japanese official. Its conclusion contradicts claims by the prime minister, Shinzo Abe, that global media coverage of the “comfort women” – which he said was based on the paper’s reporting – had tarnished the country’s image.
The panel of seven academics and a journalist, none of whom is connected to the newspaper, did say, however, that the Asahi had betrayed its readers’ trust by publishing unchallenged testimony by Seiji Yoshida, a wartime labour official who claimed he had helped “hunt” for women on the South Korean island of Jeju in 1943 to work in Japanese frontline brothels. However, the panel of seven academics and a journalist, none of whom is connected to the newspaper, did say that the Asahi had betrayed its readers’ trust by publishing unchallenged testimony by Seiji Yoshida, a wartime labour official who claimed he had helped “hunt” for women on the South Korean island of Jeju in 1943 to work in Japanese frontline brothels.
Mainstream historians, citing historical documents and witness accounts, believe that up to 200,000 women, mostly from the Japanese-occupied Korean peninsula, were rounded up and forced to have sex with soldiers until the end of the war.Mainstream historians, citing historical documents and witness accounts, believe that up to 200,000 women, mostly from the Japanese-occupied Korean peninsula, were rounded up and forced to have sex with soldiers until the end of the war.
Japanese revisionists, including Abe, have stoked tensions with China, South Korea and the US by insisting that the women were not coerced. Abe, however, has stopped short of revising an official apology to the surviving victims issued in 1993 by the then chief cabinet secretary, Yohei Kono.Japanese revisionists, including Abe, have stoked tensions with China, South Korea and the US by insisting that the women were not coerced. Abe, however, has stopped short of revising an official apology to the surviving victims issued in 1993 by the then chief cabinet secretary, Yohei Kono.
The Kono statement acknowledges that many comfort women were recruited against their will, and that the military was often involved, either indirectly or directly, in the setting up of frontline brothels.The Kono statement acknowledges that many comfort women were recruited against their will, and that the military was often involved, either indirectly or directly, in the setting up of frontline brothels.
The furore over the articles, published in the 1980s and 90s, forced the resignations of several Asahi executives, including its then executive editor and president.The furore over the articles, published in the 1980s and 90s, forced the resignations of several Asahi executives, including its then executive editor and president.
The paper retracted the articles and issued a belated apology in the summer, prompting a flurry of criticism from the Yomiuri Shimbun, which is traditionally close to Abe’s Liberal Democratic party, and the rightwing Sankei Shimbun.The paper retracted the articles and issued a belated apology in the summer, prompting a flurry of criticism from the Yomiuri Shimbun, which is traditionally close to Abe’s Liberal Democratic party, and the rightwing Sankei Shimbun.
The Yomiuri, a conservative broadsheet with a daily circulation of more than 10m, recently apologised for using the term sex slave in its English-language edition and said it would use the less controversial term comfort women instead.The Yomiuri, a conservative broadsheet with a daily circulation of more than 10m, recently apologised for using the term sex slave in its English-language edition and said it would use the less controversial term comfort women instead.
The panel said the Asahi, which sells 7.6m copies a day, had failed to verify Yoshida’s wartime accounts, even after doubts were cast over his testimony.The panel said the Asahi, which sells 7.6m copies a day, had failed to verify Yoshida’s wartime accounts, even after doubts were cast over his testimony.
The paper’s president, Masataka Watanabe, apologised for the articles. “Let me offer my deepest apologies for causing everyone trouble and anxiety regarding our comfort women coverage,” Watanabe said as he received the report from a panel member. “I promise that we will carry out reforms to rebuild the Asahi Shimbun from the ground up.”The paper’s president, Masataka Watanabe, apologised for the articles. “Let me offer my deepest apologies for causing everyone trouble and anxiety regarding our comfort women coverage,” Watanabe said as he received the report from a panel member. “I promise that we will carry out reforms to rebuild the Asahi Shimbun from the ground up.”
Rightwing extremists seized on widespread anti-Asahi sentiment, calling for the newspaper’s closure and issuing threats against its staff.Rightwing extremists seized on widespread anti-Asahi sentiment, calling for the newspaper’s closure and issuing threats against its staff.
The panel said those actions amounted to a threat to democracy. “We have come to understand anew that Asahi employees and its sales outlets are in a very difficult position as the subjects of malicious threats and harassments,” the report said. “We would like to point out the risk that these contemptible behaviours could wreck Japan’s democracy.”The panel said those actions amounted to a threat to democracy. “We have come to understand anew that Asahi employees and its sales outlets are in a very difficult position as the subjects of malicious threats and harassments,” the report said. “We would like to point out the risk that these contemptible behaviours could wreck Japan’s democracy.”
The panellists were divided over Yoshida’s role in exacerbating criticism of Japan in South Korea. Some said his false testimony had “endorsed the extreme views held in South Korea about the comfort women and led to even more extreme positions”. Others said the fabricated testimony had had “no impact” on the country.The panellists were divided over Yoshida’s role in exacerbating criticism of Japan in South Korea. Some said his false testimony had “endorsed the extreme views held in South Korea about the comfort women and led to even more extreme positions”. Others said the fabricated testimony had had “no impact” on the country.