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Comfort women issue and compensation business -legislative attempt on compensation
Many legislative attempts have been made regarding the compensation of comfort women, but most of them have not been deliberated and have been abandoned.
This article introduces the content and list of legislative legislation on the comfort women issue.
Let’s confirm the Japanese government’s approach to the comfort women issue in modern times.
Legislative attempt on comfort women compensation
Japanese legislative bodies have made legislative attempts to set up a survey on the comfort women issue.
In 1996, it was submitted as a “Bill for the Investigation Committee on the Problem of Wartime Sexually Forced Victims”.
The bill was submitted 12 times, but only one was actually deliberated, and all others were abolished.
Contents of the bill
The content of the bill was to set up an investigation committee (wartime sexually forced victim problem investigation committee) to investigate the involvement of the Japanese Imperial Army in comfort women during World War II
The following items were the subjects of the survey.
- Background of the establishment of sexual facilities during the war
- When and where the facility will be installed
- Management status of facilities and involvement of the former Army and Navy
- Total number of victims
- Victim’s hometown
List of bills
One person other than Representative Shoji Motooka submitted the bill on June 13, 1996, and has submitted the bill 12 times since then.
Only 2002 was the subject of deliberation, and all others were abolished.
Below is a list of bills submitted to the House of Councilors.
| times | Submission date | Bill name | submitter |
| 136 | 1996.6.13 | Wartime Sexually Forced Victim Problem Investigation Committee Establishment Bill | Shoji Motooka 1 person outside the Diet |
| 147 | 2000.4.10 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | Shoji Motooka, 5 members outside the Diet |
| 149 | 2000.7.28 | A bill to promote the resolution of wartime sexual coercion issues | Haruko Yoshikawa, 2 members outside the Diet |
| 150 | 2000.10.30 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | Shoji Motooka, 5 members outside the Diet |
| 150 | 2000.10.30 | A bill to promote the resolution of wartime sexual coercion issues | Haruko Yoshikawa, two non-representatives |
| 151 | 2001.3.21 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | Shoji Motooka, 3 members outside the Diet |
| 153 | 2001.11.14 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | Yoriko Madoka 6 non-members |
| 156 | 2003.1.31 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | 12 members outside the Diet, Tomiko Okazaki |
| 159 | 2004.6.3 | Bill on the development of related laws accompanying the enforcement of the law on regulations such as dismissal | 7 people outside Representative Akira Koike |
| 161 | 2004.12.1 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | Submitted by 8 members other than Representative Tomiko Okazaki |
| 162 | 2005.2.28 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | 8 members outside the Diet, Tomiko Okazaki |
| 164 | 2006.3.29 | A bill to promote the resolution of the wartime sexually forced victim problem | 7 members outside the Diet, Tomiko Okazaki |
The Japanese government’s attitude toward the comfort women issue
The Government of Japan has been working on legal measures regarding the comfort women issue.
Establishment of Asian Women’s Fund
The Government of Japan regards the comfort women issue as an important diplomatic issue and has been sincerely working to resolve it.
In 1965, an agreement on economic cooperation was signed between Japan and South Korea, and this treaty is the basis of Japan-South Korea relations.
When the comfort women issue became an international debate in the 1990s, it set up the Asian Women’s Fund and provided “compensation” to solve the problem.
As the issue of comfort women has been a major diplomatic issue in Japan-ROK relations since the 1990s, Japan has sincerely dealt with it. The issue concerning property and claims between Japan and the ROK was settled completely and finally in 1965 through the Agreement on the Settlement of Problem Concerning Property and Claims and on the Economic Cooperation between Japan and the ROK.
However, from the perspective of facilitating feasible remedies for the former comfort women, the people and the Government of Japan cooperated to establish “Asian Women’s Fund” in 1995, through which they carried out medical and welfare projects and provided “atonement money” to each In addition, successive Prime Ministers have sent letters expressing their “apology and remorse” to former comfort women. The Government of Japan has made every effort as mentioned above.
Source: “Japan’s Efforts on the Issue of Comfort Women | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan”
Treaty between Japan and South Korea
Japan and South Korea tried to build a friendly relationship based on the treaty signed in 1965.
Japan has entered into an economic agreement with South Korea, providing a grant of US $ 300 million and a loan of US $ 200 million.
As a result, the billing issue between Japan and South Korea was completely resolved.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court of South Korea ordered the defendant, a Japanese company, to pay compensation.
As in this case, there are often discrepancies between the claims of Japan and South Korea.
Japan and the Republic of Korea have built a close, friendly and cooperative relationship based on the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea and other relevant agreements that the two countries concluded when they normalized their relationship in 1965.
The Agreement on the Settlement of Problem concerning Property and Claims and on Economic Co-operation between Japan and the Republic of Korea (the “Agreement”), which is the core of these agreements, stipulates that Japan shall supply to the Republic of Korea 300 million USD in grants and extend loans up to 200 million USD, and that problem concerning property, rights and interests of the two Contracting Parties and their nationals (including juridical persons), as well as concerning claims between the Contracting Parties and their nationals, are “Settled completely and finally,” and no contention shall be made thereof (Article II). As such, the Agreement has provided the basis for the bilateral relationship up until now.
In spite of the above, a series of judgments of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea last year ordered respondent Japanese companies, inter alia, to pay compensation to the plaintiffs. II of the Agreement and inflict unjustifiable damage and costs on the said Japanese companies. Above all, the decisions completely overthrow the legal foundation of the friendly and cooperative relationship that Japan and the Republic of Korea have developed since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965.
Source: “Failure of the Republic of Korea to comply with obligations regarding arbitration under the Agreement on the Settlement of Problem concerning Property and Claims and on Economic Co-operation between Japan and the Republic of Korea (Statement by Foreign Minister Taro Kono) ｜ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan ”
Comfort women issue in the international community
The Government of Japan has been working on liability for World War II under the San Francisco Treaty signed with 45 countries including the United States.
Liability for compensation also includes liability for the comfort women issue, which is legally settled by documents and agreements.
The Government of Japan has sincerely dealt with issues of reparations, property, and claims pertaining to the Second World War, including the comfort women issue, under the San Francisco Peace Treaty which the Government of Japan concluded with 45 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, and through other bilateral treaties, agreements, and instruments. These issues including those of claims of individuals have already been legally settled with the parties to these treaties, agreements, and instruments.
Source: “Japan’s Efforts on the Issue of Comfort Women | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan”
Discussion on legislation and international compensation over the comfort women issue
He introduced legislative attempts on the comfort women issue and discussions on international compensation.
The Japanese legislative body tried to set up an investigation committee over the investigation of the comfort women issue, but many of the bills were abolished.
Japan has taken seriously the international issues concerning comfort women and has been liable for compensation under international law.
However, the comfort women issue in Japan and South Korea has not yet been resolved, and discussions continue.
