By Jun Ji-hye
Takashi Shinozuka, the Japanese consul general in Atlanta, has denied media reports that he described victims of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery as “paid prostitutes” during a recent interview with a local newspaper.
However, the Reporter Newspapers disclosed the text of its interview with the Japanese diplomat, saying he did make such a remark.
John Ernst, mayor of Brookhaven, a suburb of Atlanta, also reportedly said that Shinozuka’s comments in the media reports were “consistent” with what he was told by the diplomat in private meetings.
The reports triggered strong criticism from the international community as well as from the Korean government.
During the interview with Reporter Newspapers, published June 23, Shinozuka said, “They were not sex slaves, and they were not taken by force,” referring to those who were forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers before and during World War II.
He said rather that the women were paid prostitutes, urging the Brookhaven City Council to reverse its decision to set up a comfort women memorial that honors the victims.
After the interview was made public, Seoul’s foreign ministry strongly denounced it Tuesday, saying it was “unbelievable” that the high-level Japanese diplomat made such improper comments.
“The comments clearly run counter to the international community’s common perception that Japan’s wartime sexual slavery was a gross violation of human rights,” said spokesman Cho June-hyuck. “If the media interview is accurate, we will take relevant steps through diplomatic channels.”
As the controversy has grown, Shinozuka denied having told Reporter Newspapers the victims were paid prostitutes, according to WABE, a local radio station in Atlanta, Wednesday.
Consul Tomoko Ohyama, who was seated beside the consul general at their Buckhead office, told WABE: “He was trying to say that comfort women were not taken by force. Sometimes it’s described as sexual slavery, but slavery means taken by force.”
In the full text disclosed by Reporter Newspapers, Shinozuka said, “Maybe you know that in Asian culture, in some countries, we have girls who decide to go and take this job to help their family.”
Brookhaven Mayor Ernst also told the media, “The first time we met, he said some of the women were prostitutes.”