The comfort women: historical, political, legal and moral perspectives

The 'Comfort Women' remain a contentious issue especially between Japan and South Korea. This book, which looks soberly at the various perspectives of the problem, is a valuable contribution to our understanding of the issue. Kumagai Naoko first sets out the 'points of contention' and goes on to discuss the facts that can be firmly established. She asks 'how much free will did the comfort women have' and the extent of coercion exercised by the Japanese military authorities. She looks at the problem in the context of sexual violence in war and occupation. She also considers the historical background and officially licensed prostitution in Japan. In Chapter Three, she considers where responsibility for the suffering of comfort women lies and 'why Japan's military regulations did not prevent rape and enforced prostitution'. This leads on to a discussion in Chapter Four, of the Asian Women's Fund and Japan's moral responsibilities. In this, she compares Japan's response with the German Foundation 'Remembrance, Responsibility, and Future'. Chapter Five concentrates on the evolving concept of women's human rights. In the Final Chapter she seeks for a way to achieve genuine reconciliation.