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Japan: new head of public broadcaster shrugs off use of wartime sex slaves Japan: new head of public broadcaster shrugs off use of wartime sex slaves
(7 months later)
The new chairman of Japan’s national broadcaster is facing calls The new chairman of Japan’s national broadcaster is facing calls for his resignation after defending Japan’s use of wartime sex slaves and suggesting that he would toe the government line on key diplomatic issues.
for his resignation after defending Japan’s use of wartime sex slaves and suggesting that he would toe the government line on key diplomatic issues. Katsuto Momii’s remarks, made over the weekend at a his first press conference as head of NHK, are likely to anger China and South Korea, both victims of Japan’s militarism in the first half of the 20th century.
Katsuto Momii’s remarks, made over the weekend at a They also risk adding to prime minister Shinzo Abe’s diplomatic woes amid rising tensions with China and South Korea over territorial disputes and interpretations of Japan’s wartime conduct.
his first press conference as head of NHK, are likely to anger China and Momii said brothels were “common” in all countries involved in the war, and described as “puzzling” criticism of Japan’s enslavement of up to 200,000 mainly Korean, Chinese and Filipino women – euphemistically known as “comfort women” – in frontline brothels across Asia between 1932 and 1945.
South Korea, both victims of Japan’s militarism in the first half of the "Can we say there were none in Germany or France? It was everywhere in Europe," he said. "In the current moral climate the use of comfort women would be wrong. But it was a reality of those times.
20th century. "Korea's statement that Japan was the only nation [that used sex slaves] is puzzling. Give us money, compensate us, they say, but since all of this was resolved by the Japan-Korea peace treaty, why are they reviving this issue? It's strange."
They also risk adding to prime minister Shinzo Abe’s South Korea has demanded that Japan admit it forced young women into sexual slavery during its 1910-45 occupation of the Korean peninsula, and offer an official apology and compensation. Japan insists that all compensations claims were settled when the countries normalised diplomatic ties in 1965.
diplomatic woes amid rising tensions with China and South Korea over In 1993, the then chief cabinet secretary, Yohei Kono, acknowledged Japan’s use of wartime sex slaves and for the first time issued an official apology. Successive prime ministers have honoured the Kono statement, but in comments made before he became leader in December 2012, Abe suggested he wanted to withdraw it.
territorial disputes and interpretations of Japan’s wartime conduct. Officials close to Abe reacted angrily to Momii’s comments, with one calling for his resignation.
Momii said brothels were “common” in all countries “I am extremely angry because these gaffes are unthinkable for the head of a media company,” the Asahi Shimbun quoted an unnamed cabinet minister as saying. “He should resign immediately.” 
involved in the war, and described as “puzzling” criticism of Japan’s
enslavement of up to 200,000 mainly Korean, Chinese and Filipino women –
euphemistically known as “comfort women” – in frontline brothels across
Asia between 1932 and 1945.
"Can we say there were none in Germany or France? It
was everywhere in Europe," he said. "In the current moral climate the
use of comfort women would be wrong. But it was a reality of those
times.
"Korea's statement that Japan was the only nation
[that used sex slaves] is puzzling. Give us money, compensate us, they
say, but since all of this was resolved by the Japan-Korea peace treaty,
why are they reviving this issue? It's strange."
South Korea has demanded that Japan admit it forced
young women into sexual slavery during its 1910-45 occupation of the
Korean peninsula, and offer an official apology and compensation. Japan
insists that all compensations claims were settled when the countries
normalised diplomatic ties in 1965.
In 1993, the then chief cabinet secretary, Yohei
Kono, acknowledged Japan’s use of wartime sex slaves and for the first
time issued an official apology. Successive prime ministers have
honoured the Kono statement, but in comments made before he became
leader in December 2012, Abe suggested he wanted to withdraw it.
Officials close to Abe reacted angrily to Momii’s
comments, with one calling for his resignation.
“I am extremely angry
because these gaffes are unthinkable for the head of a media company,”
the Asahi Shimbun quoted an unnamed cabinet minister as saying. “He
should resign immediately.” 
But the chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, defended Momii's remarks at a news conference on Monday, saying they were his personal views, the Associated Press reported.But the chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, defended Momii's remarks at a news conference on Monday, saying they were his personal views, the Associated Press reported.
Momii’s remarks echo those made last year by Toru Hashimoto, Momii’s remarks echo those made last year by Toru Hashimoto, the rightwing mayor of Osaka, who sparked controversy when he said the use of wartime sex slaves helped “maintain discipline” among troops.
the rightwing mayor of Osaka, who sparked controversy when he said the Momii insisted he was speaking in a private capacity, but then attempted to withdraw the remarks after journalists pointed out that they were made during a press conference in his role as chairman of NHK, a hugely influential, publicly funded broadcaster.
use of wartime sex slaves helped “maintain discipline” among troops. He cast further doubt on the NHK’s commitment to editorial independence when he said it was “only natural” for the broadcaster to side with the government’s position on contentious issues in its international output.
Momii insisted he was speaking in a private Asked about Japan’s dispute with China over ownership of the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea (known as the Diaoyu in China), Momii said: “International broadcasting is different from domestic. It would not do for us to say ‘left’ when the government is saying 'right’.”
capacity, but then attempted to withdraw the remarks after journalists
pointed out that they were made during a press conference in his role as
chairman of NHK, a hugely influential, publicly funded broadcaster.
He cast further doubt on the NHK’s commitment to
editorial independence when he said it was “only natural” for the
broadcaster to side with the government’s position on contentious issues
in its international output.
Asked about Japan’s dispute with China over
ownership of the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea (known as the Diaoyu in China), Momii said:
“International broadcasting is different from domestic. It would not do
for us to say ‘left’ when the government is saying 'right’.”
Itt was “only natural to state Japan’s position in no uncertain terms,” he said.Itt was “only natural to state Japan’s position in no uncertain terms,” he said.
Momii, Momii, the former vice chairman of a trading house, with no previous broadcasting experience, was seen as Abe’s favoured candidate to head NHK.
the former vice chairman of a trading house, with no previous
broadcasting experience, was seen as Abe’s favoured candidate to head
NHK.
Last November, Abe was accused of handpicking allies to fill several posts on NHK’s board of governors, which appointed Momii earlier this month. Momii denied he was acquainted with Abe.Last November, Abe was accused of handpicking allies to fill several posts on NHK’s board of governors, which appointed Momii earlier this month. Momii denied he was acquainted with Abe.
It is It is not the first time the prime minister has been embroiled in controversy over NHK’s editorial decisions. In 2005, he admitted he had urged NHK officials to alter the contents of a documentary about wartime sex slaves.
not the first time the prime minister has been embroiled in Momii also dismissed concern, not least among other media organisations, about parliament’s recent approval of a state secrets law that critics say harms the public’s right to know and threatens whistleblowers and journalists with imprisonment.
controversy over NHK’s editorial decisions. In 2005, he admitted he had Now that the bill has become law, he said, there as "no point" in questioning it. “It would be a problem if the government’s objective was the same as what concerns the public, but I don’t think that is the government’s purpose,” he said.
urged NHK officials to alter the contents of a documentary about wartime sex slaves.
Momii also dismissed concern, not least among other
media organisations, about parliament’s recent approval of a state
secrets law that critics say harms the public’s right to know and
threatens whistleblowers and journalists with imprisonment.
Now that the bill has become law, he said, there as "no point" in questioning it. “It would be a problem if the
government’s objective was the same as what concerns the public, but I
don’t think that is the government’s purpose,” he said.
Momii observed the broadcaster’s legal commitment to neutrality when asked about Abe’s recent visit to Yasukuni shrine, which honours 2.5 million war-dead, including several Class A war criminals.Momii observed the broadcaster’s legal commitment to neutrality when asked about Abe’s recent visit to Yasukuni shrine, which honours 2.5 million war-dead, including several Class A war criminals.
“Since the prime minister made the visit based on “Since the prime minister made the visit based on his beliefs, that in itself is all right. I am not in a position to say whether it was right or wrong,” he said. “All [NHK] can do is to simply say the prime minister visited Yasukuni.”
his beliefs, that in itself is all right. I am not in a position to say
whether it was right or wrong,” he said. “All [NHK] can do is to simply
say the prime minister visited Yasukuni.”