by Theresa Kim Hwa-young

For the first time a member of the Japanese Parliament comments on the need for the government to make an apology and provide financial compensation to Korean "comfort women" forced to provide sexual services to the Japanese army during World War II.

Tokyo (AsiaNews) - For the first time since the end of Japanese imperialism, a Japanese government official has spoken out on a thorny issue, the so-called "comfort-women", chosen to provide sexual services to the Japanese army during World War II. Tomiko Okazaki, president of the National Commission for the public security of Japan and the Minister for Consumer Affairs and Food Safety, said the Japanese government should make an apology and offer financial compensation to these women. Okazaki’s declaration was in response to a request from the adviser to the Liberal Democratic Party Shoji Nishida, during a meeting of the House of Councillors held on 28 October.

Until now, the Japanese government has always maintained that the issue of reparations for damages suffered during the Japanese occupation of Korea, had been settled with an agreement concluded in 1965. However, once elected the current Prime Minister Naoto Kan has adopted a less rigid stance, arguing that there was still a possibility of compensation on a citizen to citizen basis.

Since taking on the position of president of the National Commission for public safety, Okazaki has been the target of a joint attack by politicians of the opposition party, because of his participation in an anti-Japan rally in 2003, in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul organized by a group that supported the rights of "comfort-women".

In another sign of recent dialogue between the two countries, Sukokan Okura, the Museum of Fine Arts in Tokyo, has announced its intention to return the five floor stone pagoda of Icheon to Korea in, removed more than 90 years ago by Japan. The pagoda, about six feet high, was originally built in the neighborhood of Gwang-dong Icheon, only to be taken by Japan and placed in the garden behind the museum. Previously, Okura had repeatedly rejected calls for the return of the pagoda, arguing that the Koreans could go to Tokyo to see it, given that the foundation could provide a better service than Korean museums could offer. Analysts say that if the pagoda is really returned, it could have a very positive effect on the return of other cultural assets hosted in private institutions in Japan to Korea.

• Japan
• Korea
• comfort
• women
• compensation
• imperialism