Interesting news from Japan last week. Last Thursday Yoshito Sengoku, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, announced in somevague diplomatic language that Japan may consider reparations to Korean forced laborers. The language was subtle enough that some Koreans weren’t sure of its exact meaning, or if it had any meaning at all. Video of Sengoku’s announcement here.
This week, there appears to be more definitive signs. According to several sources, including the Mainichi Daily, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has agreed to open negotiations on compensating Korean women who were forced to work for the company between 1910-1945.
UPDATE: According to this Chosun Ilbo article, Mitsubishi’s overtures look fairly legit. I just hope the end result isn’t one U.S. dollar.
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and whilst we are going back in History demanding compensation for forced labor, I think the ruling Korean classes should compensate the Korean slaves they used to have before the 1900′s.
But if Japan really wants to pay people compensation, they should pay compensation to the original native inhabitants of Mago, who were displaced in the 1860s and are not allowed to go back to their Island after the Tokyu Corporation sold it to Mel Gibson.
@Craash: “…should pay compensation to the original native inhabitants of Mago, who were displaced in the 1860s…”
That might be difficult because the original native inhabitants from the 1860s would be about 150+ years old by now. But assuming there were 160 year old Magoians roaming the earth somewhere, I bet if they asked for reparations, they would get it.
Fuck the imperial slaves and prostitutes. When will Koreans realize what’s done is done ? YES, Chosun dynasty was raped and rightfully so because the lack of vigilence. It’s what logically happens when a country becomes weak. The more Korea reminding it’s citizens of the past pain, there is no progression towards a better Korea.
Money compensation cannot recover the face loss. Neither can Japan recover it’s face from losing WW2. So for both country’s, this loss of face is an emotional influence in both of their respective counter policies and fuel their own propaganda machines. It’s an unsatisfiable demand for both countries to point fingers at each other.
It really doesn’t make sense. Koreans and Japanese share overlapping society with some differences, but these differences are really different ways of doing the same things and should not be taken personally.
@ Korean Psycho: your comments actually would seem to be very sensible and have credibility if you hadn’t put in the first and third sentences. Aside from that, what you say probably does make a lot of sense.
@Korean Psycho: One more thing, the women who were forced into sex slavery were NOT “prostitutes”. They didn’t get paid to f..k those soldiers. Some may have entered into some agreement with the Japanese military (as the Japanese claim now) but I think too many of them were kidnapped and forced into it with no alternatives. So, to say “F..k the imperial slaves and prostitutes” is one big ignorant and insensitive blanket statement.
I find that too many Korean Americans lack any sort of tactfulness. I blame it on the parents at the liquor store or dry cleaner all day and their kids end up getting raised by American pop culture…. particularly ghetto counter culture.
Well many if not most those liquor stores and dry cleaners are in fact located in less affluent neighborhoods or ghetto, as you say.
Meanwhile, both Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan are mulling over issuing an apology to Korea in consideration of the 100th year anniversary of the annexation, according to NHK relayed by Dong-A Ilbo.
At least people who matter seem to know what the right thing to do is.
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