Let me lay out the facts I've heard them on Japanese television over the past 24 hours. Mr. Hashimoto, the mayor of Osaka, a young and articulate Japanese politician and the co-leader of one of Japan's new political parties just made one of these "you did not just say that" major foot-in-mouth comments. It's a new low for Japanese politics that unfortunately needs repeating. And blasting.
He said this: "American servicemen in Okinawa need to release their sexual energy by taking advantage of available prostitution services," and "There are no facts to support the mass rape that took place of Korean women in World War II." For those that need to understand why neither comment is acceptable nor appropriate let me break them down for you.
Here are the facts. There's been a history of rape, assault, and sexual assault by American servicemen in Okinawa for too many years. We hear of these crimes because these men are caught, put on trial, and imprisoned. This is where the "release for sexual energy" comment comes from. Or, so Mr. Hashimoto says. Rather than attacking Japanese women in Okinawa, just go see a hooker is how his point is taken. As in, get it out "legally."
Except, he didn't actually (supposedly) say "prostitution." He used the word that is can be construed as prostitution, because the Japanese word used does technically include paying for sexual favors. He claims he meant "releasing sexual energy" by taking part in "things of the night" including drinking, clubbing, and all acts encompassed by the word he chose. So, in my book, he's saying, "Go out, drink, get drunk, dance, hang out with women, and see what happens."
As for the whole issue of "comfort women" (a more insulting combination of words I don't think I've ever heard), while there's plenty of evidence in the international academic world confirming there was mass rape conducted with the blessing of the military of Japan during World War II (to release sexual tension), the Government of Japan has yet to acknowledge this as fact. Make no mistake: what the Japanese servicemen did is sexual slavery. I get that the mayor is not saying American servicemen in Okinawa should go out and rape. This doesn't change the fact continual denial of these historical acts condoned by Japan's military is galling. It's especially hard to understand why thee two statements were made back-to-back; Americans have a real problem but the Japanese never did. Imagine the outrage in Seoul, and the women in Japan who have enough courage to call him on this statement. This is one of the government's worst positions they've taken in recent history. It's like saying, "We said it didn't happen so it didn't." The evidence is not hard to find. I've seen it. I've read it. Google it.
Mr. Hashimoto has had a lot of explaining to do today. He held another press conference apologizing for "anyone's feelings I hurt" with the denial of mass rape, and acknowledging he has limited international experience and understanding, and that his comments made to the US Military were "possibly inappropriate." I especially like the "possibly" in his statement. By all means cover yourself, dear man. God forbid you'd actually say you misspoke. On the scale of "how bad was that" you're in the negative. I feel like pulling an Alec Baldwin and saying, "If you ever become prime minister, I'm moving to Canada."
The story on the 5pm news tonight immediately following the Hashimoto snafu was the sexual attack by an officer at Fort Hood on one of his subordinates. This evidently came from the person in charge of preventing sexual harassment in the military. The reporters were all over this, saying just in the past year there were 3374 sexual attacks within the military, and over 26,000 unwanted sexual advances. The report ended with a "Mr. Hashimoto's comments were problematic, but clearly the US Military has a serious problem with sexual misconduct. They really should do something about this."
I find this combination of stories and the reporting thereof fascinating and disturbing. The reporters and the station covered themselves by making a point of saying Hashimoto was wrong, but then went on to essentially say "but American servicemen really can't keep it in their pants." Go easy on the commentary and work on the order in which stories are reported. Please.
While I'm no fan of superimposing western ideals onto another culture, it's times like these I find the lack of a real women's movement in Japan troubling, disappointing, and frightening. The role of women in Japan is still woefully and embarrassingly antiquated. Too few women cry foul when necessary, and those who do are marginalized as feminist spinsters. Without more women, "normal" women at that, calling those that make outrageous and nefarious comments to the carpet, holding them accountable, I see little change. What needs to happen in Japan for women to speak up and for (some) men to not?
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