Two Korean former sex slaves canceled a planned meeting with an outspoken Japanese mayor who caused an uproar by justifying Japan's wartime practice of forcing tens of thousands of Asian women into prostitution for its military.
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, also co-leader of a nationalist party, enraged Japanese neighbors last week by saying the use of so-called comfort women mostly from South Korea and China in frontline brothels before and during World War II was necessary to maintain military discipline and give soldiers relief.
Supporters of the two women in their 80s, Kim Bok-dong and Kil Won-ok, said there would be nothing to talk about because Hashimoto has showed no remorse over his remarks.
They suspected he may have wanted to use the meeting to be broadcast live on TV to appear friendly with them and calm public criticism, the supporters told journalists.
The women, who did not appear in public, said in a statement they were heartbroken by Hashimoto's "outrageous comments" and didn't want to be seen contributing to a less-than-sincere apology.
Instead, they demanded that Hashimoto (43), apologize and resign as mayor of Japan's second-biggest city.
"We cannot compromise our painful past as victims and the reality that we still live today for Mayor Hashimoto's apology performance," the women said in a statement. "We don't need to be trampled on again."
Hashimoto also angered the U.S. By suggesting American troops based in southern Japan should patronize legal adult entertainment establishments as a way to reduce sex crimes there.
The women, regulars at a weekly protest outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, and their supporters originally requested a meeting with Hashimoto last year, which was rejected.
Hashimoto suddenly told them they could meet with him the day he made the inflammatory comments on May 13, Japanese supporters said. They said the timing seemed odd, and were skeptical about his motive.
Kil, who arrived in Japan last week for a series of meetings with civil groups, including in Okinawa, has said she was saddened and enraged as Hashimoto doesn't seem to regret what he said.
Historians say up to 200,000 women, mainly from the Korean Peninsula and China, were forced to provide sex for Japanese soldiers. While some other World War II armies had military brothels, Japan is the only country accused of such widespread, organized sexual slavery.
