Aug 9

Aug 9 Comfort Women

Chicago, Demonstrations, Protest, Public Declarations

I was a bit surprised when I saw that a group was taking up the cause of so-called “Comfort Women.” I knew about Japan’s efforts during World War II to force Korean women into an organized system of sex slavery as a means to boost the morale of Japanese troops.

When I visited Hiroshima two decades ago, there was an exhibit in a museum reflecting the divide still existing between Japan and Korea. I don’t recall whether the exhibit specifically addressed Comfort Women, but it did address Japanese war atrocities. As is typical, those retelling history controlled the narrative. Japan has periodically apologized for enslaving women, but the apologies and associated monetary compensation have proved unsatisfactory to the victims and those who support them. From what I can tell, the apologies are always half-hearted, which explains why they prove inadequate and unacceptable.

The estimates vary as to how many women were enslaved by the Japanese. I have seen numbers ranging from between 50,000 to 410,000. The women were not just Korean nationals. Women from China, the Philippines, Burma, Thailand, Vietnam, and other occupied countries were also forced to provide sexual “comfort” to Japanese soldiers. Many of those women contracted venereal diseases, became sterile, committed suicide, incurred unwanted pregnancies, and experienced PTSD.

After the war, the Japanese government initially denied any involvement in perpetrating the Comfort Women regime, but documents were subsequently discovered implicating the military in designing the system. At one time, the Japanese government justified the system as a means to prevent “much worse” atrocities, like the Rape of Nanking, by confining the prostitution and forced sexual activity to military facilities.

Once again, the Comfort Women saga demonstrates the atrocities that inevitably flow from armed combat. The Geneva Convention claims to civilize the uncivilized by imposing rules on warfare. But when a largely young, male military is itself facing death from hostilities, some members find themselves doing the unthinkable.

As I headed down to the demonstration, I thought to myself, “The vast majority of the enslaved women are long gone. Japan’s system of barbarity ended almost 80 years ago. A demonstration today? For what?” Yet, when I arrived at the plaza outside the Wrigley Building, there were at least 75 people, mostly Asian women, offering their support to the victims, most of whom are dead.

I asked whether any survivors were in the crowd. One of the organizers told me that she was unsure whether there are any survivors in the United States, but that there are still some in Asia. Today’s demonstration is the direct result of one of those survivors. In 1991, Kim Hak-soon came forward, revealing her story. To honor her, the organizations demanding apologies and repartitions proclaimed August 14th as International Memorial Day for Japanese “Comfort Women.”

After listening to a few of the speakers, I realized the memorial was warranted. After all, other groups call attention to tragedies that have befallen members long deceased. The Holocaust and slavery come readily to mind, as did the Armenian genocide, which is now remembered annually.

I will say one thing about the demonstration: the organizers run a tight ship. According to the announcement, the demonstration was scheduled to begin at noon, and end at 1:30 PM. When the group gathered in Jane Byrne Plaza for a post-demonstration lunch, my watch read 1:30 PM.

During the preceding 90 minutes, representatives from more than 10 community and advocacy groups spoke. Unlike the speakers at many other demonstrations I have attended, those who took the microphone today limited their individual remarks to two minutes or less. I applaud that sort of economy.

Many focused their remarks on the victims of the Japanese atrocities. But some speakers went beyond those atrocities, addressing hate crimes against Asians arising out of the Covid pandemic, domestic violence, and sexual stereotyping of Asian women. I also recall hearing comments in support of the LGQBT+ community. None of this was surprising given the age of the audience—mostly young people.

Intermingled with the speeches was a musical performance by the Woori Sori ensemble, which relied heavily on traditional Asian percussion instruments. As the musicians played, those assembled repeated in unison some of the slogans on the signs held by demonstrators.

Following the musical interlude, everyone’s attention turned to the two chairs positioned in front of the speakers and those standing behind them. One was empty, and other held the Statue of Peace, or Sonyeosang: The statue depicts a woman dressed in a traditional Korean hanbok, which was common to school girls back in the Forties. Her hair is shortly cropped, her fists are clinched, and her heels are slightly raised. She symbolizes both the victims and survivors of Japanese sexual slavery.

Those assembled were encouraged to come sit in the empty chair besides the statue as a means to show their solidarity with the survivors. They were admonished not to touch the statue.

As solemn recorded music was played, people stepped forward, one by one, taking a seat for 15 or 20 seconds, and then vacating the chair so that another person could show his or her respect. Some people sat silently; others bowed their heads; some turned to face the statue; and several wept. Many displayed their handmade signs.

Following the #ComeSitWithHer ceremony, the group posed for a team photograph—please, form more rows, and sit closer together for these photographs. It is always a problem getting the entire group in the image, as all the photographers present today can attest.

After the photograph, the group formed a line, and then began to march up Michigan Avenue, to Chicago, where they headed a half-block east to the Consulate General of Japan. For ten minutes, they marched in front of the building housing the consulate, chanting slogans—”No more silence, no more lies; Japan you must apologize.”

At 1:30 PM, the lead organizers encouraged participants to head to Jane Byrne Plaza for sandwiches—first come, first served.

The effort was a success. I commend the organizers on creating a useful brochure that included some background information, a list of the sponsoring organizations, an agenda, a map detailing the march route, and a list of chants. Any organization considering a demonstration or protest should take a page out of this playbook.

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