Content Analysis

Julie McCarthy, author of the article ‘Why These World War II Sex Slaves Are Still
Demanding Justice’ published her work to raise awareness and use her platform to voice out the
far-ranging system of sexual enslavement that women have gone through the hands of Japanese
soldiers during the World War 2. With regards to the Japanese Embassy in Washington, they
declined to provide a spokesperson to participate in terms of the issue. The Japanese Embassy in
Manila also declined comment, directing the author to a 2013 Ministry of Foreign Affairs
statement in which it declares that "On various occasions, Japan clearly expressed their feelings
of remorse and apology, its resolve to ensure that such detrimental history is never repeated, as
shown in the statement by the Prime Minister on August 15, 1995.” Tomiichi Murayama is the
one who reached further than any previous prime minister when he expressed his "deep remorse"
and "heartfelt apology" for the suffering of the victims in the hands of the Japanese soldiers
during the war, they also supplied medical and welfare projects amounting to $5 million to
improve nursing homes and housing for "comfort women" in the Philippines, Taiwan, and South
Korea.

With thorough reading and comprehension, the author’s article is indeed sided with the
victims. As Japan apologized and gave compensation funds, to survivors like Narcisa Claveria
there can be no forgetting. The Japanese government doesn’t want the issue to be heard and open
again to the public. Statues symbolizing ‘comfort women’ in the Philippines are being taken
down and stolen. Recently, statues to honor "comfort women" have been erected around the
world from Seoul to Berlin to San Francisco. At least nine statues were installed across the
United States over the last decade as an indication for future generations. Like any other part of
this story, even statues have sparked controversy. Togo, a retired Japanese diplomat, states that
Tokyo is determined that the statues memorializing the women should not be placed in public
spaces. He said that the statues are usually accompanied by a short description that conveys the
"criminalization of Japan," which Tokyo finds unfair. A bronze statue symbolizing the "comfort
woman" was installed at Roxas Boulevard in December 2017. Overlooking Manila Bay, the
same boulevard on which the Japanese Embassy sits, the inscription says: "This monument is a
memorial to Filipinas who have been victims of abuse during the Japanese occupation (1942-
1945)." The statue was removed. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said at the time that the
Japanese had not demanded its removal but rather expressed "regret" over the statue. According
to PRRD, he had spoken to a Japanese representative and said that he was in no position to take
it down. He stated "That is a constitutional right which I cannot stop. It's prohibitive for me to do
that.” And yet five months later, the statue was removed to make way for "improvements" to the
road.

Victims of comfort women, specifically Narcisa blames the government of the Philippines
for not protecting and advocating their rights. "Our presidents don't even know how to protect
the citizens who were abused during the war. They were embarrassed by us." She spoke. The
Philippine government did not respond to the author’s requests for any comment regarding this
matter. In court documents, the government has said that apologies made by Japan were
satisfactory and that Japan had addressed individual claims of the women through payment of
"atonement money." Japan is the top and leading donor of development aid to the Philippines,
Manila is quoted in the Philippine Supreme Court documents as saying, "taking up the
petitioners' case would be inimical to our country's foreign policy and could disrupt relations
with Japan." For them, everything was settled and done since there was already atonement
money given to the people, yet the author stated that survivors still seek help for other victims
who are still traumatized and haunted by the past. They say that no amount of compensation can
"erase" the memories, which is true based on other videos and articles that can be read online
where Narcisa Claveria a few more survivors still stand their ground and attends rallies on behalf
of the "comfort women." She wants her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to
understand the "dangers of war." As for herself, she says, "after all the suffering that I have been
through, I have to stand my ground until I get the justice that I deserve."