<メール例1> [件名例] Resolution No. 8285 and Comfort Women Issue [本文] Dear Mayor and Council Members of Milpitas:
I hope this email finds you in excellent health.
I learned that the Milpitas City Council adopted Resolution No. 8285 on August 6, 2013 requesting investigation by U.S. Officials into claims of sexual slavery system directed by Japan Imperial Army according to the allegation by Koreans (the fact is mere private sex business) during World War II.
I also learned from South Korean news that a Korean organization in Silicon Valley is negotiating with Milpitas City to set up a comfort woman statue which is the same design as the one set up in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.
The Milpitas City’s resolution mentions the statement by Osaka City Mayor Hashimoto, where I found misunderstandings about his statement. He has never justified the comfort woman system and never described the system of sex slavery as war time “necessity.”
I would very much like to review the open letter to the Board of Supervisors of the city and the County of San Francisco from Mr. Toru Hashimoto, the Mayor of the City of Osaka:
Around the comfort woman statue built in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul regardless of the illegality, Koreans give harsh anti-Japan demonstrations every day which threatens the safety of Japanese residents in the city. With due consideration of the current tense in the South Korean community, it would be inappropriate for the City of Milpitas to build the same statue as that in Seoul, as there are many Japanese companies.
The nature of the comfort woman issue is determined as a bilateral matter. In light, I do not think it appropriate for any third parties to be involved in this matter, if such third parties do not spare time to have independent and thorough studies about the grounds of comfort women and the historic facts based on trustful and objective evidences in writing including Japanese, Korean, and non-Japanese/Korean news reports, articles and letters at that time. For an example, the number of passports applied through pimps, and issued to these women will reveal the real number of them because Taiwanese and Koreans used to have the Japanese nationality as the amalgamated country citizens. Please note that this is mere an immigration/emigration process, which had nothing to do with involvement by the Japan Imperial Army. If such studies were to be skipped, or the results thereof were not to be disclosed to public, I am afraid that the statue would constitute the ex-facto accusation of defeated countries regardless of the as well as harassment thereto. If it is simply intended to build as a historical monument, I wonder if it is necessary for South Korean organizations and groups to work on building the statues in public parks across the U.S.A., which have historically nothing to do with South Korean comfort women.
The City of Glendale, CA permanently put up the comfort woman statue on July 30, 2013. Innumerable Japanese people feel very strong resentment toward the outrageous decision by the City. Japanese media have strongly condemned Glendale. Please note that some U.S. news media find out that the comfort women issue is a foreign politics fight. The following is for your information:
As the best I know, a majority of Japanese are always sympathetic to girls who were sold by their parents due to their poverty, and who were discriminated in their hometown after the war. Please make no mistake about Japanese.
I would like the City of Milpitas to discuss this matter objectively and diligently, and fmake a sensible decision.
<メール例2> [件名例] Comfort Women Issue [本文] Dear Mayor and Council Members of Milpitas:
I hope this email finds you in excellent health.
I learned that the Milpitas City Council adopted Resolution No. 8285 on August 6, 2013 requesting investigation by U.S. Officials into claims of sexual slavery during World War II.
I also learned from South Korean news that a Korean organization in SiliconValley is negotiating with Milipitas City to set up a comfort woman statue which is the same design as the one set up in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.
In the Milpitas City’s resolution it refers to the statement by Osaka City Mayor, Mr. Hashimoto, but there is a misunderstanding about the statement. He has never justified the use of comfort woman system and never described the system of sex slavery as war time “necessity.”
Please read an open letter from Mr. Toru Hasimoto, the Mayor of the City of Osaka, delivered to the Board of Supervisors of the City and the County of San Francisco for detail.
Around the comfort woman statue in Seoul, harsh anti-Japan demonstrations have been conducted by Korean people every day. It is not appropriate for the City of Milpitas who has many offices of Japanese companies to have the same statue as that in Seoul.
The comfort woman dispute is a problem between Japan and Korea. Japan has a different view from Korea about the dispute. Do you have to bring the dispute into a third party country, the USA, who has nothing to do with the dispute?
The City of Glendale, CA installed the comfort woman statue in July 2013. Great number of Japanese people feel very strong resentment about the City’s decision to install it. Japanese media have been condemning Glendale severely.
I hope the City of Milpitas will not repeat the same mistake and hope that you make a sensible decision.
<メール例4> {件名例] I protest against Korean Comfort Women Statue [本文] Dear Mayor and Council Members of Milpitas:
I hope this email finds you in excellent health.
I learned from South Korean news that a Korean organization in Silicon Valley is negotiating with Milipitas City to set up a comfort woman statue which is the same design as the one set up in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.
Around the comfort woman statue in Seoul, harsh anti-Japan demonstrations to condemn Japan have been conducted by Korean people every day. Japanese people feel very annoyed about the harsh demonstration.
Comfort woman monuments were set up also in New Jersey and New York. Because of the monuments, Japanese children in the USA are bullied.
The comfort woman statue that is the same design as that in Seoul was installed in July in the Central Park in Glendale, CA. Japanese media is criticizing the City of Glendale very severely.
Does the City of Milpitas where there are many Japanese companies need this statue?
South Korean organizations insist that the comfort woman dispute is a human rights issue. However, the dispute has become a political issue between Japan and South Korea. There is no merit to the companies and the citizens in the City to bring the dispute between Japan and South Korea into the City.
Please make a sensible decision taking above mentioned points into consideration when you discuss a request from Korean organizations to set up a comfort woman statue.
<メール例5> [件名例] Korean Proposal for Comfort Girl Statue [本文] Dear Mayor and Council Members of Milpitas:
I learn the news that Korean American groups will propose a plan to put up a Korean Comfort Girl Statue to the City Council of Milpitas. I strongly ask you to turn down for the following reasons:
1. The comfort women issue is very controversial. Both sides have not come to agreement. So, it is not considered appropriate for the City to side with the Proposer 2. It is clear that Korean interest has been using this matter for anti-Japan propaganda on the pretext of “human rights”. This is entirely so unhealthy that conflicts, such as hate crime and children bullying may be caused. Actually, Japanese kids were reportedly bullied in Palisades Park, NJ. 3. There are many human right issues, present and past, in the world incl. a one Korea is involved in Viet Nam. It is not fair to single out and blame only Japan. 4. Japan is a most peaceful nation in the world, and recognized and respected as such. Korea and China are only major Asian nations that show animosity against Japan. Recent Pew Research shows that 80% polled in major Asian countries show friendliness toward Japan. 5. Any local government should not be involved in international affairs. Instead, it should work on the promotion of happiness, prosperity, progress and harmony of the citizens. The statue will definitely counteract such efforts.
May I therefore ask for your prudent wise judgment and fair decision to be against the proposal? I trust that such a decision is by all means good for City of Milpitas and its citizens.