COMFORT WOMEN IN ASIA

World History- Topic No. 2

“Those who don't remember the past are condemned to repeat it”

-George Santayana

Comfort Women Comfort women, also called military

comfort women, a term for women who provided sexual services to Japanese Imperial Army troops during Japan’s militaristic period that ended with World War II and who generally lived under conditions of sexual slavery.

Estimates of the number of women involved typically range up to 200,000, but the actual number may have been even higher. The great majority of them were from Korea (then a Japanese protectorate), though women from Philippines, China, Taiwan, and other parts of Asia—including Japan and Dutch nationals in Indonesia—were also involved.

How it started? 1932

Comfort houses were established during the Battle of Shanghai

1937 During Sino-Japanese war, it was installed

throughout occupied lands 1941-1945

During World War II, approximately 80% of comfort women came from Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, China, and other Asian countries

http://www.awf.or.jp/e1/facts-12.html

On the wall of the Sixth Comfort Station Sakura House

http://www.awf.or.jp/e1/facts-12.html

https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj2ro3RoNfRAhWDUbwKHREeA9YQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffeww.wordpress.com%2Ftag%2Fcomfort-women%2F&psig=AFQjCNEw2hh8Om1HQBlybcaXf_kkZ6Gj7Q&ust=1485225849691556

Filipina comfort women

Why organize comfort stations?

To increase the morale of the troops. To prevent their soldiers from raping

women in the territories that they controlled.

To more efficiently prevent the spread of STI's.

To prevent leakage of military secrets.

Comfort stations Comfort stations were open for long time

from 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning to late evening.

In ordinary comfort stations soldiers were paying a certain sum of money directly or indirectly. 

Holiday came once in a month, and rarely two days were given. There were comfort stations working without holidays. Going out of comfort stations was possible only with permission of the military. 

Sources http://

www.religioustolerance.org/sla_japa.htm http://www.awf.or.jp/e1/facts-12.html https://

www.britannica.com/event/comfort-women