Episode 98 - The Comfort Women

History of Japan

Isaac Meyer

Japan, History, Japanese

4.8 • 744 Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2015

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week, we're going to discuss one of the most reprehensible aspects of a war littered with horrible acts; the system of mass sexual slavery of women euphemistically dubbed "comfort women". We'll talk about the origins and nature of the system, and the reason why it has come back to haunt Japanese politics today.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This week's episode is brought to you by Audible.
0:03.4	Audible has over 150,000 titles to choose from, all compatible with iPhone, Android,
0:10.2	Kindle, or your MP3 player of choice.
0:13.4	For listeners of the show, Audible is offering a free 30-day trial membership, complete with
0:18.7	credit for a free audiobook of your choice.
0:21.2	You can cancel any time and keep the free book, or keep going with one of Audible subscription
0:25.8	offers.
0:27.1	Go to audibletrial.com slash Japan to claim your offer.
0:32.0	This week, I'm recommending Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley.
0:36.9	It's the story of one of the most iconic moments in American War memory,
0:40.9	the raising of the American flag on top of Mount Sribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
0:47.3	The book is a very interesting look at symbolism, its role in war,
0:51.6	and the effect of being forced into a symbolic role you yourself may not really want.
0:56.7	Go to audiblechild.com slash Japan to claim your copy. Hello and welcome to the History of Japan podcast, Episode 98, The Comfort Line.
1:23.6	So no, as you might guess from the name, this is not an episode depicting the rivalry of U.S. E. Kenshin and Takita Shingen.
1:31.5	That was, as stated at the end of last week's episode, The Plan.
1:35.6	However, certain events have transpired to change my mind.
1:40.1	Specifically, there's been something of a controversy here in Washington State,
1:45.6	relating to a Japanese instructor at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, a town about two hours from Seattle.
1:51.7	The instructor, a Japanese national, has made news lately because of her statements about the so-called
1:57.7	comfort women, a euphemism in Japanese for prostitutes who served to
2:02.2	comfort Japanese soldiers stationed abroad.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Isaac Meyer, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Isaac Meyer and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.