A Call for Justice: The Legacy of Japan's Comfort Women

Mina Watanabe, a Japanese activist, continues to fight for recognition and reparations for the survivors of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery, known as comfort women, following the recent passing of key advocate Gil Won-ok.

Mina Watanabe, a dedicated advocate for the rights of the so-called comfort women, remains on the frontlines in the pursuit of justice for women who were victimized by the Japanese military during World War II. Watanabe, co-founder of the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) in Tokyo, has devoted her life to amplifying the voices of survivors at a time when their number is rapidly dwindling due to age.

The passing of 96-year-old Gil Won-ok, a prominent Korean advocate among the estimated 240 comfort women who bravely shared their experiences of sexual slavery, marks a significant loss for the movement. Her death leaves only a few survivors to champion the cause, highlighting the urgency of the struggle for acknowledgment and reparations from Japan’s government.

Watanabe, who was born after the war but whose life was profoundly changed by encounters with survivors in the 1990s, persists in her mission. “These women’s stories transformed my life,” she noted during a recent interview in Tokyo. With the establishment of WAM in 2005, she aimed to create a space where the historical trauma of sexual violence against women could be recognized and addressed in depth.

Despite facing criticism and isolation from segments of society in Japan, Watanabe remains undeterred, garnering support through donations both within Japan and globally. Her commitment serves to remind us not only of a troubled past but also of the ongoing fight for justice that continues to this day.