To:
New York State Legislature

The "comfort women" describes the women who were used as sexual slaves by Imperial Japanese Army during the 1930s-1945. More than 200,000 women from Japanese-occupied territories were forced into prostitution to service the Japanese military with their bodies on a daily basis. These women were from but not limited to Korea, China, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia and the Netherlands.

The Japanese government has not been committed and sincere in their pursuit of reconciliation with its offended nations. They have shown inconsistency in their apologies and instead have sought to reject and bury their shameful past. The recent news of the current Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo possibly retracting the 1993 Kono Statement is one example of Japan's continual denial of its crime.

We, the undersigned, seek an end to the pain caused by Japan during World War II and desire to begin the healing process for its victims. By the passing of the Bill J167, we believe that New York will be a voice for the "comfort women" to ask the Japanese government to recognize and acknowledge the reality of the brutal crimes that have been committed.

The "comfort women" system was a heinous crime against humanity and history must never repeat this atrocity.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned