篠塚隆総領事の“女性が家族のために売春するのはアジアの文化だ”というアジア女性観
米アトランタ駐在の日本総領事が安倍政権の意を忖度したのか、自ら歴史修正主義にはまったのか「慰安婦は売春婦」と発言した、という報道がありました。
米アトランタ日本総領事「慰安婦は売春婦」妄言 現地韓国人社会に波紋（［(c) 中央日報/中央日報日本語版］ 2017年06月27日 08時42分）
上記中央日報によると、「篠塚隆総領事は地域メディアとのインタビューの中で「日本軍が第２次世界大戦期間にほぼ韓国からきた女性を性奴隷としていたという証拠はない」とし「その女性は報酬をもらっていた売春婦だった」と話した」とのことです。
その地域メディアですが、おそらくReporter Newspapersというジョージア州 Sandy Springs、Buckhead、Dunwoody、Brookhavenで6万部発行している地元紙です。
そこに篠塚隆総領事に対する取材記事が載っていて、そこで篠塚氏は以下のように述べています。
http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2017/06/23/japanese-consul-general-brookhaven-memorial-symbol-hatred/Japanese consul general: Brookhaven memorial is ‘symbol of hatred’
（略）
The Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force stated in its donation of the memorial to the city last month that up to 200,000 women were sexually enslaved by the Japanese military. Shinozuka said that is not true.
“There was not 200,000 women, they were not sex slaves, and they were not taken by force,” he said.
In Asian culture, he said, sometimes women become prostitutes to help their families financially. He noted the 2015 agreement between the Japanese government and Korean government that also led to the Japanese government in 2016 paying more than $8 million to a foundation set up by the Korean government to help former “comfort women.”
（略）
“慰安婦は性奴隷じゃない”とか“20万人もいない”とか“日本軍は強制していない”とか、安倍政権下日本でうんざりするほど蔓延している典型的な慰安婦問題否認論ですが、それに加えて、こんなことまで言っています。
「In Asian culture, he said, sometimes women become prostitutes to help their families financially.」
女性が家族のために売春するのはアジアの文化だと言ってるわけですね。
何というか、あらゆる意味で、バカじゃねーの？としか思えないんですがね・・・。
http://s.japanese.joins.com/article/565/230565.html?servcode=A00§code=A10米アトランタ日本総領事「慰安婦は売春婦」妄言 現地韓国人社会に波紋
[ⓒ 中央日報/中央日報日本語版]
2017年06月27日 08時42分
米ジョージア州アトランタ駐在の日本総領事が「慰安婦は売春婦」と発言して韓国人社会に波紋を広げている。
２６日（現地時間）、現地韓国人メディアなどによると、篠塚隆総領事は地域メディアとのインタビューの中で「日本軍が第２次世界大戦期間にほぼ韓国からきた女性を性奴隷としていたという証拠はない」とし「その女性は報酬をもらっていた売春婦だった」と話した。
篠塚総領事は今月３０日にジョージア州の小都市ブルックヘブン市立公園で除幕予定の「平和の少女像」に反対意思を主張している人物だ。
篠塚総領事は、米国南部に初めて設置される平和の少女像を阻止するためにブルックヘブン市長と市議会に対し、持続的な反対ロビー活動を行ってきた。
篠塚総領事はこのインタビューで「少女像は単なる芸術作品ではない」とし「それは憎しみの象徴であり、日本に対する怒りの象徴物」と主張した。
篠塚総領事の発言が伝えられると、アトランタの少女像建設委員会は声明を出して強く反発した。
同委員会は「在アトランタ日本総領事が慰安婦を認めず性的奴隷になった女性を『謝礼をもらっていた売春婦』と呼んだことは、日本外務省の公職者としては近来初めてのこと」としながら「これは慰安婦女性の苦痛と犠牲を認めて考えていこうとする日本政府の声明と矛盾する」と非難した。
続いて「２０１５年韓日慰安婦合意で、日本政府がこれ以上慰安婦の存在を信じないということなのか、疑問を投げかけることになる」と伝えた。
http://www.reporternewspapers.net/2017/06/23/japanese-consul-general-brookhaven-memorial-symbol-hatred/Japanese consul general: Brookhaven memorial is ‘symbol of hatred’
The Japanese consul general in Atlanta is urging the Brookhaven City Council to back off its decision to accept a “comfort women” memorial that honors women from many nations who were sexually trafficked by the Japanese military during World War II.
Takashi “Thomas” Shinozuka said in an interview at the consulate of Japan in Phipps Tower said there is “no evidence” that the military sexually enslaved women, most from Korea, during WWII. He said rather that the women were paid prostitutes.
Takashi “Thomas” Shinozuka, the consul general of Japan in Atlanta, discusses his stance on the “comfort women” memorial at the consulate in Buckhead. (Dyana Bagby)
“This is not a simple art object,” he said. “This is a symbol of hatred and resentment against Japan.”
City officials and Task Force members deny the memorial bashes Japan and rather it honors the memory of the “comfort women” — the Japanese military euphemism for the women. A city spokesperson said there is no talk of rejecting the memorial, which is set to be unveiled June 30 in Blackburn Park II.
Since the city accepted the memorial in May, there has been intense debate in emails and online comments. Neighbors of the park where it will be located also oppose it, citing the physical change to the green space as well as making it a target for controversy.
In a 2015 agreement between the Japanese and South Korean governments, Japan apologized to “all the women who underwent immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women,” in a translation provided by the Atlanta consulate.
But the agreement did not explicitly admit the women were forced into prostitution, and Shinozuka denied that they were.
The Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force stated in its donation of the memorial to the city last month that up to 200,000 women were sexually enslaved by the Japanese military. Shinozuka said that is not true.
“There was not 200,000 women, they were not sex slaves, and they were not taken by force,” he said.
In Asian culture, he said, sometimes women become prostitutes to help their families financially. He noted the 2015 agreement between the Japanese government and Korean government that also led to the Japanese government in 2016 paying more than $8 million to a foundation set up by the Korean government to help former “comfort women.”The local “comfort women” memorial is identical to this one shown the Facebook page of the Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force. (Special)
“The demand for apologies continue to come … and it was decided to resolve the issue once and for all,” he said of the payment. But activists in Korea have not been satisfied, he said.
Shinozuka said he was “puzzled” by the city’s willingness to accept the controversial memorial, especially because the city and Japan enjoy a friendly relationship that includes Japan donating several cherry trees to be planted in Blackburn Park as part of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
He said by accepting the memorial, Brookhaven has injected itself into an international debate between Korea and Japan.
He said more than 300 Japanese Americans live in Brookhaven and did not get an opportunity to speak out about the memorial.
“This is a very controversial situation … and so is the memorial,” he said.
