The Legacy of Comfort Women: A Struggle for Justice Continues

As the last remaining survivors of Japan's wartime sexual slavery age, activist Mina Watanabe dedicates her life to raising awareness and seeking justice for comfort women, fueling a crucial conversation on women's rights and historical accountability.

Mina Watanabe has devoted her life to advocating for the stories of women victimized by Japan's wartime sexual slavery system, commonly referred to as comfort women, during World War II. Following the recent passing of Gil Won-ok, a 96-year-old Korean survivor who had bravely shared her experiences, the pressure is mounting on Japan to acknowledge its historical wrongs.

Watanabe, although born after the war, has taken it upon herself to ensure that the voices of these women are not forgotten. As co-founder of the Women’s Active Museum on War and Peace (WAM) in Tokyo, she highlights the plight of comfort women and amplifies their struggles. WAM, established in 2005 through crowd-funding initiatives, serves as a platform that educates the public on the broader implications of wartime sexual violence against women.

Watanabe’s passion for women's rights ignited during her school years, and her personal encounters with survivors in the 1990s shifted her perspective and cemented her resolve to campaign for justice. Despite consistent pushback from some sectors of society and feelings of isolation, her commitment remains unwavering.

As the number of survivors dwindles, the urgency for increased awareness, acknowledgment, and reparations from the Japanese government grows. Watanabe, alongside other activists, continues to confront societal stigma and strives to ensure that the legacy of comfort women is not only respected but also recognized in the narrative of Japan’s history.