An outspoken mayor in Japan was forced to apologized for remarking that U.S. soldiers could help reduce the nation’s sex crime statistic by frequenting adult X-rated establishments.
Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who also leads up a growing nationalistic political party, said his comments came by way of a “sense of crisis” he felt about America’s military sexually assaulting Japanese in Okinawa, The Associated Press reported.
Specifically, he said on May 13, AP reported: The U.S. troops ought “to make better use” of legal prostitution and sex industry offerings. “If you don’t make use of those places, you cannot control the sexual energy of those tough guys.”
He’s since said sorry.
“I understand that my remark could be construed as an insult to the U.S. forces and to the American people,” he said at a news conference in Tokyo, AP reported. “I retract this remark and express an apology.”
At the same time, the mayor refused to retract or apologize for earlier comments about sex slaves in World War II, when he said that forcing South Koreans and Chinese to work in front-line brothels was a necessity to the discipline of Japanese soldiers.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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