Japanese Government Apology for Comfort Women: Prime Minister Miyazawa's 1992 Statement

SUMMARY

The Japanese government has issued multiple apologies regarding its wartime actions during World War II, including statements related to the 'comfort women' system. In January 1992, Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa made a statement during a press conference expressing remorse for the suffering of comfort women. This statement is widely cited as an official apology, although the exact date and full text are sometimes presented with slight variations.

While Miyazawa's statement is recognized, subsequent apologies, such as the Kono Statement in 1993, further clarified and expanded upon the government's acknowledgment of involvement and coercion. The sincerity and scope of these apologies have remained subjects of ongoing debate among various nations and scholars, particularly regarding the explicit acknowledgment of 'sex slavery' and broader cultural extermination claims.

CLAIMS

1. CORROBORATEDCONF 0.90

   In January 1992, Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa issued a public apology concerning 'comfort women'.

   — attributed to: Multiple sources

   • https://kls.law.columbia.edu/content/japanese-government-statements-and-ministry-foreign-affairs-statements
   • https://voi.id/en/memori/125007/
   • https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/v2tpzg/why_are_the_k%C5%8Dno_statement_and_the_murayama/
2. SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.80

   Prime Minister Miyazawa's apology stated: 'Concerning the comfort women, I apologize from the bottom of my heart and feel remorse for those people who suffered indescribable hardships'.

   — attributed to: Columbia Law School (citing PM Miyazawa)

   • https://kls.law.columbia.edu/content/japanese-government-statements-and-ministry-foreign-affairs-statements
3. SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.80

   The apology by Prime Minister Miyazawa occurred on January 1, 1992, during a press conference.

   — attributed to: Columbia Law School

   • https://kls.law.columbia.edu/content/japanese-government-statements-and-ministry-foreign-affairs-statements
4. DISPUTEDCONF 0.70

   The apology by Prime Minister Miyazawa occurred on January 17, 1992.

   — attributed to: VOI.ID

   • https://voi.id/en/memori/125007/
5. CORROBORATEDCONF 0.80

   Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Koichi also made an apology statement regarding 'comfort women' in 1992.

   — attributed to: National Archives of Korea, Reddit user

   • http://contents.nahf.or.kr/english/item/level.do?levelId=iswt_005e
   • https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/v2tpzg/why_are_the_k%C5%8Dno_statement_and_the_murayama/
6. SINGLE-SOURCECONF 0.80

   The 1993 Kono Statement admitted and apologized for the involvement of the Japanese armed forces and coercion in the 'comfort women' system.

   — attributed to: National Archives of Korea

   • http://contents.nahf.or.kr/english/item/level.do?levelId=iswt_005e

TIMELINE

• 1992-01-01Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa makes an apology statement during a press conference concerning 'comfort women'. [src]
• 1992-01-17Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa issues a formal public apology for forcing Korean women into sex slavery. [src]
• 1992Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Koichi makes a statement acknowledging and apologizing for the 'comfort women' system. [src]
• 1993Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono Yohei issues the Kono Statement, admitting and apologizing for Japanese armed forces' involvement and coercion in the 'comfort women' system. [src]

ENTITIES

• PERSON Kiichi Miyazawa — Prime Minister of Japan
• PERSON Kato Koichi — Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan
• PERSON Kono Yohei — Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan
• ORG Japanese Government — Issuing body of apology statements
• EVENT World War II — Historical context for apologies
• EVENT Comfort Women — Victims of the wartime system being apologized for

OPEN QUESTIONS — PENDING LEADS

• What is the complete official transcript of Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa's statement from January 1992?
• Are there official Japanese government records or press releases that confirm the exact date (January 1 or January 17) of PM Miyazawa's 1992 apology?
• What was the full text of the Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Koichi's 1992 statement regarding comfort women?
• How have international legal scholars interpreted the legal standing of the Miyazawa 1992 apology and the Kono Statement regarding reparations or state responsibility?
• What specific phrasing did the 1995 Murayama Statement use regarding 'comfort women' compared to the 1992 Miyazawa statement?

EVIDENCE — CAPTURED SOURCES

1. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/110mzgh/ysk_the_anatomy_of_a_proper_apology/ [archived]

   A true "amends" is a change in the behavior. Before you initiate the apology process outlined, make sure you've truly assessed whether the apology is appropriate and whether it's appropriate now. Do you want to deliver the apology to release yourself from the discomfort you've ca…

2. [WEB] https://voi.id/en/memori/125007/

   On January 17, 1992, Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Kiichi Miyazawa issued a formal public apology. His apology was for Japan's forcing tens of thousands of Korean women to become sex slaves for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

3. [WEB] https://www.liquisearch.com/list_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_japan/history/1990s

   "In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Government of Japan expressed its resolution through the statement by the Prime Minister, which states that during a certain period in the past, Japan's conduct caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people …

4. [WEB] https://grokipedia.com/page/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan [archived]

   The list of war apology statements issued by Japan comprises official declarations by Japanese prime ministers, cabinet officials, and the emperor expressing remorse, regret, or apology for the Empire of Japan's military aggression, colonial policies, and atrocities committed dur…

5. [WEB] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan [archived]

   List of war apology statements issued by Japan This is a list of war apology statements issued by Japan regarding war crimes committed by the Empire of Japan during World War II. The statements were made at and after the end of World War II in Asia, from the 1950s to present day.

6. [WEB] http://contents.nahf.or.kr/english/item/level.do?levelId=iswt_005e [archived]

   The Japanese government claimed that it has already apologized for "comfort women system." The "apology" is said to be the 1992 statement made by Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Koichi and another one made by his successor Kono Yohei in the following year. In the Kono Statement, the…

7. [WEB] https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_war_apology_statements_issued_by_Japan [archived]

   This is a list of war apology statements issued by the state of Japan with regard to the war crimes and atrocities committed by the Empire of Japan during World War II. The statements were made on and after the end of World War II in Asia, from the 1950s to the 2010s. There is an…

8. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/v2tpzg/why_are_the_k%C5%8Dno_statement_and_the_murayama/ [archived]

   From what I could read and research, the Kōno and Murayama statements are regarded as the first and more important ones to bring up the topic of comfort women to light in Japan and worldwide. However, in 1992, PM Miyazawa Kiichi, in various speeches, and Chief Cabinet Secretary K…

9. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/83nknc/to_date_has_there_ever_been_a_full_apology_by_the/ [archived]

   Furthermore, has there ever been any official acknowledgement/apology of the United States in their complicity in granting amnesty many of the doctors/scientists that were involved in the experiments took place?

10. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/11t6u64/cmv_japan_has_probably_done_enough_to_apologize/

    Please list the times Japan has issued an apology explicitly stating comfort women were sex slaves, and that Japan attempted to exterminate Korean culture and identity like they did with the Ainu and Ryukyuans.

11. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/copypasta/comments/l9r8x8/logan_paul_apology_script/ [archived]

    I made a sevewe and continuous wapse in my judgement, and I don't expect to be fowgiven. I'm simpwy hewe to apowogize. What we came acwoss that day in the woods was obviouswy unpwanned. The weactions you saw on tape wewe waw; they wewe unfiwtewed. None of us knew how to weact ow …

12. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/14myjva/a_normal_japanese_apologizes/ [archived]

    Then in comes an Alien ship to take over the planet unapologetically. They join forces to teach this Alien race and their Leader how to be more empathetic so as to understand the reason behind apologies. Prior to the final apologetic confrontation, the creators insert 6 months wo…

13. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/3gyho9/the_abe_statement_prime_minister_abe_just/ [archived]

    The image: During Fuji TV's live broadcast of the speech, they had a live reaction from former Prime Minister Murayama ( who delivered the famous 1995 Murayama Statement). Interesting points: The statement was REALLY long - far longer than the Murayama statement. Abe spoke for at…

14. [WEB] https://kls.law.columbia.edu/content/japanese-government-statements-and-ministry-foreign-affairs-statements [archived]

    The following links will take you to the statements that the Japanese government has made on the issue of the enslavement of women in military brothels during World War II. January 1, 1992 Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa, in a press conference, said: "Concerning the comfort women,…

15. [WEB] https://www.scribd.com/document/523365984/List-of-War-Apology-Statements-Issued-by-Japan [archived]

    This document provides background information on war apology statements issued by Japan regarding war crimes committed during World War II. It lists apology statements from various Japanese prime ministers and emperors from the 1950s to present day, addressing countries like Sout…

16. [REDDIT] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskSocialScience/comments/15qvlsc/is_it_true_that_japan_has_not_apologized_for_its/ [archived]

    Japan has issued apologies for its wartime actions and war crimes, particularly during World War II, on multiple occasions. These apologies have taken various forms, including statements from government officials, official declarations, and speeches. However, the sincerity and sc…

CROSS-REFERENCE

• → SHARES-ACTOR Japanese WWII Comfort Women Quotas: Government and Military Directives — Both reference Japanese Government, Comfort Women, World War Ii
• → SHARES-ACTOR Japanese Government Admissions and US Immunity Deal for Unit 731 — Both reference Japanese Government, World War Ii, Ii
• → SHARES-ACTOR Korean Comfort Women: Testimonies, Japanese Imperial Army Involvement, and Historical Documentation — Both reference Comfort Women, World War Ii, Ii