Reading the book written by Prof. Herbert P. Bix who made research on the life of Emperor Hirohito, the emperor knew what was going on about the war in WW II. According to his book the Emperor ordered his two million military to conquer, kill, burn and plunder. In the Philippines and other countries they confiscated gold in any form, currencies and jewelry. The emperor had a cousin and an uncle assigned with the Imperial High Command who acted as liaison so that whenever the emperor attended high level conference, he never spoke about strategy but his decision was brought   by his liaison at Imperial Hq. As to the compensation, they are a rich nation still holding their loot from other nations. They just want to maintain their honor. Whenever there s a shipment of their loot, the Palace gave a lavish party to celebrate. We were unfortunate victims. It began when we were on the Bataan death march. An American gave me his rolex watch thinking that it might be saved by me. Unfortunately, a guard with bayonet talked to me in Japanese which I could not understand. He came up to me and held me by the arm where I taped the rolex watch to hide. He took it and placed it with other watches he had confiscated....

Fred Foz

Major Foz was a Sgt. in the 45th Infantry (PS) during WWII, seeing action on Bataan and in the guerrillas.  He is immediate past president of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society.

I am not sure exactly when it was, but during the war, there was an apartment building on the Northwest corner of Dakota Street and Herran Street, half a block away from where we lived at 740 Dakota Street. It had wide balconies on the two sides facing the streets. the ground floor was about 5 ft off the ground because of floods during the rainy season. During the war it was taken over by the Japanese army, and turned into a brothel for officers. My friends and I would sometimes hide in the bushes at night beside the balcony, and watch the girls make themselves up and dress in Kimonos for the evening. We saw no nudity, the girls were in their slips. Most looked Japanese (perhaps Korean?), others were Filipinas.

Roderick Hall

The following is a response provided by the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C.

Thank you for your message to the Japan Information and Culture Center of the Embassy of Japan. This response has been drafted to answer questions on war responsibility and government policy regarding the "comfort women" and addresses the recent comments made by Prime Minister Abe.

1. The Japanese Government has acknowledged the Comfort Women issue and extended official apologies on many important occasions.  

1) The Chief Cabinet Secretary’s Statement in 1993 http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/cw2.htm  

“Undeniably, this was an act, with the involvement of the military authorities of the day, that severely injured the honor and dignity of many women. The Government of Japan would like to take this opportunity once again to extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.”  

2) Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama’s Statement in 1994  

“On the issue of wartime “comfort women”, which seriously stained the honor and dignity of many women, I would like to take this opportunity once again to express my profound and sincere remorse and apologies”  

3) Letters from Prime Ministers to Each Former Comfort Woman , which extended Japan’s apology and remorse: http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/cw3.htm  

“The issue of comfort women, with the involvement of the Japanese military authorities at that time, was a grave affront to the honor and dignity of a large number of women.”  

“As Prime Minister of Japan , I thus extend anew my most sincere apologies and remorse to all the women who endured immeasurable and painful experiences and suffered incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.”  

“We must not evade the weight of the past, nor should we evade our responsibilities for the future."

“I believe that our country, painfully aware of its moral responsibilities, with feelings of apology and remorse, should face up squarely to its past history and accurately convey it to future generations”.  

4) Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly stated that there has been no change in the position of the Japanese Government.  

“I have talked about this matter in the Diet sessions last year, and recently as well, and to the press. I have been consistent. I will stand by the Kono Statement. This is our consistent position. Further, we have been apologizing sincerely to those who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable psychological wounds as comfort women. Former Prime Ministers, including Prime Ministers Koizumi and Hashimoto, have issued letters to the comfort women. I would like to be clear that I carry the same feeling. This has not changed even slightly. ” (Excerpt from Remarks by Prime Minister Abe at an Interview by NHK, March 11, 2007 http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/cw4.htm )  

5) The Diet (Japanese Parliament) passed resolutions in 1995 and 2005 showing apologies to the war-time victims.  

“ Solemnly reflecting upon the many instances of colonial rule and acts of aggression that occurred in modern world history, and recognizing that Japan carried out such acts in the past and inflicted suffering on the people of other countries, especially in Asia , the Members of this House hereby express deep remorse.” (Resolution of the House of Representatives adopted on June 9,1995 http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/english/html/cw4.htm )