Comfort woman

The term comfort women refers to women and girls, from Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan and other places, who were forced into sexual slavery in military brothels run by the Japanese Imperial Army and Navy before and during the Second World War. Many were taken by deception, coercion or force, and the number of victims is debated, with estimates ranging from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand. Survivors began to speak out publicly in the 1990s, and the issue has caused lasting tension between Japan and its neighbours, especially South Korea. Japan issued statements of apology in 1993 and set up a fund in 1995, but many survivors and governments consider them inadequate.

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