Politician hits back

Unbowed, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto on Monday hit back at the opinion polls, criticizing their methodology.

"The way the Mainichi Shimbun conducted the opinion poll was unfair," he tweeted.

"Even though I have repeatedly said that I didn't think the comfort women system was necessary, it is ... based on the premise that I believe the comfort women system was necessary."

The embattled mayor has tried to distinguish between forcing women into sexual slavery, which he said was wrong, and allowing troops to have a sexual outlet, which he said was necessary.

Hashimoto, a lawyer by training, rose to prominence as an outspoken television talk-show guest. He rode the wave of popularity into local politics and last year established a national party, becoming its joint leader.

AFP

(China Daily 05/21/2013 page11)