Opposition to the comfort women memorial in Glendale, CA has come primarily from Japan, but a significant number of Japanese Americans have come out against it too, according to Gwen Muranaka, English Editor of the bilingual newspaper, Rafu Shimpo.
Her fear is that years of friendships between the Korean American and Japanese American communities will end over this issue.
Koreatown rose as one last year opposed to redistricting proposals that would have divided their community in two. Japanese Americans were along their side supporting them.
Col. Young Oak Kim, a Korean American, fought in the 100th/442nd regimental combat team and refused to leave even when the error was discovered.
“There is no Japanese nor Korean here. We’re all Americans and we’re fighting for the same cause,” he said.
