A protest was held outside Fujikoshi's headquarters in Toyama, Japan, urging the company to apologize and compensate victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period in Korea.
On the 25th, citizens from Korea and Japan gathered in front of the Fujikoshi headquarters in Toyama, Japan, to demand apologies and reparations for Korean forced labor victims. The event coincided with Fujikoshi's shareholder meeting and featured participation from individuals like Masaki Wakatani, whose mother served as an educator in Japanese-occupied Korea during World War II. Wakatani emphasized the injustice faced by young Koreans forced into labor, urging Fujikoshi to acknowledge its historical wrongs and provide compensation to victims and their families.
The history of forced labor during the Pacific War is marked by the exploitation of Korean youth, with many children deceived into believing they would receive education and opportunities in Japan. Instead, they faced brutal working conditions in munitions factories, exemplified by the experiences shared by victims and their families. Wakatani's mother, Noriko, witnessed the departure of seven of her students to Fujikoshi and carried the guilt of not being able to protect them until her death in 2019, a burden she only revealed to her son about a decade ago.
This protest not only highlights the ongoing trauma endured by victims and their families but also serves as a call for acknowledgment and reconciliation between Korea and Japan. As the call for justice continues, it sheds light on the historical grievances that still affect relations between the two nations today, and the importance of addressing these issues for healing and understanding in the aftermath of colonialism.
