Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Hosoda on Friday apologized to former sex slaves for Japan's sexual violence against them during World War II.
At a meeting with former sex slaves Yi Yongsu, 75, from South Korea and Beatriz Tuazon, 74, from the Philippines, the top government spokesman said, "I apologize from the bottom of my heart for disgracing the dignity of women during the war."
According to the support group for the two women, it was the first time a Japanese chief Cabinet secretary has met and listened to former sex slaves.
Yi and Tuazon demanded an official apology and compensation from the government for being forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers during the war.
They said many victims have already died and that the government must deal sincerely with the problem to prevent a recurrence of sexual violence and war.
Yi and Tuazon came to Japan to testify about their hardships at meetings that were to be held Saturday at 10 locations nationwide.
Sex slaves were euphemistically known in Japan as "comfort women." Historians estimate a majority of about 200,000 women who were forced to provide sex for the Imperial Japanese Army were from the Korean Peninsula.