The debate over statues memorializing "comfort women," who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels before and during World War II, is threatening to upend a six-decade sister city relationship between Osaka and San Francisco.
In an exchange of letters made public Wednesday, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee expressed disappointment in Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura's announcement that he might cut the tie-up over the U.S. city's new comfort women memorial.
"I am deeply disappointed that you are considering the cessation of our Sister City partnership. Our citizen organizations bring our people together and create mutual understanding on a daily basis," Lee said in a letter dated Oct. 2.