Author: Mandalay Garrison Headquarters
Date: May 26, 1943
File: N.A.
Locations: Mandalay (Myanmar, formerly Burma)
Keywords: Management and supervision / sanitation
Annotation Source: Northeast Asian History Foundation
Click HERE to see the annotation in Korean
Image link: http://wam-peace.org/ianfu-koubunsho/pdf/K-PDF/K_BA_055.pdf
ANNOTATION
This is one of the rare documents that contains the complete set of rules and regulations for comfort stations. Its main contents are as follows:
-While as a general rule the comfort station is for Japanese soldiers and civilians attached to the military, Japanese citizens residing in Mandalay are permitted to visit the comfort station after 24:30, as an exception, as long as their visits do not disrupt the use of soldiers and civilians attached to the military. Non-military citizens’ visits are strictly prohibited until 24:30. The rate for officers applies to non-military Japanese.
-Non-commissioned officers and soldiers may visit the comfort station strictly on the off days of their unit.
-Only the non-commissioned officers and soldiers who have a pass mayvisit the comfort station.
-Any case of unfair treatment by the comfort station operators or to “comfort women” should be immediately reported to the commander. Beating or violence is also prohibited.
-Those who do not follow the comfort station regulations will be banned immediately.-Service fees should be paid with military scrip only as set by the military.
-Comfort station operators should put up wooden name plates somewhere conspicuous and on the door of each room for “comfort women” to display their nicknames and venereal disease testing results.
-The cost for equipment installation and the medical treatment of patients should be paid by the operators.
-The operators should submit a monthly revenue report to the headquarters of the garrison by the 5thday of every month in the format required by the authorities.
-Food supplies and any other necessities should be requested to the garrison headquarters one month before they are exhausted.
-Operators must install a disinfecting room within the comfort station.
-Those who refuse to use condoms or apply ointment as treatment for venereal disease should not be served.
-Prostitutes and their clients should be disinfected at the disinfecting room every time.
-Before starting work, “comfort women” are required to have a general check-up including check-up of their private parts which shall be conducted by the military.
-“Comfort women” should have a physical exam once a week. They should carry a certificate and present it at the request of the soldiers or civilians attached to the military.
Attachment 1. Table of comfort station usage: Variances in usage time, duration, and the fees set for private soldiers, noncommissioned officers, and officers.
Attachment 2. Format to report revenue of the comfort station: The number of clients, income, and abstract should be entered in the categories of officers, non-commissioned officers, and private soldiers.
Attachment 3. Precautions for visiting soldiers, civilians attached to the military, and other visitors: Visitors must be mindful of themselves as a soldier, a civilian attached to the military, or a Japanese citizen of the Great Japanese Empire, so as not to damage the dignity of the Empire; visitors must be especially vigilant against spying activities; visitors should use condoms and ointment for venereal diseases; visitors should observe the time limits.
Contents
Chapter 1. General provisions
Chapter 2. Management
Chapter 3. Sanitation
Chapter 4. Miscellaneous rules, etc.
Appendix 1. Table of the comfort station usage and the duration of entertainment
Appendix 2. Format to report revenue of the comfort station
Appendix 3. Guidelines for soldiers, civilians attached to the military, and other visitors at the comfort station
Sources:
WAM Collection (Military_268)
Collection of the Asian Women’s Fund, Vol. 4, p. 281-293
Sourcebook by Yuji Hosaka, Vol. 1, p. 348-353
#management #supervision #sanitation #venereal #disease #Mandalay #Burma #Myanmar
QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS
Explain the following words to your students before asking them to read the annotation:
- military scrip: paper money issued to pay military personnel and to conduct other financial transactions on designated overseas military bases
- conspicuous: clearly visible
- venereal disease (VD): a sexually transmitted disease
After reading the annotation, please answer the following questions:
1. What kind of document is this?
2. Who wrote it?
3. What year was it created?
4. What was the historical context in East Asia during the time?
5. Where was it created?
6. What's the title of the document? What does the title tell you?
7. Who's the audience of the document?
8. Use one sentence to summarize this document.
9. Which regulation/rule particularly interests you? Why?
10. The Japanese government has been claiming that it bears no legal or official responsibility for the "comfort women" victims. Based on this document, do you think the claim is defendable? Why or why not?
11. What other questions do you have for this document?
12. How/Where can you find the answers?
*Questions for Students section was designed by Jing Williams, Associate Professor of Social Studies Education at University of South Dakota.