The mayor of Osaka says he’s ending a six-decade sister city relationship with San Francisco to protest a statue honoring women forced to have sex with Japanese soldiers during World War II. Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura this week sent a letter to San Francisco announcing he’s withdrawing
The mayor of Osaka says he’s ending a six-decade sister city relationship with San Francisco to protest a statue honoring women forced to have sex with Japanese soldiers during World War II.
Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura this week sent a letter to San Francisco announcing he’s withdrawing from the largely ceremonial relationship, the San Francisco Examiner reported Wednesday.
The statue was erected on city property last year by California’s Korean, Chinese and Filipino communities.
Jeff Cretan, a spokesman for San Francisco Mayor London Breed, called Yoshimura’s decision unfortunate and says the cities will remain connected through “people-to-people ties.
