{
  "id": 13640065,
  "title": "Research finds at least 39 'industrial comfort stations' across Japan during WWII",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/11/research-finds-at-least-39-industrial-comfort-stations-across-japan",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-11T04:00:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261009/p2a/00m/0na/033000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "During the Asia-Pacific War, at least 39 industrial comfort stations existed across Japan to provide sexual relief for male Korean laborers working in wartime industries. These Korean workers, many of whom were forcibly brought to Japan under Japanese colonial rule, were subjected to harsh conditions in coal mines and other mining sites. The Japanese government encouraged mining companies to use existing Korean restaurants and establishments as part of their labor management measures. Women from the Korean Peninsula, classified as private prostitutes, were made to work at these industrial comfort stations alongside the male workers. According to research from the Korea Museum, these establishments were located in Hokkaido, Fukuoka Prefecture, and at the Mitsubishi Hashima Coal Mine in Nagasaki Prefecture, also known as Gunkanjima. A researcher's paper from the Kyushu branch of the coal control association, published in 1945, stated that it would be convenient to have women from the peninsula for every 1,000 Korean laborers. Testimonies and interviews conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun revealed that many of the women working as servers at these establishments were teenage girls.",
  "summary": "SAPPORO -- Research has found at least 39 \"industrial comfort stations\" existed across Japan for male Korean laborers mobilized into wartime industrie",
  "key_points": [
    "At least 39 industrial comfort stations existed in Japan during WWII.",
    "Korean laborers, often forcibly brought to Japan, worked in harsh mining conditions.",
    "Women from the Korean Peninsula served at these establishments, many being teenage girls."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}