Japan’s continuing struggle to come to grips with its past is the subject of the next “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. David Schmidt, vice provost for international affairs, aired recently on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org). You can listen to their conversation here.

Dr. David Schmidt

Schmidt, who was born in Japan, served for six years on a war reparations board that heard testimony from the so-called “comfort women” of World War II.

These women — possibly as many as 200,000 — were taken from Korea, China, the Philippines and other countries under false pretenses and forced into sexual slavery for Japanese soldiers.

The ill will between these nations flared up again May 13, when the mayor of Osaka, Japan, said “comfort women” were necessary to maintain military discipline.

“It really fuels the fire between Japan and its neighbors, and they do not need that at this point,” Schmidt said. “It basically gives the South Koreans, the Chinese and other countries that card they can play at certain times.”

To listen to previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to the “Audio Clips” archives here and here.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.