Unbowed, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto on Monday hit back at the opinion polls, criticizing their methodology.

"The way the Mainichi Shimbun conducted the opinion poll was unfair," he tweeted.

"Even though I have repeatedly said that I didn't think the comfort women system was necessary, it is ... based on the premise that I believe the comfort women system was necessary."

The embattled mayor has tried to distinguish between forcing women into sexual slavery, which he said was wrong, and allowing troops to have a sexual outlet, which he said was necessary.

Hashimoto, a lawyer by training, rose to prominence as an outspoken television talk-show guest. He rode the wave of popularity into local politics and last year established a national party, becoming its joint leader.

AFP

(China Daily 05/21/2013 page11)