The United States on Thursday condemned Hashimoto's opinion as "outrageous". In response, he claimed that American troops abused Japanese women during their seven-year occupation after Japan's 1945 surrender.
China, South Korea and the Philippines have all voiced their disapproval at Hashimoto's comments, the latest episode in a decades-long controversy over interpretations of history in East Asia that colours present-day relations.
Unbowed, Hashimoto on Monday hit back at the polls, criticising their methodology.
"The way the Mainichi did the opinion poll is 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."
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