A child holds a placard during a protest rally in front of the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City, the Philippines, Aug. 12, 2016. The activists and a group of Philippine "comfort women" during World War II held a protest against the visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida. [Photo: Xinhua/Rouelle Umali]

Women's groups protested outside the Japanese Embassy in Manila on Friday, on the anniversary of the end of World War II and International Memorial day for "comfort women" - the name used for the Asian sex slaves exploited during World war II by Japanese soldiers.

Protest leader, Rechilda Extre-madura, explains the reason for their gathering:

"We want to mark the end of World War II which until now has not seen any justice for the Lolas or grandmothers- it has already been 71 years. This is the fourth international Memorial Day for comfort women and we want to register our alarm at the resurgence of Japanese militarism."

The protest coincided with Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida's last day in the Philippines, as part of an official visit.

Historians say 20,000 to 200,000 women from across Asia, many of them Koreans, were forced to provide sex to Japan's front-line soldiers.

Japanese nationalists have claimed the practice is common during war.