Date of letter:1992-07-30（date on envelope）
Address of author:Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province
Date of event:1941, 1939, 1942, 1943
Location of event:Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province
Name of author:Zhang Shuangbing
Name(s) of victim(s):Hou Donge, Liu Linhuan, Chen Lintao, Liu Mianhuan, Feng Zhuangxiang, Zhang Erli, Li Sanxiao, Hou Runwu, Zhao Mei
Type of atrocity:Sex Slaves, Slave Laborers（SS, SL)
Other details:My (Zhang Shuangbing) first letter here contains the history of 9 victims. More information about other victims will be provided later after my further investigation. I am a teacher willing to be a part of the team claiming compensation from Japan. The content of materials is as follows: In early September 1941, Hou Dong’e was forced to be a comfort woman by the Japanese, making her unable to bear children any more; in October 1939 Liu Linhuan was made a comfort woman at Japanese stronghold; Chen Lintao was arrested in 1942 and made a comfort woman; in the spring of 1943, Liu Mianhuan and Feng Zhuangxiang, Zhang Erli in the same village were made comfort women at Japanese stronghold. Li Youfu’s brother Li Sanxiao was conscripted labor by Japanese and was not sent home until suffering greatly. In July 1942, Hou Runwu was captured by the Japanese as a war prisoner, sent to Japan as a Slave Laborers and was escorted home after liberation. In the winter of 1941 Zhao Mei was arrested on the way to his sister’s. He was cruelly tortured before being sent to Japan as a Slave Laborers. He then came back owing to exchange of prisoners.
Teacher Tong Zeng:
Please allow me to call you that. You are leading us through all difficulties and hardships for the dignity of our suffering people.
I received your letter on 24th due to the mail delay. I’ve done some work according to your instructions. I’ve collected related materials, including the suffering of six women (Liu XX, Liu YY, Feng XX, Zhang XX, Chen XX from our village and Hou XX from XX Village), who registered at the base. I’ve also collected materials about three men Hou Runwu, Zhao Mei and Li Youfu who were captured and sent to Japan. (Not sure whether this is useful or not)
It took me several days to ride through mountain trails. The number of victims is far greater than my initial count of 14. There are many victims within a radius of a few hundred miles. Things are not simple. But due to the limited time and the fear of delaying your trip to Japan, I am sending you these materials for now. My transportation tool was not very convenient and affected my working efficiency. I am so sorry. (For example, I need to go to related departments in the county to check the Japanese army No.)
Please tell me whether the format of the materials is correct in your reply letter. If not, please return the materials and I will correct them.
As for the signature form you sent me, I don’t know how to sign it or its functions. Please tell me in your reply letter and I will handle it next time. If each victim needs a copy of the signature form, please send more to me because I cannot copy it here (There is not a copier in my poor hometown.)
My hometown was once occupied by the Japanese army, so now there are many female and male victims and countless people who lost property worth over 1,000 yuan. Please tell me exactly the materials needed, so I won’t run useless errands. I will make every effort to perform your assignment as long as it’s within the scope of my ability.
Yours faithfully,
Zhang Shuangbing
July 26
By the way, I am quite glad to join you and be an initiator of the claim for compensation against Japan. Although I live in a remote rural area, I am willing to work and suffer with you. If there is any work, please let me know at any time and I will cooperate as much as I can.
I am Zhang Shuangbing, male, 38 years old, a private teacher with Yangquan School, Xipan Village, Meng, Shanxi.
I’ll stop here. Looking forward to your reply.
Zhang Shuangbing
Yangquan School, Xipan Village, Meng, Shanxi
(or Panmahe Literary Society, Meng, Shanxi)
Postal code: 045107
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Hou XX, female, 71 years old, was born in XX, Meng, Shanxi and now lives in YY, Meng.
In early September 1941, the puppet government of Gaozhuang Village took on the assignment of the Jin’gui Base of the invading Japanese army to capture and send me to serve the Japanese at the Jin’gui base. At that time, I was only 18 years old and just gave birth to my baby over 40 days ago. But at the night of the day when I was sent to the base, I was ordered to accompany Japanese junior officer “Red Face” and on the next day, senior officer “Plank” also raped me. Each of them raped me over 10 times. Afterwards, I was raped by the Japanese many times. Each night, I would be raped to different extent by the Japanese army and puppet army.
Each day, over 10 women including me were locked in a house. We lived in fear all the time because we didn’t know when one or several or over ten Japanese men would rush in to rape us, even in the broad daylight or in front of other people.
I was then only 18 years old and was raped for over 10 times, over 10 or 20 people for each time. I was strong before capture, but in the end I couldn’t get out of bed. I didn’t want to live anymore, so I took some opium. But I was taken back for rescue and my life was barely saved.
Unfortunately, I was reported by the puppet government for a second time and captured by the Japanese. I was so repeatedly and savagely raped that I couldn’t bear children and had permanent disability. Now, I have a serious disease, cannot move and live on my own depending on government relief. It’s all because of the sin of the Japanese people. I hereby demand a compensation of 120,000 USD to make up for my loss and improve my life.
Hou XX (Fingerprint)
XX, Meng, Shanxi
July 25, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Liu XX, female, 72 years old, born in XX, Meng, Shanxi.
I October 1939, I was captured and sent to the Jin’gui base of the Japanese army. I was raped there by the Japanese senior officers, officers and soldiers. Every night, I was taken away from the traitor’s residence to sleep with them and suffer their torture.
I hereby demand a compensation of 100,000 USD against the Japanese government. The figure is not too much because my loss because of them is far greater than that.
Liu XX (Fingerprint)
XX, Meng, Shanxi
July 26, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Chen XX, 71 years old, born in Meng, Shanxi
In the autumn of 1942, I and Hou XX from XX village were captured by the Japanese army and sent to the Jin’gui base on the same day. Over 10 women lived in the same house and would be randomly picked away by Japanese senior officers and officers to be raped. We were raped by them almost every day.
Afterwards, some people were searching for us. The Japanese army allowed me to go home after receiving some money. A new group of women replaced us.
I hereby demand a compensation of 100,000 USD against Japan.
Chen XX (Fingerprint)
XX, Meng, Shanxi
July 26, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Liu XX, 69 years old, born in XX, Meng, Shanxi
In the spring of 1943, I and Feng XX, Zhang XX from the same village were forcibly captured and sent to the Jin’gui base by the Japanese army. At the night of that day, we were taken to the residence of officer “Donkey” and raped by him. After that, we were arranged to live at the traitor’s house and eat with them. At night, we would be taken in turns to Japanese senior officers’ and officers’ residences, being raped by them. And after we returned to the traitor’s house, we would be again raped by many traitors. Several days later, the Japanese senior officers ordered their soldiers to rape us. Each time, there would be several Japanese people or over 10 Japanese people, traitors and puppet army. At that time, I just turned 15 years old, unmarried and suffered brutal raping. Another two women Feng XX and Zhang XX also suffered unlimited brutal raping by the Japanese army.
Over a month later, I was allowed to go home after my father Liu XX pulled strings and finally sent 800 silver (borrowed) to officer “Donkey”. At the night before the day of my release, I was taken to their residence and raped in turns by over 10 people.
Due to the suffering, I was sick for years until I turned 20. Even up to now, I am often troubled by illness. I have a long-term pubis pain and drugs have not made it better. I hereby demand a compensation of 100,000 USD against Japan to pay for my drugs and living.
Liu XX (Fingerprint)
XX, Meng, Shanxi
July 26, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Two female victims Feng XX and Zhang XX, along with Liu XX were captured by the Japanese army in the spring of 1943 and sent to a Japanese base to be comfort women. Now, the two women have died with injustice, but they have children, who have the right to demand compensation against the Japanese government. Although they cannot personally describe their suffering, the fact, witnesses and notaries can prove it. We demand a compensation of 100,000 USD to each of them for their offspring.
I hereby file such claim as their agent. Although they are dead, their injustice and debt are not paid.
Wu XX (Fingerprint)
XX, Meng, Shanxi
July 28, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Li Youfu, male, 73 years old, born in Gaozhuang Village, Xipan, Meng.
My third eldest brother Li Sanxiao (died of illness three years ago) was a scout of Army No. 19 during the anti-Japanese war. He was captured by the Japanese army during Fuping Battle and then sent to Japan for laboring. Every day, he was forced by the Japanese to do heavy work without food or clothes. He experienced inhuman suffering. He ate grass roots, tree leaves and barks and raw potatoes to stay alive.
He got illness due to torture and went home in 1945 during the exchange of prisoners. He had a wife but no children and died of illness three years ago. As his younger brother, I demand a compensation of 30,000 USD against Japan to comfort his soul and clean up his debt.
Li Youfu (Fingerprint)
Gaozhuang Village, Xipan, Meng, Shanxi
July 25, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Hou Runwu, male, 70 years old, born in Dong Village, Xiyan, Meng.
In July 1942, I was a guerrilla fighter and was captured by the Japanese army in a battle and sent to Japan. The Japanese army didn’t give us human food and forced us to do heavy work such as loading and transporting goods, moving equipment, nothing but laboring. We were not allowed to speak and were given grass roots, tree barks and pigs and dogs’ leftover to eat. Moreover, we were often beaten by supervisors. Some were beaten to death, and some died of hunger or torture. Those living were sent back in 1945 when Japan was defeated. I hereby demand a compensation of 50,000 USD against Japan.
Hou Runwu (Fingerprint)
Dong Village, Xiyan, Meng, Shanxi
July 27, 1992
Petition for Compensation Against Japan
Complainant: Zhao Mei, male, 71 years old, born in Nanyangjuan Village, Xipan, Meng, Shanxi.
In the winter of 1941, I went to Xiyan to visit my elder sister and when I walked to Lingnan Village, I was captured by the Japanese and sent to their Xiyan base. At the night of that day, I was brutally beaten by the Japanese soldiers and blacked out seven times. Then, I was sent to Japan where I suffered beating and torture. I was forced to do heavy work, eat rice bran, grass roots, tree leaves and raw vegetables until I came back during the exchange of prisoners. I was just a civilian, but endured such suffering without reasons. Now I am old and demand a compensation of 50,000 USD against Japan. I don’t think that’s too much because I was badly injured and lost the ability to work 40 years ago. My request is not too much.
Zhao Mei (Fingerprint)
Nanyangjuan Village, Xipan, Meng, Shanxi
July 25, 1992
