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Date of Letter:1992-12
Address of Author:Mengxian County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province
Date of Event:1942-1945
Location of Event:Shanxi Province
Name of Author:Zhang Shuangbing
Name(s) of victim(s):Hou Qiaolian, Zhao Naihua, etc.
Type of atrocity:Sex Slaves, Rapes(RA, SS)
Other Details:Zhang Shuangbing sends the letters of complaint from several women who were forced into comfort women.
An Open Letter to the Japanese Government
Respectable Japanese Emperor,
Friendly exchanges between Japan and China dated far back and the two countries shared good memories in their history. But unfortunately your government brought a great disaster to the Chinese people during the 8 years from 1937 to 1945 in the modern Chinese history, which your government should admit. Through joint efforts of the governments, Sino-Japanese Joint Communique was issued in 1972 and the relationship were normalized and have fully developed in the following 20 years. As victims, we have always looked forward to the friendly exchanges between Japan and China and hoped that we can contribute to further promoting Sino-Japanese friendship.
There is an old Chinese saying that “Even old friends should clear their debts.” We hope that given the Sino- Japanese friendship, we have the opportunity to share our suffering with your government so that you will know how victims like us have survived by struggling bitterly. Your government should make proper compensation for what you did to us and make arrangements for our future life according to international practices and regulations.
China is a country with a long history, where the feudal system still exists. It’s hard to image how feudal women have struggled dozens of years in the old times of feudalism after being raped. We don’t want to recall the past memories, but there exist tortured female victims. Your government should make moral and economic compensation for causing a lifelong tragedy on them. We firmly believe your government will make up for the losses caused by the war in the shortest time possible so that these dying elderly can get some comfort when they are still alive.
Yours respectfully,
Zhang Shuangbing
Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China
Month/Day/Year
A total of 35 comfort women (Temporary)
Han Dong’e, 20, suffered in Jingui Fort
Chen Lintao, 70, ditto
Liu Linhuan, 70, ditto
Liu Changhuan, 66, ditto
Zhou Xixiang, 67, ditto
Li Xiumei, 67, ditto
Hou Xiliang, 68, ditto
Hou Qiaolian, 65, ditto
Zhao Naihua, 68, suffered in Wenzhou Fort, Yangqu County
Hou Jixiu, 68, ditto (dead)
Wan Yangmei, 70, suffered in Jingui Fort
Zhang Xiantao, 70, ditto
Yin Yuni, 71, ditto
Wang Bianliang, 69, suffered in Shangzhuang Stronghold
Li Lixiang, 69, suffered in Xiyan Stronghold
Li Meihe, 69, suffered in Hedong Stronghold
Li Haier, 68, suffered in Hedong Stronghold
Zhang Xian’er, 67, ditto
Yang Maonv, 68, ditto
Wang Meihe, 73, ditto
Gao Yine, 68, ditto
Yin Yulin, 71, ditto
Yin Guixiang, 74, ditto
Zhang Xiaoni, 70, suffered in Jingui Fort
Zhang Erni, dead
Feng Beixiang, dead
Liu Erhe, dead
Li Xiaohai, dead
Bian Fentao, dead
Hou Beitao, dead
Hou Runxiang, dead
Zhao Xuemei, dead
Qi Ruiai, dead
Liu Bianzhen, dead
Hou Shuangcang, dead
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Hou Qiaolian, female, 64, Gaozhuang Village, Xipan Town, Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
In March 1942, the Japanese soldiers came to Jiazhang Village, Xiyan Town and captured my father Hou Yinshai, deputy head of the village, and me. Then, they took off our upper clothes and beat us with sticks. We were bruised all over the body. Afterwards, they took us to Jingui Village and separated me from my father. I was dragged into a room which was then locked and I didn’t know where my father was. At over 11 p.m. that night, someone opened the door and took me to another room. After I entered the room, I saw a black-face officer and realized something bad was going to happen, so I cried out loud, which made the officer angry. He kicked me with leather shoes and dragged me on the bed. Then, he gagged me, stripped off all my clothes and raped me. I just turned 14 and was ruined by them. At dawn, I was taken back to the room where I was first kept. After that, every day from dawn to night, I would be raped by the Japanese for over 20 times.
For over 70 days, I was locked in that painful prison-like room, wasn’t given enough food or water and had to relieve myself in the room, living like an animal. I couldn’t see daylight until I was needed. After over 70 days, I got all swollen up. At last, my family ransomed my father and me with a flock of silver dollars (over 20), a donkey and over 250kg of wheat from my family and over 200 silver coins from my husband’s family. My uncle took a donkey with him to carry me home. We stayed one night at my uncle’s in Gaozhuang and he sent us home the next day. After I returned home, I was so ill that I couldn’t eat or drink. I was seriously ill for over a month. Since then, I have become afraid of dreaming, demented and would have a brain disorder and talk nonsense when I want to talk about important matters or talk too much. My whole life is ruined by the Japanese. Now, I couldn’t even support myself. I apply for a compensation of USD 200,000 from Japan. Please settle my issue and make a decisive decision.
Claimant Hou Qiaolian
November 1992
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Zhao Naihua, female, 68, Dawan Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
One day in March 1944, the Japanese soldiers based in Nanwenchuan, Yangqu County came to Dawan Village under the lead of a white eyebrow captain, where they killed my father and two of my siblings who were growing beans and took away our cattle and donkey. They searched everywhere and found me hiding in the ditch. I was then escorted to Nanwenchuan Stronghold over 20 li (1 li = 500 meters) away, along with another female named Hou Jixiu from the same village.
I was kept in a black cave in Nanwenchuan Stronghold and every night, I was called to the fort, where I would be raped by the Japanese Captain and many Japanese soldiers and would be badly beaten if I showed the slightest disobedience. I was bruised all over the body and severely tortured and humiliated. After being brutally raped and beaten by the Japanese soldiers for over a month, I became weaker and weaker and couldn’t stand it anymore. Finally, my family ransomed me with two bags of millet and a barrel of wine.
Due to brutal raping by the Japanese soldiers, I become permanently disabled and haven’t fully cured. What’s worse, those old diseases have begun to come back with age. To cure the old diseases and provide support for my later life, I hereby demand a compensation of USD 100,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Zhao Naihua (Fingerprint)
Dawan Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, China
Scrivener: Zhou Aiying (Fingerprint)
April 16, 1992
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Zhou Erhai, male, 69, Dawan Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
In March 1944, the Japanese soldiers stationed in Nanwenchuan, Yangqu County came to Dawan Village under the lead of captain and captured Zhao Naihua and my wife Hou Jixiu to Nanwenzhou Stronghold, where they were kept in a black cave. They would be given something to eat in the daytime and would be raped by the Japanese captain and soldiers. They were badly tortured and beaten in the stronghold for over a month. My family was very worried. Finally, we ransomed my wife with two bags of millet and a barrel of wine.
My wife was seriously tortured and couldn’t be properly treated. We couldn’t save her. She died in pain in 1952.
As her husband, I grieve deeply for her death. Besides, I am in huge debt because of medical treatment for her. I am old in poor condition and short in money as I live on farming. To comfort her soul, clear off the debt caused by her illness and support my later life, I hereby demand a compensation of USD 100,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Zhou Erhai (Fingerprint)
Dawan Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, China
September 16, 1992
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Zhou Xixiang, female, 68, Lizhuang Village, Xipan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
In the spring of 1943, I was captured to Jingui Stronghold by the Japanese soldiers stationed there, along with other 5 Communist Party cadres from Lizhuang Village. I was then director of the Women’s National Salvation Association of Lizhuang Village. The other 5 cadres were held in the firewood room in the stronghold, but I was kept in another room alone and raped by the Japanese soldiers and puppet army at day and night.
They would come almost every day for over 20 days. Sometimes 1 or 2 people and sometimes up to over 10 people. No matter how I resisted, they would threaten and cruelly beat me until I did what please them.
I am a woman. Various physical tortures make me infertile. Until today, I don’t have a biological child beside me and there is no one to support my later life. In addition, I have been unfairly treated by the society because of my suffering.
I have survived due to many reasons, but the scars and painful memories will never be erased. Therefore, to pay back my debt caused in my early days and support my later life, I demand a compensation of USD 150,000 from the Japanese government.
Zhou Xixiang
Lizhuang Village, Xipan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province
October 3, 1992
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Yin Linxiang, female, 74, Houhedong Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
In the spring of 1941, Japanese Captain SATO and his soldiers, who were stationed in Hedongshan Fort and belonged to the YOSHIDA Army of Yangquantuan, often came from the mountain to rape women. Either my younger sister Yin Wanglin or I would be taken to their fort to be raped and brutally beaten. They tortured us for 2 years until the winter of 1942 when my younger sister and I got sick every day. After I returned home, my then husband kicked me out. I had no other choice but to marry again. But no one wanted a woman who was raped in turns by Japanese soldiers. I felt so disgraceful and wanted to take my own life for several times, but failed. In the end, I married an old man who was over 20 years older than me. Later, he died. As I was always sick and infertile and had no one to support me, I married again.
Now my current husband is unable to work, so we have no one to depend on. To cure the diseases cured by Japanese soldiers and support my later life, I hereby demand a damage compensation of USD 120,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant Yin Linxiang (Fingerprint)
Houhedong Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, China
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Yin Yulin, female, 71, Houhedong Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China, now lives in Zi’a’zai Village, Dongheshui Town, Yangqu County.
In the spring of 1941, the Japanese army stationed in Hedong Fort, including Captain Donkey, Captain SATO and some Japanese soldiers, forced my older sister and me to the fort to rape us. They would release us home in the daytime and take us to the fort at night to rape us. I fled from the village, but was captured back and brutally beaten by them. Even my parents were beaten. My older sister and I were often cruelly beaten by them. I was too scared to flee again, so I just let them rape me. For 2 years, either my older sister or I would be taken to the fort to be raped and beaten. As I couldn’t stand it anymore, I tried to kill myself for several times, but my parents talked me out of it. In the end, I escaped to Zi’a’zai Village, Dongheshui Town, Quyang County. But due to the raping, I often become too sick to get out of the bed. Now, I am too sick to walk and live a very difficult life. To cure my diseases and support my later life, I hereby demand a damage compensation of USD 150,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Yin Yulin
Zi’a’zai Village, Dongheshui Town, Yangqu County, Shanxi Province, China
Scrivener: Li Guiming
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Gao Yin’e, female, 68, Heishiyao Village, Nanshe Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
On April 4, 1941, the Japanese soldiers stationed in Hedongshan Fort came to Nanshe Village. They captured, tied up and taken me to the fort, where I was held for over 1 month. Every day, I was raped in turns, insulted and brutally beaten by them. At that time, I was only 17. How could I stand the raping and torturing? I cried every day and couldn’t eat. It wasn’t until more than a month later when I was tortured to half-death that my family ransomed me by sending 400 silver dollars (over 200 silver dollars were borrowed and the rest bought by selling 10-mu (1 mu is about 667 square meters) land) to Captain Donkey and Squad Leader. After returning home, I got seriously ill and since then, I have begun to get various diseases. Despite long-time treatment, I am still infertile. As I am always ill and have no children to support me, I lead a very difficult life. Therefore, to cure my diseases caused by Japanese soldiers and support my later life, I hereby demand a compensation of USD 100,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Gao Yin’e (Fingerprint)
Heishiyao Village, Nanshe Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, China
Scrivener: Li Guiming
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Wang Meihe, female, 73, Houdang Village, Nanshe Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
On lunar February 28, 1942, the Japanese soldiers stationed in Hedong Fort came to Nanbei Village under the lead of Captain. They captured my husband Zhao Shuanglai who was then holding a meeting, tied him up and took him back to our home. I was terribly frightened by the Japanese soldiers. Later, they raped me and killed my husband. I was then taken to Hedong Fort and held there for over 40 days. Every day, I would be cursed, tortured and raped by them. It wasn’t until when I couldn’t stand the torture anymore that my husband’s family ransomed me with silver dollars. As there was no one to support me after I returned home, I had no choice but to marry again. Due to the raping, I become weaker and weaker. Now, I lead a very difficult life as the old diseases have come back to me with age. To cure my diseases caused by Japanese soldiers and make up for what they did to me, I hereby demand a damage compensation of USD 100,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Wang Meihe (Fingerprint)
Houdang Village, Nanshe Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, China
Scrivener: Li Guiming
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Yang Maonv (also named Yang Shizhen), female, 69, Xueligou Village, Nanshe Town, Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China, originally born in Houhedong Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province.
In November 1942, I was raped at home in Houhedong Village by Japanese soldiers under the command of Squad Leader ODA. They brutally tortured and raped me in turns, making me want to kill myself. But they tied me up and took me to Yangmashan Fort, where I was kept for nearly 40 days. As they would rape me every day and night, I became thinner, weaker and even fell into a coma for multiple times. Luckily, one night after I was kept in the fort for over 40 days, I escaped when they were drinking and having fun, rolled down the hill and returned home. Later, after the Japanese soldiers found me missing, they came to my home to search for me. In the end, they found me hiding among the firewood and took me back to the fort. In addition, they set fire to my family’s five houses made of wood and soil and farming tools including a fan cart and a flat cart.
After I was taken back to the fort, life went back to as before. Every day, I would be raped and often beaten by Japanese soldiers. I was tortured to half-death. Then, one night after I was kept there for over 50 days, I escaped when there were fewer guards as they were having a meeting. I rolled down the hill and was saved by an uncle from the same village who was driving cattle. After I returned home, my parents secretly sent me to my older female cousin Wang Yuping’s house in Dongguoqiu Village, Donglingjing Town, Yangqu County, Shanxi Province (my cousin died of illness). Thus, I have survived until now.
Due to the brutal raping and torturing, I always become ill and suffer from various gynecological diseases, which are not cured despite years’ treatment that cost much money. Now, I have no children, but my husband lives with me. Both of us are nearly 70 and lead a very difficult life. To cure my diseases caused by Japanese soldiers and support my later life, I hereby demand a damage compensation of USD 130,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Yang Maonv (Fingerprint)
Xueligou Village, Nanshe Town, Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China
Scrivener: Hao Yongqing (Fingerprint)
October 25, 1992
Petition Demanding Compensation from the Japanese Government
Claimant: Zhang Xiantu, female, 67, Xi Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China.
On the morning of lunar January 2, 1941 when my family just got up, the Japanese soldiers stationed in Hedong Fort came and captured me to the fort, where I was raped in turns by them. I was then very young and got married just 2 months ago. Yet, they kept me in the fort, raped me every day and even ordered me to give them oral sex. I couldn’t stand the torture anymore and begged them to release me home several times. But they wouldn’t let me go and brutally beat me. I had no other choice but to wait to die. Finally, my husband ransomed me by paying 400 silver dollars, which took him over 1 month to borrow, to Japanese Captain. Due to the raping, I suffered from great physical harm and I didn’t get better until I took medicine and shots for years. But still I am always ill and have to take medicine.
I am in huge debt as a result of treatment for my physical harm caused by the Japanese soldiers’ brutal raping, and lead a very difficult life. To cure my diseases and clear debt, I hereby demand a damage compensation of USD 100,000 from the Japanese government.
Claimant: Zhang Xiantu (Fingerprint)
Xi Village, Xiyan Town, Meng County, Yangquan City, Shanxi Province, China
November 20, 1992