Date of letter:1992-11-02
Address of author:Xi’an City, Shanxi Province
Date of event:1944
Location of event:Changsha City, Hunan Province
Name of author:Wang Jiwu
Name(s) of victim(s):Wang Jiwu’s grandfather, father and mother
Type of atrocity:Others, Rapes, Slave Laborers, Murders（OT, RA, SL, MU）
Other details:Around 1944, the Japanese invaders invaded Changsha three times. The store my grandfather and father ran was burned down by the Japanese soldiers. My family of seven had no choice but to flee from calamity. We begged along the journey, and had to abandon my younger sister of only a few months old. Later my father was caught to do hard labor and my mother was raped. She would be stabbed to death if she resisted. My father could not bear the inhuman life as a Slave Laborers and attempted to escape, but was killed by the Japanese soldiers. Hearing the news, my grandfather fell ill and never recovered. The misery suffered by my family was all caused by the Japanese invaders. I require the Japanese government to apology and compensate for this.
Mr. Tong Zeng:
How have you been?
I have read the article “History Is Not Forgotten-Records Of Chinese People Demanding Compensation for Damage and Suffering From Japan” in Issue 10, Reader’s Digest of 1992 and learned that over the past year, you had campaigned extensively for compensation to the victims cruelly ravaged and killed by the Japanese bandits during the Japanese war of aggression against China and collected over 10,000 signatures and you had also appeared before the Chinese National People’s Congress and sent a letter to the Japanese Prime Minister. I really admire your bravery for speaking out for our countrymen and express to you my respect and support.
At the same time, the article also triggers my indignation as a victim. Around 1944, the Japanese bandits invaded Changsha City three times. During one time, they burned down Changsha and even no livestock survived. The Wang’s Goods from Southern China Store ran by my grandfather and father was also burned to the ground. During April and May 1944, the Japanese bandits invaded Changsha for the third time. My seven-member family of three generations could not escape far, so my grandfather and father begged all the way to the suburb of Changsha, bringing us four young siblings. As the Japanese bandits closed in on us and my family could not maintain the basics of life, we had to leave the several month-old younger sister in the street, hoping that someone will adopt her (Her whereabouts are still unknown). On our escape path, we unexpectedly met raids by the Japanese bandits. The crowd of refugees fled and dispersed. As we three brothers were too young to run fast, and our parents also could not run fast, we got surrounded by a Japanese squad. Allowing no arguments, my father and several other men were taken away to become forced laborers. Over 10 women including my mother were raped by Japanese soldiers. Some women refused and two of them were bayoneted to death on site. What a horrible sight! Later, another squad came and took me away along with several other children a little over 10 years old. We were forced to do heavy work for them such as reaping rice. Bad news came several days later. My father and other laborers were bayoneted to death when they were attempting to escape as they could not stand the torture. Up until today, we do not know where his corpse is! After hearing the news, my grandfather got sick and died days later. After that, my mother and we three brothers (10, 6 and 3 years old respectively) began to beg for a living. After we returned to Changsha, we realized that we were homeless again. Our house was located at Dujiashan, Xiaowumen, Changsha, but the area was razed to the ground by the Japanese bandits and a military airport was built at that location into which the Chinese people were forbidden to enter. So, my family struggled on the brink of death, suffering from hunger and cold, until the Japanese bandits surrendered. Then, I and my second youngest brother were sent to a nursery and my mother remarried, taking my youngest brother with her.
I feel very indignant about Japan’s crimes against China whenever recalling the above painful memories. We have every reason to demand compensation for the blood debt against the Japanese government. But I do not understand why neither the Chinese government nor the National People’s Congress has spoken for millions of victims like me. The Japanese Emperor and Empress did not say anything about apology or compensation during their visit to China. Why? Why has Japan compensated small South Korea, but not China? I am so confused!
Mr. Tong Zeng, I want to join your activity. Please add my signature for me. I am Wang Jiwu and my brothers are Wang Jiwen and Wang Jixian. By the way, I recommend that you expand the signature campaign to areas to the south of the Yangtze River where there are also countless victims. I will firmly participate in the campaign until Japan formally apologizes to and compensates us.
Lofty salute to you,
Senior Engineer
Wang Jiwu
November 2, 1992
Looking forward to your reply!
Address: P.O. Box No. 68 Xi’an
Postal code: 710025
