Japan's Sex Slaves in World War II
Japan, also known as Nippon Koku, was a world power in the 1930s and 1940s. Its military strength was so enormous that it was in a position to challenge the might of the United States of America and engage the Americans in actual war. Japan, as a hegemon then, was systematic in almost everything. Air and naval attacks would commence, then army troops would move inland and would establish camps in strategic locations. Tanks, bazookas, machine guns, cannons and the like made the conquest easier.
As conquerors or invaders, the Japanese military command would ensure that food and other military supplies would be sent on time for the troops. Ammunition, tents and other gears and gadgets would be sent regularly. After the Japanese had established dominance and seeming permanence, a contingent of young ladies would be dispatched to serve as cooks and laundrywomen and as sex slaves. These women were enticed to accept the jobs offered in exchange for money in lump sum and false promises. Authorities seemingly allowed such practices to be able to provide the sexual needs of their troops. When there was shortage of manpower, top military officials recruited forcibly from the conquered territory. They were known as comfort women, working in garrisons that also operated like brothels.
In the Philippines and other Asian countries, many young local women were rounded up and taken at gunpoint to garrisons. They were made to work as sex slaves. Like that of a restaurant menu, pictures of these women would be posted at military camps for the officers and soldiers to choose from. Many soldiers would take their turn on the unwilling captives. As they were really that systematic, a Japanese doctor would come and conduct examinations on these comfort women to ensure that there were no sexually transmitted diseases. After the physical exams, the very same doctor would force himself on these women.
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| Beautiful Dutch Jan Ruff O'Herne was taken by the Japanese at Ambarawa in Central Java, Indonesia and raped day and night. Her mother and sisters suffered the same fate. (wikipic; caption is mine) |
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| Comfort women during WWII (WNNpic; caption is mine) |
While there are now many testimonies written by so-called comfort women of WWII, the statement of Maria Rosa Henson of Angeles City clearly describes the cruelty and pain experienced by most sex slaves of the Japanese soldiers. Henson was only 14 years old then. This narration is contained in Yuki Tanaka's book entitled Japan's Comfort Women. Let us listen to Henson:
"Twelve soldiers raped me in quick succession, after which I was given half an hour rest. Then twelve more soldiers followed. They all lined up outside the room waiting for their turn. I bled so much and was in such pain, I could not even stand up. The next morning, I was too weak to get up. I could not eat. I felt much pain, and my vagina was swollen. I cried and cried, calling my mother. I could not resist the soldiers because they might kill me. So what else could I do? Every day, from two in the afternoon to ten in the evening, the soldiers lined up outside my room and the rooms of the six other women there. I did not even have the time to wash after each assault. At the end of the day, I just closed my eyes and cried. My torn dress would be brittle from the crust that had formed from the soldiers' dried semen. I washed myself with hot water and a piece of cloth so that I would be clean. I pressed the cloth to my vagina like a compress to relieve that pain and the swelling."(tanaka; wnn)
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| Maria Rosa Henson revealing her ordeal many years after the war (sakuramochipic; caption is mine) |
Through the Asian Women's Fund established by the Japanese government, Henson was paid a certain amount, many years after WWII had ended. She passed away in 1997, five years after she came out in the open to tell everyone of her ordeal. Today, when one takes a leisure walk at Liwasang Bonifacio near Jones Bridge, he sees a small marker near the Bonifacio Monument. It is in memory of Maria Rosa Henson. It is in memory of a thousand other comfort women.
- Konted
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| A memorial to the comfort women of WWII. I chanced upon this marker while looking for the statue of General Lawton at Plaza Lawton several months ago. Plaza Lawton is now Liwasang Bonifacio. Hon. Lito Atienza was Mayor of Manila when the marker was unveiled. |
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| The marker is located near the Bonifacio monument at Liwasang Bonifacio. The Philippine Post Office is in background. |
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| An Eagle sculpture at Liwasang Bonifacio, formerly Plaza Lawton. |
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