Tragedy of 'comfort women'

Yang Abu was unable to conceive due to the brutal torture.

Yang Abu, born in Baocheng, Baoting county, Hainan province, in 1922, was repeatedly raped by Japanese soldiers and went through many pregnancies from 1940. She gave birth to a boy in October 1941 who later died. She became a "comfort woman" in 1942 and returned home in 1945 after the surrender of Japanese forces. She was unable to become pregnant again as a result of the brutal torture.

Now Yang is paralyzed, lying in a bed covered with coconut palms and humiliation. She always holds a knife in her hand and no one can take it away. She constantly sharpens the blade, saying she still dreams about being captured by Japanese soldiers every night. Without a knife in hand, she said, she would be scared.

"The Japanese soldiers came to the village to look for me several times, knowing that I was a beautiful girl. Failing to find me, they then threatened the village chief to bring me to Zanai himself or they would slaughter the villagers."