'Comfort women' still waiting for apology

Everyday life for former "comfort woman" Huang Youliang, 88(left), is limited to just a few paces in front of the door at her home in Jiama village, Lingshui county, Hainan. She has had a serious rheumatic disease for years and cannot walk unassisted. Huang is supported in her will to live by the hope of an official apology from the Japanese government. HUANG YIMING/CHINA DAILY

Huang's youngest son, Hu Yaqian, had to cope with people's "finger-pointing" at school because of his mother's experience as a comfort woman. This is still going on today, with Hu's son now a junior high school student.

In 2001, Huang, Chen and six other former comfort women in Hainan decided to speak out and file a lawsuit against the Japanese government, seeking an official apology and individual compensation.

It was the fourth lawsuit brought by Chinese former comfort women since 1995, according to Qiu Peipei, director of the Asian Studies Program at Vassar College in the United States.

Chen went to Japan three times to testify in Tokyo District Court in 2001, 2003 and 2006, but returned disappointed each time.

Five years of waiting ended in defeat when the court ruled against the plaintiffs. On Aug 30, 2006, it finally denied the women's demands.

Qiu wrote in her book Chinese Comfort Women: Testimonies from Imperial Japan's Sex Slaves that the court said that an individual Chinese person had no right to sue the Japanese state.

The book was co-authored with Chinese scholars Chen Lifei and Su, the Shanghai Normal University professor.

Six of the group of eight former comfort women who filed the lawsuit 14 years ago have since died. Chen Yabian and Huang are the only two still alive.

Asked if she would make another attempt, Chen Yabian said the likelihood was slim.

"I feel that my life is fading and I am worried I can no longer bear the fatigue of a long journey. Traveling to another city in Hainan is no easy feat for me, not to mention going to Japan again," she said.

"But I will be waiting (for an apology) as long as I live."

Wang Yanfei contributed to this story.