THE REMAINING SITES OF COMFORT STATIONS

"Comfort women"- an euphemism for sex slaves during the Chinese occupation by the Japanese Imperial Army. These women were used as objects by the military. Many were kidnapped from their homes and sold into slavery. More on this subject on later posts.

There were more than 40 comfort stations in Nanjing alone during the occupation. Most of them are demolished, for example, a comfort station site called 安乐酒店慰安所 or Ease Hotel Comfort Station where sex slaves were held is now a construction site. See photo 1 below. 

The biggest comfort station that existed in Asia was also in Nanjing. It is called 故乡楼慰安所 or Hometown Comfort Station. There is currently a plaque on the wall of the building to commemorate the victims. However, the building is currently abandoned. It is an eyesore in the middle of a busy street. There are plans by Nanjing University to preserve it. This building needs to be reserved for us and our children to remember the victims during the Japanese occupation of Nanjing. Once it is destroyed, there is no going back. However, according to Professor Jing in an interview by China Daily, the real estate prices in Nanjing might lead the property to be sold for profit.

Photo 2. 故乡楼慰安所 Hometown Comfort Station exterior

Photo 1. 安乐酒店慰安所 Ease Hotel Comfort Station

Photo 3. 故乡楼慰安所 or Hometown Comfort Station interior

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