Exposing war crimes

File photo of a "comfort station" in Shanghai. The newly released book contains findings of Su's research team as Japan's war crime evidences.[Photo provided to China Daily]

"The victims view these traumatic experiences with shame and are unwilling to talk about them. The past had thoroughly changed their whole life. The majority of the survivors suffered from poor health and living conditions, as well as nightmares and lifelong depression or mental disorders," says Su.

Su adds that some survivors would call him at midnight and say that they heard neighbors knocking on the door and calling them "bitches", which turned out to be delusions. Most survivors consistently struggle with hatred or fear of men, and have trouble living a normal, happy family life, such as getting married or having a baby.

"The brutality of the war is most profoundly reflected in the 'comfort women'," says Su.