At the age of 9, Peng Zhuying’s world turned dark. A Japanese mustard gas attack during World War II stole her sight, and five years later, she endured Japan’s military sex slavery at just 14.
In China’s official records, she stands alone: the only survivor to have suffered both biological weapons and the comfort station system. Her story is a stark reminder of the 400,000 women—half of them Chinese—who were forced into sexual servitude by Imperial Japan.
As the years passed, Peng’s body held another secret. In 2024, doctors discovered a calcified fetus—a silent witness to the trauma of a pregnancy conceived during her enslavement at 15.
Now in her twilight years, Peng keeps a single bulb lit in her Hunan alleyway home—a symbol of resilience that has outlasted imperial brutality. In 2025, when a Japanese journalist came seeking answers, she asked the question she’s carried for eight decades: “Can your government apologize?” He left without a word.
Key Facts
- 400,000 women enslaved, half from China
- Only 7 survivors remain in official records
- Peng Zhuying blinded at 9, enslaved at 14
- Calcified fetus found in 2024
With only seven survivors remaining in the official records, their stories face the risk of fading into history. Will Japan break its silence before these living witnesses pass away?
Reference(s):
Blind at 9, sex slave at 14: She carried a dead fetus for years
cgtn.com
