Many died from disease or beatings. Those who survived often found that they were shunned when they returned home. After three years of continuous rape, my uterus was so badly torn that I needed surgery to stop the bleeding. No man in the village would look at me. Pictures of the long, ugly scar across her belly will be among the evidence submitted today.
Prosecutors say that the ultimate blame for such suffering lies with the emperor.
We will prove that Hirohito was involved. The indictment of the emperor, albeit in a mock court, is likely to be controversial and possibly dangerous. Fear of violent rightwing groups has prompted the organisers to hide the identities of Japanese witnesses. The organisers say the risk is worthwhile because other attempts to highlight the case of the comfort women and push their case for compensation have made little progress. Japan is deeply divided on the issue.