Grandmothers, Our Grandmothers: Remembering the "Comfort Women" of World War II
Seong-won Han
Tuttle Publishing, 2023
Grandmothers, Our Grandmothers is a powerful graphic narrative that captures the ongoing struggle for justice waged by some of World War II’s most resilient survivors: the “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese Imperial Army. Although presented in a format accessible to young adults, the work resonates across generations as both a tribute and a call to remembrance, insisting that such crimes against humanity—and the courage of those who endured them—must never fade from collective memory.
Author and illustrator Han Seong-won focuses on women from Korea and beyond who were coerced, often violently, into sexual servitude wherever the Japanese military advanced. Drawing on personal encounters with survivors, Han portrays women who refuse to be defined solely by what was inflicted upon them, instead emphasizing their resilience, artistry, activism, and continued defiance in the face of lasting trauma. Now in their nineties, many have become painters, musicians, and advocates who share their testimonies to ensure history is neither denied nor forgotten.
The book memorializes figures such as Kang Il-chul, abducted at gunpoint as a girl and forced to endure violence even while gravely ill, and Kim Hak-soon, whose groundbreaking testimony beginning in 1991 brought international attention to the issue, including before the United Nations. It also recognizes women who carried their stories silently, those who spoke on behalf of mothers unable to do so, and the countless allies who have stood alongside them. Through these stories, Grandmothers, Our Grandmothers affirms the dignity and enduring strength of women who transformed private suffering into public witness.
About the Author
Han Seong-won has been writing and drawing books and articles about modern Korean history for over twenty years. A documentary project on women and war led him on the path to exploring the "comfort women" problem, a still fresh example of the long arm of war. During this journey, through collections of written accounts and participation in the Wednesday Protests, he had the opportunity to speak with surviving Grandmothers who experienced this still unresolved, ignominious moment in human history. This book is his gift and tribute to the Grandmothers and all victims of human rights violations.