Episode 11: "Comfort Women" and Imperial Japan, an Interview with Dr. Lin Li about Grass

In this episode of East Asia for All, we examine the sexual slavery system that took place under imperial Japan from 1937-1945 through the graphic novel Grass by Korean author Keum Suk Gendry-Kim. Grass tells the life story of Lee Ok-sun, a Korean girl who was forced to be a “comfort woman” for the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. 

We are joined by Dr. Lin Li, Assistant Professor of History at the University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul, MN), on this episode. Dr. Li’s research focuses on the intersections of gender, race, health, and imperialism in East Asia. She is currently working on a book project on the politics of representing and commemorating “comfort women” in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific.