The Real Tenko: Extraordinary True Stories of Women Prisoners of the Japanese

by Mark Felton

The author of Children of the Camps delves into the harrowing true stories behind the TV the fate of women held in Japanese captivity during WWII.

This book details the treatment of Allied servicewomen, female civilians, and local women by the Japanese occupation forces, including the massacres of nurses (such as that at Alexandra Hospital, Singapore), disturbing atrocities on both Europeans and Asians, and accounts of imprisonment. It reveals how many ended up in Japanese hands when they should have been evacuated. Also covered are the hardships of long marches and the sexual enslavement of white and native women (so called "Comfort Women"). The book is a testimony both to the callous and cruel behavior of the Japanese and to the courage and fortitude of those who suffered at their hands.

"This well-researched book has to be read." --UK Ministry of Defence

"The story of the Allied medical staff who were caught in Japan's wave of terror during the Second World War . . . briefly follows the fate of Australian nursing survivors as they try to rebuild their shattered lives." --Soldier Magazine

"Accounts of Japanese brutality towards Allied prisoners of war are quite well known, but the fate of the tens of thousand[s] of Allied women and children who fell into their hands is not so familiar (at least since memories of the TV drama Tenko have faded). This harrowing account should go some way towards redressing that balance . . . an important piece of work looking at an aspect of the Second World War that should not be forgotten." --HistoryOfWar.org

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Japan, World War II, War, Military Fiction

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2009

About the author

British military historian and author. For more information visit www.markfelton.co.uk

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the title slightly misleading in that Mr Felton doesn't focus exclusively on female prisoners in the book: a fair amount of print is used to relate Japanese mistreatment of captured military opponents as well. If you want to be sickened by massacres of women and children and wounded soldiers being murdered in their hospital beds, then this is the book for you.

I've been reading a fair amount about the atrocities committed by the German military during the holocaust and found it impossible not to make mental comparisons in the treatment Germany and Japan afforded to the people in their custody. Similarities are there, of course: if you are being starved and beaten your oppressors' skin colour and language probably don't affect the outcome much. It just seems to me that the abuse meted out by the Japanese was more...personal maybe...I'm not sure if that's the word I'm looking for. As an example, the Japanese had a penchant for rape, and any breathing woman with a pulse could pretty much be assured of being gang raped, sometimes almost to death, upon capture by the Japanese. After capture, there was often a more subtle form of rape as captive women submitted to individual officers in hope of better treatment. I have no doubt that some Germans were guilty of rape as individuals, but it seems like it was almost official policy with the Japanese.

So there's a lot of negativity in this book, but there is also an abundance of courage and fortitude. Some truly magnificent women survived years of captivity under horrendous conditions and you will marvel at the endurance of some of the women who went on to rewarding careers after the war. I plan on reading some of their stories because a thin book like this can only touch on the high points (or low points, depending on your point of view) of their captivity.

[Soozee · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartbreaking book. I never really understood why people of my parents' generation thought so badly of the Japanese as a race; they only said it stemmed from their behaviour in the War. Now I've read more of these firsthand accounts, its truly shocking how the Japanese army were conditioned to behave in a manner well outside the norms of society, of how human beings should treat others. And to learn that men like Churchill and MacArthur, by their actions and words, prolonged and exacerbated the suffering of those caught up in the conflict is appalling. Many of those in camps were not even combatants - they were women and children who happened to live in the wrong place and were caught up in the War or else were nurses who had gone to work with the wounded and had a reasonable expectation of being treated with respect if captured.

Shocking, heart rending, such a waste of young lives. I'm glad I have read the book, but its not an easy read.

[Jill Miclean · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took a star off because the title includes: Extraordinary True Stories of Women Prisoners of the Japanese, however, only a small portion of the book is excerpts from the actual women or stories about the women. The majority of this book is a military history of the Japanese invasion of Singapore and the surrounding islands. While I understand the authors want to provide historical context, it was often quite dry and, in some ways, took away from the actual stories about the women themselves. They seemed to be dropped into the paragraphs of military strategy instead of taking center stage. Still, it provides a vivid and accurate account of the horrors and inhumane treatment the Japanese inflicted on their POW's - all will little to no punishment after the war which is truly astounding. Reading these stories helps me understand why my Grandfather, who was in the Navy in the Pacific Theater during WWII, hated the "Japs" so much.

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly horrific

An excellent book telling a hitherto little known and sad story of the treatment of women and family captives, both military and civilian, in the Pacific arena of WWII. Good information about everyday life, abuse, comfort women, starvation and other depravities. The Japanese military didn't just stop their bloodlust with the Rape of Nanjing but carried forward this behavior throughout the war. And it seemed systematic good sport for many soldiers, encouraged by the leadership. The author seems to have a bone to pick about reparations.

[Sjervey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrible history that needs telling

Japanese atrocities committed against POW and Internee prisoners were brutal, calculated and in violation of Geneva conventions which Japan had signed. The story is hard to read because it is so frankly uncivilized. But it needs to be told because many Japanese deny it happened, something they get away with because the US and England wanted a reliably anti communistt ally. As a result, Japan is left living a lie and committed to the lie to save face. How will they ever learn that saving face is precisely what keeps them trapped.

[Charles Burgamy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unbelievable

The mistreatment suffered by the prisoners and internees by the Japanese army is clearly documented in this work of non fiction. The true stories of abuse are almost unbelievable. That any of the people survived is amazing. Book holds your attention from the first word.

[KJ CORRIGAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable account of a very disturbing wartime episode..

A very readable account of an often forgotten dark episode in the chapters of world war 2..The description of the massacre of unarmed soldiers and civilians at St Stephens hospital in Hong Kong is especially hard to read..But all round this is a very good though sometimes very depressing book..highly recommend..

[Amy Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horrible treatment of westerners in Japan during WWII. Multiple bayonet killings, rapes and starvation. Japan never did have to apologize or remunerate for this.

[Daniel Mutigli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like Germany, all the little Hitlers and Tojos got away with it.

[Hannah Christ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly fascinating and heartbreaking glimpse into the stories of life under Japanese imprisonment.

[Becky Lavon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

A part of ww2 that people don't know about. How horrible the Japanese were to civilians that were detained and never paid for their war crimes

[Fran Severn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very grim, honest account of the horrors of the mostly civilian women who were prisoners of the Japanese during WW2. Good companion to the film "Unbroken." Not easy to read. Very disturbing in some sense because of the Japanese refusal to acknowledge any of this.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

a very well written book. this is a part of WWII history that is not discussed.