An exhibition telling the story of the Chinese "comfort women" who were forced into sexual slavery during the occupation of Shanghai by Japanese troops in the 1930s and 40s opened yesterday at Shanghai Normal University.

Professor Su Zhiliang (right) of Shanghai Normal University points to a map that shows the 166 “comfort houses” set up in Shanghai by invading Japanese troops. — Ti Gong

One of the key exhibits is a map showing the locations of 166 buildings identified as "comfort houses," 40 of which remain to this day, said Professor Su Zhiliang, an expert in the field and member of the research team.

"Two former pubs in Hongkou District, the 'Maiden' on Haining Road and the 'Beibei' on Nanxun Road are among the properties that are still standing," he said.

Also on display are three maps used by Japanese forces and showing the locations of the "comfort houses."

The exhibition, which is open free to the public at the university's Guilin Road campus in Xuhui District, is the result of almost two decades of research by a team of specialists in the field, Su said.

One of the most poignant exhibits is a list of the names of 20 women who survived the ordeal and are still living in China to this day, Su said.

The Japanese established the first "comfort house" — known as the Daiichi Salon — on Baoxing Road E. in November 1931. It remained open until the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in August 1945.

The building was later converted into apartments and is currently home to more than 50 families, though it is in a dilapidated state, Su said.

"It is important that China protects what evidence remains of these crimes, especially as most of the victims have now died and many of the buildings have been demolished," he said.

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