There were no such thing as workers’ rights and the manufacturers

wielded the power of any feudal landlord, exploiting the

women and children as they fancied. For a short period, the shifts

were even dragged out to 16 hours a day using the excuse that the

Chinese must work harder than the Japanese in order to save

China. The children’s fingers peeled from constant contact with

hot water and the fine thread sliced into the women’s hands, but

they had no choice except to continue to work.