Several forums and exhibitions were recently held across Japan by peace activists, revealing Japan's history of aggression during World War II and calling for the government to facing up to those atrocities.
A peace-themed forum was held in Tokyo on Thursday, which introduced the wrong path took by Japan in WWII and called on the Japanese government to face up to historical issues.
"Japan should not blindly invest money in military, but rather take the initiative to strengthen its ties with the neighboring countries, including civil and diplomatic efforts. I believe only by conducting deep reflections on the history can Japan get rid of its narrowminded nationalism and embark on a path of promoting peace and democracy," said Yukio Hatoyama, former Japanese Prime Minister, at the forum.
While in Yokohama, an exhibition on Friday used photos and documents to unveil the heinous crimes committed by Japanese aggressor troops in China.
Covering topics like mass graves, the Nanjing Massacre and germ warfare force Unit 731, the event aimed to warn the Japanese government to reflect on history and not to repeat the same mistake again.
"I think wrongdoings as facts should be said out loud, allowing the entire world, especially the Asian people, to know that Japan had indeed done those atrocities, and it needs to apologize as it should. So far, Japan has done little in terms of that. Therefore, Japan ought to take actions and do the right things in the 80th anniversary of victory of World Anti-Fascist War, so as to deepen the bond with other countries," said Takeoka Kenji, member of the exhibition organizing group.
"I feel quite angry with the current Japanese government, since it is heading towards a very dangerous direction," said a visitor.
The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese aggressor troops captured the then-Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over the course of six weeks, they proceeded to kill approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II.
Unit 731 was a covert biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that engaged in lethal human experimentation and biological weapons manufacturing in China during World War II. The unit is estimated to have killed between 200,000 and 300,000 people.
Japanese peace activists hold forum, exhibition to convey correct view of history
