Japan should learn from history, pass down truth to future generations: former PM

Japan should face up history and pass down the truth of history to its future generations, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said after attending commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which took place in Beijing on Wednesday.

China was the first country to rise against fascist aggression with the longest-lasting resistance that began in 1931. The country tied down and struck over half of Japan's overseas forces, at the cost of 35 million military and civilian casualties -- accounting for around one-third of all World War II casualties worldwide.

Before boarding his plane back to Japan on Thursday, Hatoyama told China Media Group (CMG) that lessons from history should never be forgotten.

"I participated in the commemorative event with great seriousness. Despite various criticisms from within Japan, as a Japanese individual and a former prime minister, I believe it is essential to face up to the past and learn from history. As a Japanese individual, I attended the commemorative event with a heart full of reflection and remorse for the history that claimed many lives," he said.

"President Xi Jinping mentioned in his speech that China defeated the aggression of Japanese militarism regarding Japan's past history. President Xi distinguishes between militarists and the ordinary Japanese people. The wrongdoing stemmed from the Japanese militarists, not from the ordinary Japanese people. I sincerely appreciate it," said Hatoyama.

"We shall never forget the history and pass on to future generations, which is very important," he said.

Japan should face up, learn from history: former prime minister

Japan should face up, learn from history: former prime minister

Japan should face up, learn from history: former prime minister

Influenza activity in China has declined for four consecutive weeks, with recent tests showing common pathogens and no evidence of new infectious diseases, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Tuesday.

At its first press briefing of 2026, the commission reported that flu activity nationwide remains moderate at the moment.

According to Xin Li, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, respiratory samples collected from sentinel hospitals indicated that the influenza virus was the most common pathogen, accounting for 27.4 percent of cases, followed by respiratory syncytial virus at 8.8 percent and rhinovirus at 5.7 percent.

"Influenza activity in China has declined for four consecutive weeks and remains at a moderate level overall. Analysis of nationwide fever clinic consultations, influenza-like illness cases at sentinel hospitals, and multi-pathogen testing shows that all detected pathogens are known common ones, with no evidence of unknown pathogens or new infectious diseases," Xin told the press.

Data from sentinel hospitals indicated flu activity was falling across provincial-level regions, while reports of school outbreaks dropped for five consecutive weeks. Laboratory tests showed that 97.3 percent of positive influenza samples were H3N2 subtype viruses.

China flu activity declines for fourth week, no new pathogens detected: official