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
