Japanese civil group calls for remembrance of Nanjing Massacre

A Japanese civil group, "Connecting Memories of Nanjing," held a memorial gathering in Osaka on Dec 7 to mark the 88th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, urging the Japanese public to reflect on the historical lessons and emphasizing the importance of not forgetting history in building peace.

The event attracted approximately 150 participants. Matsuoka Tamaki, founder of the group, shared more than two decades of research documenting the atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army in Nanjing in 1937.

She presented video testimonies from surviving victims and former soldiers, urging the Japanese society to face up to this dark chapter of history with honesty and responsibility.

"Historical facts must not be distorted or twisted to suit the needs of a nation. We cannot lie; we must tell young people the truth about history. As a teacher, I have always been committed to this. When I teach contemporary and modern Japanese history, I realize that the real history has been left out. This is unacceptable, unfair, and unjust. Teaching history to Japanese children requires presenting a fair and just account," said Matsuoka.

Earlier this year, the Japanese government ordered the revision of history textbooks to downplay and conceal war crimes such as the Nanjing Massacre. Matsuoka and attendees are critical of this move, emphasizing that the country must deeply reflect on Japanese war crimes and acknowledge historical facts.

"I believe the Japanese government has consistently attempted to downplay and distort the history of its modern war of aggression. This fills me with anger. Only by facing facts can we recognize our mistakes, and only then can we avoid repeating them. That is why today, I want to share with all people of conscience the suffering and historical truths I have witnessed and heard. Frankly speaking, Japan's invasion and aggression brought immense suffering to people across various regions in China," Matsuoka said.

"There has been a lot of discussion about Japan's wartime suffering. But Japan's wartime perpetration, the crimes committed by Japan in China, is hardly discussed. With regard to Unit 731, the Japanese government has so far not acknowledged conducting live human experiments, nor has it offered an apology. As for the Nanjing issue, some people still claim the Nanjing Massacre was fabricated by China. That's exactly why we need to keep revealing the truth and demanding that Japan formally apologize," said another participant.

Japanese civil group calls for remembrance of Nanjing Massacre

Torrential rain from Wednesday evening has pounded dilapidated homes and crumbled tents across Gaza Strip, claiming lives and compounding the humanitarian situation in the war-torn region.

At least 14 people were killed in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours as homes collapsed and tents sheltering displaced families were flooded during a powerful winter storm, Gaza's Civil Defense said on Friday.

A woman taking shelter in a war-damaged house voiced concerns that the makeshift shelters, which were previously destroyed or severely weakened during recent Israeli bombardments, offer no real protection from the storms.

"The house leaks and stones would fall when it rains. It's not safe. We're afraid it could collapse on us any moment. But we have no choice and no other place to go, so we have to stay here," she said.

Rescue teams responded to 13 collapsed or partially collapsed houses, saving 52 people and moving them to safer locations. Search operations are ongoing after more than 15 homes were damaged across the territory.

"From the early hours until now, rescue crews and Civil Defense teams in northern Gaza have been working to retrieve the missing from beneath the rubble of this house. So far, they have recovered one victim and a child who was injured, but five people remain trapped under the debris and their condition is still unknown," said a rescue worker.

Victims died beneath the rubble rather than from missiles, highlighting the compounded dangers facing displaced families forced to shelter in unsafe ruins, with no alternative refuge available after more than two years of war.

"People sat peacefully at home, taking shelter from the wind, rain and cold. Suddenly, around three or three-thirty, the house collapsed on them for no reason except the torrential rain and flooding," a resident said, recalling the disaster.

Torrential rain brings more deaths, destruction to war-torn Gaza