Young French peace activist Marcus Detrez took to the streets in one of Tokyo's commercial districts on Wednesday to urge public reflection on the Japanese imperial army's invasion history and advocate for historical truth.
The 27-year-old, an English teacher in France, gained attention for exhibiting historical photographs in Tokyo documenting Japan's World War II wartime atrocities in China and donating 618 images, taken and collected by his grandfather, to the Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression last August.
Many of the photos, identified as having been taken between the 1930s and 1950s, document the Battle of Songhu in 1937. The Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall has incorporated these historical photos into its permanent collection.
These photos document the atrocities committed by the Japanese invaders against Chinese civilians and are of great historical value in the research of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
Marcus acknowledged his difficulties in organizing campaigns to raise awareness about wartime atrocities committed by Imperial Japanese forces, but said his commitment to peace and justice is stronger than pressure he faces.
"Each and every time we're trying to do something in Japan or somewhere else, even in Paris, we are facing a lot of stress, pressure. Governments trying to put pressure on us and make us cancel our activities, but each and every time we do, we stand for peace, we stand for justice, and this is the only thing that matters," he said.
Addressing Japan's recent moves toward military expansion and arms buildup, Marcus stressed the urgent need to strengthen the education on history to prevent tragedy from repeating itself.
"I feel like this is all about cycles. Like things happened in the past, happened again now, it will happen again in the future. But if we want to prevent it from happening again, we need to educate people. Also a lot of people are raising all across the country just like we do to avoid this kind of situation. So I believe the Japanese people will choose the right choice and choose to do peace instead of war," he said.
French peace activist urges public reflection on Japan's invasion history
Chinese box-office hit "Dear You" premiered in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday ahead of its nationwide theatrical release, warming the hearts of numerous local viewers.
The premiere was jointly organized by Vietnamese distributors Mockingbird Pictures and Galaxy Studio, with the support of the China Cultural Center in Hanoi.
Nearly 1,000 guests, including representatives of Vietnam's film industry, cultural scholars, members of the overseas Chinese community, representatives of Chinese enterprises in Vietnam and media organizations, attended the event.
Shot entirely in the Chaoshan (Teochew) dialect, the low-budget film became a massive box-office phenomenon in China this summer, with its global box office revenues surpassing 2.1 billion yuan (about 310 million U.S. dollars) since its April 30 release.
Known in Chinese as "Love Letters to Grandma," the movie centers on remittance letters used by overseas Chinese to stay connected with their families back home from the 1940s to 1970s. Through these letters, the characters uncover memories, love and interconnected family bonds in a simple yet deeply genuine narrative.
Even before its premiere, "Dear You" had generated significant buzz across Vietnamese social media platforms.
Doan Thi Trang Anh, deputy CEO of Mockingbird Pictures, said securing the distribution rights for "Dear You" in Vietnam was a special opportunity for the company, hoping that it could bring more Chinese films to Vietnamese audiences in the future.
"We consider it a remarkable piece of work full of new and creative touches. We can see that it is more than just a movie -- it carries deep cultural and historical significance for China, while also offering a moving portrayal of the true emotional connection between a husband and wife," Doan Thi Trang Anh told China Media Group (CMG).
After the premiere, the audience responded with great enthusiasm and offered glowing reviews.
"I feel that this movie speaks to the hearts and minds of Vietnamese audiences as well," said Nguyen Tuan, an audience member.
"There are many scenes in the film that remind me of my own grandparents. it really struck a chord with me," said Thu Thuy, a Vietnamese singer who also attended the premiere.
The film is set to hit cinemas nationwide in Vietnam beginning Wednesday. It will be available in three language versions: Mandarin Chinese, Chaochan dialect, and Vietnamese to cater to different viewing preferences.
The movie has also hit the screens in several other Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Indonesia.
Chinese film 'Dear You' resonates with Vietnamese audience at premiere
