Scholars and experts from China, Japan, the United States, and other regions convened at a landmark symposium on June 29 to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Hosted simultaneously at Changchun Normal University in the Chinese mainland and Japan's Musashino University, the event spotlighted untold stories of wartime atrocities through oral histories and private archives.
Tamiko Kanzaki, a former NHK translator, shared her upbringing in Japan's wartime puppet state of Manchukuo, where militarist propaganda dominated education. She condemned policies like the 'Three Alls' (kill all, burn all, loot all) and the Nanjing Massacre, urging Japan to 'acknowledge historical truths without evasion.'
Yoichi Jomaru, ex-Asahi Shimbun journalist, revealed how Japanese media minimized aggression in China while emphasizing domestic suffering like the atomic bombings. 'Media must uphold truth, not selective narratives,' he asserted.
An exhibit at Musashino University displayed artifacts from Japan's invasion, including military letters preserved by civilians. Organizers described these items as 'silent witnesses' to prompt reflection.
Li Suzhen of the Sino-Japanese Oral History and Culture Research Association emphasized remembrance as a tool for peace: 'Understanding history isn’t about harboring hatred—it’s about building bridges for future generations.'
