A Chinese historical film depicting the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, titled Dead To Rights, has ignited profound reflections among audiences in Tokyo, bridging perspectives on wartime history and its enduring lessons. Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Japan, the screening drew approximately 150 attendees from both Chinese and Japanese communities, fostering calls for mutual understanding and forward-looking dialogue.
Tamiko Kanzaki, a former NHK translator, emphasized the film's emotional weight, noting Japan's societal reluctance to confront wartime atrocities. "If we forget the history of perpetrators, true friendship between Japan and China is impossible," she stated. Japanese military journalist Makoto Konishi echoed this sentiment, expressing concern over Japan's current military expansion trends and the challenges of openly addressing historical truths.
Masayuki Inoue of the Japan-China Friendship Association stressed the importance of youth engagement: "Young people must understand history to dispel mistrust and build a shared future." Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao reinforced the event's mission, calling history "the best textbook" for reconciliation and progress.
The screening underscores a growing push for cross-cultural dialogue amid geopolitical tensions, offering a poignant reminder of war's human cost and the imperative of peace.
