Report on the international conference

“Remembering Nanjing (Nanking)”

70th anniversary of the Nanjing Tragedy

November 22 - 25, 2007

Nanjing Normal University and Nanjing University

Nanjing, China

A World Without Armies

Itwasaharrowingfivehoursoftestimony--overwhelmingandlife-changingforme,asIhadnotknownanyhorrorasappallingasthis.

Joan Halifax

Irealizedthatthegestureofputtingmyforeheaddownmirroredthegestureofdecapita-tion.ItwasthenthatIexperiencedtheprofoundsinthatIsharedjustbybeingJapanese.

HaruyoshiFugakuIto

We,theJapanese,inflictedhorrificatrocitiesuponChina.Theseatrocitiesarestillmani-festingthemselvestoday.Iaspiretokeepfacingmyownguiltfortherestofmylife.

YoshijiWatanabe

ThisendeavorforgenuinereconciliationbetweenChineseandJapanesecanbecomeametaphorforhealingallofus,andhealingtheworld.

AlexRudinsky

Howeverscaredwemaybe,ifwearedeterminedtoopenourheartsandengageinhonestdialoguewiththeChinese,ourrelationshipwillevolve.Thisdialoguehasjustbegun.

HirokoYagi

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For the first time in seventy years, Chinese, Japanese, and Westerners came together in search of a newly

enriched perspective of the Nanjing tragedy. Together, they listened to testimony from survivors, visited massa-

cre sites, and went to see the Nanjing Sino-Japanese War History Museum. They looked at a special art exhibit,

joined in a women’s symposium, and participated in a memorial service—all meant to encourage participants

to share their ideas, reactions, and feelings. In addition, thirty-four Chinese and Japanese historians presented

papers. On the last day, two Japanese actors performed a work entitled, “December Hell: The Nanjing Sorrow.”

As many as 300 people with different historical perspectives filled the conference halls and auditorium

for these events. Chinese and foreign newspapers and broadcast organizations covered this historic conference.

CorpsesofChinesecitizens,slaughteredbytheJapanesetroops,coverthegroundinNanjing,1937

Memorialgatheringatamassacrememorialsite,Nanjing,2007

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Significance

In1937,JapaninvadedChina.The“RapeofNanjing”(thenChina’scapitalcity)wasgiganticinscale,brutalinmethod,andmomentousinstrategicimportance.Thatiswhythe“RapeofNanjing”hasbecomethemostimportantsymboloftheseven-yearSino-Japanesewar.MostJapanesepeopletendtoavoidtheissuealtogether,orremainunawareoftheenormityofthesufferingandresentmentoftheChinesepeople.TheJapanesegovernmentstillcensorseducationalmaterialanddiscouragesevenusingtheword“invasion”intextbooksthatcovertheSino-Japanesewar.Furthermore,theJapaneserevisionists’efforttodenythere-sponsibilityofJapanesetroopshasgainedgroundinrecentyears. ThesedaysChinaisfastbecominganeconomicandmilitarysuperpower,whileJapanhassteadilyincreaseditsdefensecapabilities.InordertoinsurepeaceandpoliticalstabilityinEastAsia,itiscrucialforbothnationstoradicallyimprovetheirrelationship.Forthepastseventyyears,bitternessanddistrusthasimpairedtheSino-Japanesepoliticalrelationship. ThosewhoworryaboutthetensionbetweenChinaandJapanhavesearchedforwaystoenableciti-zensofbothcountriestofacethepainfulhistorytogetherandhealthewoundsthatarethelegacyofthepastatrocities. Thepeoplefromvariousnationswhoattendedthisconferencelearnedtheappallinghistorybygenu-inelylisteningtooneanother,visitingthemassacresites,andengagingindialogueandemotionalexchange.Whilelisteningtomusic,viewingart,andconductingamemorialserviceatthemassacresite,learningfromscholarlyresearch,theparticipantsstartedtodeveloparapport.Somehavevowedtocontinuethisprocessofhealingbetweenthetwonations. Mostsocietiescarryappallinghistories—eitherasvictimsorasperpetrators—butsincereeffortsforhealingareusuallyinvisibleornonexistent.TheinitialsuccessoftheSino-Japanesedialoguecanbeanin-spiringmodelforpeopleinotherpartsoftheworld.

Vision

Inthesetimesofglobalconflictandsocialunrest,thereisgrowinginterestinthetopicofdemilitariza-tion.AWorldWithoutArmies(AWWA),aprojectoftheU.S.nonprofitorganizationInochi,takespracticalstepstowardaworldwithoutwar.AWWAhasorganizedtheWomen’sInitiativeforAbolitionofArmiesinCentralAmericaby2020.ItworkswiththeBonnInternationalCenterforConversion,asemi-governmentalresearchinstituteinGermany,onstudiesofthedemilitarizationpotentialofnations. AWWAiscommittedtothegoalofdevelopingapeacefulenvironmentinEastAsia.TofacethepainfulpastwithanopenheartisessentialinorderforChineseandJapanesepeopletobuildtrustandgenuinefriend-ship.TheirimprovedrelationshipcanleadtothereductionofarmedforcesintheserespectivecountriesandotherpartsofEastAsiainthefuture.WebelievethattheestablishmentofanEastAsianUnionmaybeasteptowardEastAsiawithoutArmies.

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Program

Thursday, November 22

Welcome ZhangLianhongGreetings HaruhikoMurakawaTestimonyfromsurvivors ChangZhiquiang ZhangXiuhong

Instrumentalperformanceonerhuandyangqin GuoHongyuandWuYueRemarks TakashiTsumuraVisittotheZhonghuaGateCastleVisittotheNanjingSino-JapaneseWarHistoryMuseum Welcome WuXianbin,Founder Participants’sharingfeelings:(HaruhikoMurakawa,moderator)

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Friday, November 23

VisittotheYangzijiMassacreMemorialSite BriefingbyWangWeixing MemorialService(silenceandofferingflowers)

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VisittoartshowsattheNanshanHotel,theNanjingNormalUniversity: IntroductionbyZhengZhong.StatementsbyKazuakiTanahashi,ZhuMing,andXingZhengjun CalligraphersExhibition:“Commemoratingthe70thAnniversaryoftheNanjingMassacre (41Chinesecalligraphersandstudents)

“Sino-JapaneseWar:ReflectionandRemorse”byKazuakiTanahashi

“NanjingLamentation” “ProfoundApologiesfortheCruelCrimes”

“NanjingLament”byAlexRudinsky

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Women’sSymposium:“Sino-JapaneseWarandtheNanjingTragedy,” Part One JoanHalifax,moderator WangXuan:“SexCrimesduringtheSino-JapaneseWar” JingYihong:“WarandWomen:AroundtheRapeofNanjing”

Pianoperformance:“TowardaWorldwithoutDomesticViolence,”KazuyukiKusayanagiWomen’sSymposium:“Sino-JapaneseWarandtheNanjingTragedy,”PartTwo JoanHalifax,moderator KunikoMuramoto MayumiOda

Fridayevening

Shintaidorelaxationexercise(HaruyoshiFugakuItoandMasashiMinagawa,instructors)Participants’sharingthoughtsandfeelingsinsmallgroups(HaruhikoMurakawa,moderator)

AChinesewoman,rapedbyJapanesesoldiers,showsherinjury,Nanjing1937

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Saturday, November 24

Shintaidorelaxationexercise(HaruyoshiFugakuItoandMasashiMinagawa,instructors)Participants’sharingfeelings(HaruhikoMurakawa,moderator)Remarks,Heinz-JürgenMetzgerfromGermany

The Second Symposium on the Nanjing Massacre Sources,Parts1-3

SunZhaiwei,“NewlydiscoveredsourcesontheNanjingMassacre”TokushiKasahara,“Newlydiscoveredtextandphotos:Anartilleryman’sfielddiary”DuanYueping,“EvaluationoftheNanjingMassacresources”DaiYuahzhi,“AnillustrationintheRabeDiary:Asmallclinicatthesewageplantsouthofthe

SheyuRiver”MichiyoArakawa,“InternetdebateonNanjingIncidentandThe Road to Nanjing: A Group to

Protect Truth”GaoXiaoxing,“ViolencebytheJapaneseNavyduringtheNanjingMassacre”YongSuhua,“ComparativestudyofsourcesonvictimsoftheNanjingMassacre:Asamplestudy

ofthelistsofdiseasedpeopleinTanshanDistrict”ZhangLianhong,“ThefirststudyoftheBritishnavyshipH.M.S.Ladybirdincident”ZhengShoukang,“RosenandtheNanjingMassacre”CuiWei,“Japanesetroops’destructiononthepropertyofneutralnationsduringtheNanjingMas-

sacre”HiroshiOyama,“ContentsandsignificanceoftheInternationalSymposium:Forfacingthepast

andpromotingreconciliationinEastAsia”ZhaiYian,“ThoughtsontheNanjingMassacrefromtheperspectiveof‘civilizationhistory’:

StudyofMinoruKitamura’sNanjingMassacre”ZhuJiguang,“AchangeofthestudypatternsontheNanjingMassacrebyChinesehistorians”

VisittotheConfuciusTemple

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Sunday, November 25

The Second Symposium on the Nanjing Massacre Sources, Parts4-5

MaZhendu,“StudyofresistancebyChinesesoldiersandcitizensinNanjingduringmassacrebytheJapanesetroopsin1937”

XuKangying,“StudyofatrocitiesatXiaguanDistrictbytheinvadingJapanesetroopsduringtheNan-jingMassacre”

FeiZhongxing,“Analysisoftheforty-seventhgatheringandmassacreinEastDistrictofNanjing”XuLiqang,“UniquenessofinterviewsinWarinNanjing:TheSoulsofInjuredVictims”JingShengming,“CompletedconstructionandsocialcharacteristicsofNanjingbeforemassacrebythe

Japanesetroops”YiQing,“ReinvestigationofInvestigationofthePhotographicProofsoftheNanjingIncident”WangYongzhong,“TheJinlingUniversityrefugeecampduringtheNanjingMassacre”KazuharuSaito,“HowhasNanjingIncidentbeentaughtinJapanandChina?Centeringaroundthe

descriptionsinthetextbooks”ChengZhaoqi,“From‘theTokyoTribunal’tothetrueTokyoTribunal”HarumiWatanabe,“JapanesecourtrulingsonNanjingIncidentcases”YanHaiqian,“Post-warsociologicalviewsofthetribunalontheNanjingMassacre”CaoDachen,“ThelegalstatusofpoliceintheJapaneseConsulateinNanjing:Centeringaroundactivi-

tiesoftheconsulatepoliceduringtheNanjingMassacre”WangXuan,“Currentstateofinvestigationon“theredlegdisease”inZhejiangProvinceandrelated

internationalscholarship”JiangXiaoxing,“AnalyticalstudyofinterviewsontheNanjingMassacrebyNanjingPartyhistoriansin

2007”WangWeixing,“PositionsandstrategyoftheJapanesetroopsandcausesfortheNanjingMassacre”MengQuoxiang,“MoraleoftheJapanesetroopsandculturaldamagetoNanjing”YangXiaming,“AStudyontheAtrocitiesbyJapaneseSoldiersatNanjingfromthePerspectiveofSys-

temArrangement”ZhangSheng,“ViewingthestrategicchoiceoftheJapanesetroopsthroughthecaseoftheNanjingMas-

sacre”SuZhiliang,“AvisittoacomfortplaceoftheJapanesetroops:AsamplestudyofLijixiangComfort

Place”ZhuShouyun,“ThoughtsontherelationshipbetweentheNanjingMassacreandthecomfortwomen

system”ShiZhiyu,“AnalysisofthecausesofatrocitiesbytheJapanesetroopsinNanjing”

Viewing“DecemberHell:TheNanjingSorrow” Created,directed,andperformedbyYoshijiWatanabeandKazukoYokoi

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Farewell dinner(ZhangLianhong,YangXiaming,andWuXianbin,guestsofhonor)

Prof.ZhangLianhong Prof.YangXiaming Mr.WuXianbin

Participants and Audience

Mainevent:65fromChina,24fromJapan,3fromUSA,and1fromGermany,plusaudience.Scholars’symposium:46fromChina,32fromJapan,plusaudience(31presenters).Play:300intheaudience,including66fromJapan.(plusreporters)

Web site and photo galleries

www.hwhj.org/www.wordwiseweb.com/2007/china/nanjing07/www.flickr.com/photos/upaya/sets/72157603295060717/

Photo credit

ChenQingfa,PeterCunningham,JoanHalifax,TsuyoshiMieda,NanjingSino-JapaneseWarHistoryMuseum

Media Coverage

TheeventwasreportedbyfourNanjingnews-papers(someonthefrontpage),Japanesenationalnewspapers,andNanjingradioandtelevision.Orga-nizerswereinterviewedbyNorwegiantelevisionandU.S.publicradio.

Film and Photo Documentation

FilmedbyaChinesecrewledbyWuXuanbinandAlexRudinskyfromUSA.PhotosbyPeterCun-ninghamfromUSAandTsuyoshiMiedafromJapan.

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Background

Inordertoreflectthediversityofhistoricalinterpretations,wehaveselectedtheseexcerptsfromJapaneseandChinesetextbooks:

ExcerptfromaJapanesetextbook,1: OntheeveningofJuly7,1937,anincidentthatsomeoneshotattheJapanesetroopsinexercisetookplaceatHu-gouqiaointhesuburbofBeijing.Onthefollowingmorning,theJapanesewereincombatwiththeChineseNationalistPartytroops(theHugouquiaoIncident).Asolutionwassoughton-the-spot,buttheJapanesesideorderedalarge-scaledispatchoftroops,andtheNationalistPartyGovernmentalsoorderedmobilizationoftroops.Followingthis,theJapan-ChinaWarwentonforeightyears. InAugustofthesameyear,anincidentthattwoJapanesesoldierswereshottodeathtookplaceinShanghaiwhereforeignreservationsareconcentrated.Ignitedbythisoccasion,atotalwarbetweenJapanandChinastarted.HopingthattakingNanjing,thecapitaloftheNationalistPartyGovernment,wouldmakeChangKaisheksurrender,theJapanesetroopsoccupiedNanjing.(AtthistimealargenumberofpeoplewerekilledandinjuredbytheJapanesetroops:theNanjingIncident.)[Note:TheTokyoTrialdeterminedthattheJapanesetroopskilledagreatnumberofChinesecivilianswhentheyoccupiedNanjingin1937duringtheJapan-ChinaWar.Furthermore,somepointsofdoubtbasedonevidenceshavebeenpresentedregardingrealityofthisincident,anddebatecontinueseventoday.]–AtarashiiRekishiKyokasho(NewHistoryTextbook),MikijiNijio,etal.Tokyo:Fusosha.2001.

ExcerptfromaJapanesetextbook,2: OnJuly7,atHugouquiaointhesuburbofBeiping(Beijing)anincidentthatJapaneseandChinesetroopsclashedwitheachother(theHugouquiaoIncident).Atrucewasreachedon-the-spot,butwiththeintentiontogiveastrikeonChina,subduethemovementtoresistJapan,andobtainresourcesandmarketinNorthernChina,theKonoeCabinetdecidedtodispatchtroops,andcalledit“NorthernChinaIncident.”AfterthebattlespreadtoShanghaiinAugust(theShanghaiIncident),itwasrenamed“ChinaIncident”inSeptember,andJapanwentintototalinvasionwaragainstChinawithoutdeclaringwar(Japan-ChinaWar). InspiteoftheJapaneseexpectationthatChinawouldbesubduedwithasinglestrike,theresistanceofChina,formingaunifiedracialfront-lineagainstJapan,wasstrong.JapanpouredalargenumberoftroopsandoccupiedNanjing,thecapitaloftheNationalistGovernment,inDecember.Atthattime,theJapanesetroopskilledagreatnumberofChinesepeople,includ-ingsurrenderingsoldiersandprisonersofwar,engagedindepredations,arson,andcriminalassaults,andwereinternationallyaccusedfortheNanjingMassacre.Thenumberofthose,includingcombatants,whowerekilled,duringtheweeksbeforeandaftertheoccupation,isestimatedasatleasttenthousandormore.–JapaneseHistoryB,KojiroNaoki.Tokyo:JikkyoPublica-tions,1997.

ExcerptfromaChinesetextbook: AftertheHugouqiaoIncident,theJapanesearmyamassedagreatnumberofreinforcingtroopsandlaunchedalarge-scalecampaigntowardBeiping,Tianjin,Shanghai,andotherregions.Japandependedonitsmilitarypowerandintendedtofightandwinquickly,destroyingChinainthreemonths.AtthiscriticaltimeforthesurvivaloftheChineserace,peopleintheentirecountryunitedandlaunchedacollaborativecampaignagainstinvasion,whichwasunprecedentedinmodernChinesehistory… InDecember1937,theJapanesearmyoccupiedNanjing.Atthattime,theykilledunarmedcitizensandprisonersofwarbycruelmethods,includingshooting,burning,burying,cutting,andmilitarydogsbiting.Thiscreatedextremehumanmis-ery—theNanjingmassacre…AccordingtostatisticsthenumberofunarmedNanjingresidentsandChinesesoldierswhohadlaiddownweaponsthattheJapanesearmyslaughteredduringthesixweeksofitsoccupationofNanjing,reachedmorethan300,000.TheNanjingmassacreisoneoftheatrocitiesthattheJapaneseinvadingarmyinflictedonChinesepeople.–History,vol.1,theeighthgrade.BeijingNormalUniversityPress,2001.

Currentnews

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/2/hi/asia-pacific/7140357.stm/http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/movies/12nank.html/http://www.historytoday.com/MainArticle.aspx?m=32474&amid=30252327/

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Effects on Participants

ThevividandhighlyemotionalrecollectionsoftwosurvivorspaintedingraphicdetailthebrutalityinflictedbytheinvadingtroopsinNanjing.Allparticipantsweredeeplyshaken.AlthoughtheinitialinteractionbetweenChineseandJapaneseparticipantswasawkwardandintellectualized,peopleinteractedmoreopenlyastheconferenceprogressed.Atthemassacrememorialsite,someJapaneseparticipantswailedandweptastheybowedtheirheadstotheground.Anumberofthemsobbedwhileviewingtheartworksandwatchingtheplay.Theylatertalkedaboutthecatharticreleaseoflong-repressedguilt. Participantslearnedaboutthecurrentthinkingofthirty-oneChineseandJapanesehistorians,listen-ingtotheirbriefpresentationsandreadingtheirpapersatthesymposium.AnumberofChineseandJapanesepeopleexpressedtheirhopetocontinuethedialoguetheyhadbegunduringtheconference.MostJapaneseparticipantssaidtheywantedtoreturntoNanjingwithfriendsforfuturegatherings.

Excerpts from Participants’ Reflections

HirokoYagiPsychologygraduatestudent,25

Japan

OnourvisittotheYanzijiMassacreMemorialsite,IempathizedwiththetremendousterrorIimaginedtheChi-nesevictimshadfelt.Walkingdownthestonesteps,IstoodalonefacingtheYangziRiver.Iweptinangerforthosewhohadbeenkilled.Atthatmoment,Iunderstoodinaveryvisceralwaythatthemassacrehadindeedtakenplace. AfterreturningtoKyoto,Ifeltemptyandpowerless,asifmyenergyhadbeensuckedaway.IcouldnotkeepNanjingoutofmymindandfeltlikecryingallthetime.Forthefirsttime,fromthebottomofmyheart,IexperiencedtheheavinessoftheNanjingmassacre. UnlikeotherJapaneseparticipants,IwasnotyetabletomaintainaclearsenseofbeingaperpetratorasaJapa-nese.Iunderstooditcognitively,butinactualitybeingaperpetratormyselfdidnotmakesense.Ionlysawcrueltyagainsthumanity.ItwasmoredifficultthanIhadexpectedtoacceptthatitcouldbecomingfromme.However,whenIwastalkingface-to-facewithChinesepeople,theguiltsetin.Allofasuddentheissuebetweennationsturnedintoanissuebetweenapersonandaperson. TheChinesepeoplewhoattendedtheconferencewerefriendly.However,thedaybeforeleavingNanjing,IwenttotownwithAya.Ishowedourdestinationtothetaxidriver,amiddle-agedman.Hestarteddrivingandaskedmeinwrit-tenChinesecharacters(whichJapanesepeoplecanoftenread):“Whereareyoufrom?”Iwrote,“Japan.”Heimmediatelyputhishandonhisneck,gesturingdecapitationwithasword.Iunderstoodwhathewassayingfromtheexpressiononhisface.Thenhewrote:“Idon’tlikeJapanesepeople.”Iwasshockedbutwantedtorespondtohim.Idrewapictureofapersonapologizingandwrote:“WenttoYanziji.IcametoaninternationalconferenceontheNanjingmassacre.JapanesepeoplekilledChinesepeople.”Icontinued:“Apology.Sad.Forgive.”Itlookedlikehenodded.Icouldnotunderstandthelastthinghesaid. Aswegotoutofthetaxi,hestretchedhishandouttome.Weshookhandsfirmly.Iwasmovedthathehadof-feredhishand,asIhadbeenafraidtodoso.AfterAyaandIgotout,Ishookhishandagain.HekissedmyhandandIkissedhishandback.Ifeltlikeputtingmyhandonmyheart.Iwasgratefulbutdidnotknowhowtoexpressit. Ithink,inthispost-wargeneration,itisimportanttohavethiskindofconversation.Howeverscaredwemaybe,ifwearedeterminedtoopenourheartsandengageinhonestdialoguewiththeChinese,ourrelationshipwillevolve.Thisdialoguehasjustbegun.

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JoanHalifax,PhDAnthropologist,Zenmaster,65

USA

Tosayitwaslikeattendingawarcrimestrialisanunderstatement.Listeningtosurvivorsofthemassacretelltheirstorieswasnearlyunbearable.AnditwasheartbreakingtowatchtheJapaneseparticipantscryinshame.Truly,youmustreadIrisChang’sbookThe Rape of Nanjing.Itisgrippingandterrifying.Howcouldthishavehappened,atrueholocaustinthecruelestsense,andsofewintheworldtakennote?Itblewmymind. IwentwithKaztoNanjingthreetimestoprepareforthisgathering,butIhadnoideaofthemagnitudeoftheatrocitiesuntilafewdaysagowhenIheardsurvivorstestify.ToconsiderthatsomeJapanesedenythemassacreisabsurdanddisturbing.Thisconferenceprovidedachancefortruthtoemergeandreconciliationtobegin. Kazaskedmetomoderatethepanelonrapeasaweaponofwar.FemaleChinesescholarspresentedpowerfulevi-denceconcerningtorture,rape,andenslavementofChinesewomenandchildrenbyJapanesesoldiers.JapanesewomenspokeofthesexualandmoralissuesthatbeleaguerthesexistJapanesemaleculture. Itwasaverylongandheavyafternoon.Wehadalreadyheardthesurvivors’testimony.Totellyouthetruth,IfeltforthemanyJapanesemenintheaudience.Thewomendidnotholdback.IwasrelievedasawomantohearsuchstrengthfrommyAsiansisters.Itwasaharrowingfivehoursoftestimony--overwhelmingandlife-changingforme,asIhadnotknownanyhorrorasappallingasthis.

HaruyoshiFugakuItoShintaidoinstructor,65Japan,ResidentofUSA

Listeningtothesurvivors’testimonyandChinesescholars’presentation,Irealizedhowsuperficialmyunder-standinghadbeen.TheactsofJapanesesoldierswerebarbaricbeyondbelief–slaughteringsurrenderedsoldiers;stealingfood,clothes,andfurniture;andcommittingsexualviolenceonwomenandgirls.ChinesepeopleseeJapanesewhorefusetoapologizeandtrytorewritehistoryascowards.Eventhosewhoappeartobepro-Japanesemayfeelthiswaydeepintheirhearts. Ontheseconddayoftheconference,weparticipantsvisitedYanziji,oneofthemassacresites,foramemorialservicewithsilenceandflowerofferings.WhenIlookeddownfromthehillwherethememorialmonumentwas,IsawadecayedpierontheYangziRivier.Atthefootofthepierwasaflatshadyspot,fromwhereasandybeachextended.IguessedthatthishadbeenwhereJapanesesoldiersswungtheirswordsandshottheirmachineguns.Iwalkeddownwhilethinkingaboutit.Mywholebodyshookwithterror.Iheardandfeltthescreamsfromhell.Itookoffmyshoesandcoat,andsatonmyknees.Afteroneroundof“TenshinGoso”(aShintaidomovement),Iputmyhandsontheground,readytotakeaformalbow.Then,mybodyshookagain.Irealizedthatthegestureofputtingmyforeheaddownmirroredthegestureofdecapitation.ItwasthenthatIexperiencedtheprofoundsinthatIsharedjustbybeingJapanese.

AyaKasaiExpressiveArtsTherapist,33

Japan,residentofUSA

WhenIwasyoung,Iaskedmygrandpa,“Didyoukillanyoneduringthewar?”Hesaid,“Hmmm…Aya,Idon’trememberbecauseithappenedsuchalongtimeago.”ThenIaskedmygrandma,“Doyouknowifgrandpakilledanyone

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duringthewar?”Grandmasaid,“…Ihavenoidea.Henevertoldme.”ThenIaskedmydad,“Doyouthinkgrandpakilledanyoneduringthewar?”Mydadsaid,“Henevertoldme.Butmaybehedid…becausethat’swhatwaris...somaybehedid.”Iwaspuzzledthatnooneseemedtoknow.Sotwentyyearslater,IdecidedtogotoNanjingtoseeformyself. Onthelastdayoftheconference,wesawtheplay“DecemberHell:NanjingSorrow.”Asthehallwaspacked,Iwasgoingtostandandwatch.Chinesestudents,however,insistedongivingmeaseat.Iwasmovedbytheirgenerosity. Intheirpowerfulperformance,theactorsexpressedthepain,sorrow,andrageofthevictimsoftheatrocity.Stu-dentsaroundme,whohaddiscussedthemassacreobjectivelyintheprevioussharingsessions,wereallsobbing.Irealizedtheabilityofarttopullusfromtheintellectualintothevisceral.Watchingtheplaybroughttothesurfaceourangeratpeoplewhohadcommittedbrutalitiesandourempathyforthosewhohadsufferedbythem.Thisexperiencetranscendedtheboundariesofcountryandculture. OnmyflightbackfromBeijingtoOsaka,aneighty-two-year-oldJapanesemanwasseatednexttome.WhenItoldhimthatIhadjustvisitedNanjing,hesaid,“IhavevisitedChinaovertwentytimes,andIwanttogotoNanjingbuthaven’t.It’sdifficultforsomeoneofmygenerationtogothere.”Heexplaineditwasbecauseofhissenseofguilt.ItoldhimthatthepeopleinNanjingwerewaitingforusandtalkedtohimaboutsomeofmyexperienceattheconference. Hethentoldmehehadbeentrainedasanavypilotduringwartime.Whenhetoldmeofhisheartbreakingmis-siontoflyanescortplaneforsuicidebombers,heshedtears.Aftertellingmemorestoriesofthewar,hesaid,“IwilltrytovisitNanjingbeforeIdie.” WhenIgottotheOsakaAirportandhadameal,allconversationsaroundmesoundedlikeChinese.Mytrainarrivedatthestation.Iwasimpressedthatitwassoclean.Thenthecleaningcrewgotontothetrainandstartedcleaninginsidethetrain,whichwasalreadyspotless.Tearscameoutofme.Isaidtomyself,“Whatareyoutryingtowipeoff?Howeverhardyoumaytry,youcan’t.”Atthatmoment,IrealizedthatIcamebacktothecountrywherepeoplearetooafraidoflookingintotheuglinessofhumanity.IwasseizedbyastrongdesiretogobacktoChina. Iwenttomyparents’houseandspreadopenmysuitcaseinmyfather’sstudio.Later,IsawabareJapanesedag-gerplacedonmyclothesinthesuitcase.Iwasstartledandscreamedatmyfather:“Whydidyouputaswordhere?Takeitaway!Quick!”Hehadsetthedaggeronsomethingsoftwhilemakingasheatheforit.Asamartialartist,heownsabouttenswords,allofwhicharekeptshinyandsharp.WhenIsawtheswordlyingnexttoIrisChang’sbook(The Rape of Nanking)andDr.Noda’sbook(War and Guilt)inmysuitcase,theheartoftheproblemhitme.Inmyownparents’home,realweaponsarestillhidden,readytouse.JapaneseswordsusedintheNanjingmassacrearetreasuredandseenasbeauti-ful.Asword,inaphotograph,thatwasheldbymygrandfather,whowasamilitarypoliceofficerinChinaduringthewar.Aswordsetinmysuitcase.Everythingseemedasymptomofournationnotfacingitsownhistory.Itwaslikeseeingjigsaw-puzzlecometogether.Iwasoneofthepuzzlepiecesaswell.Atthatmoment,Igotsickandcouldnotgetup. Thatnight,Itriedtohealmyselfwithabreathingexercise.ThenIsawtheimageofaluminouspinkroseopeningwithinme.Itwasbeautiful,butitmademeunbearablysad.Iwantedtoscreambutweptsilentlyinstead.Theimageoftherosekeptcomingbacktome.IttoldmethatIwouldbeOK.IsoonrealizedthisrosesymbolizedthepartofmyheartthatblossomedandgrewtolovetheChinesepeopleduringtheconference.Thislovewastheoriginofmydeepmotivationtofacehistory.ThenextmorningIfeltstrongerandstartedmakingplanstogobacktoChina,sothatIcouldcontinuethisgrowth.

HaruhikoMurakawa,PhDPsychologyprofessor,44

Japan

TheweekIspentparticipatingintheNanjingconferencehasbeentheexperienceofalifetime.Iamthankfultoeveryonewhojoinedmeonthejourney.IamespeciallygratefultoKazwho,withunwaveringdetermination,hasstep-

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by-stepbuiltatrustingrelationshipwithourChinesefriendsforthepastsevenyears.AlsoIthankTsuyoshiMiedawhoencouragedmenottogiveup. Throughoutthetrip,Ihadmanyvividexperiences.Iwasovertakenbythesensationthatmoundsofcorpseswerelyingatmyfeet.Atthesametime,however,Ifeltclarityandrelease.Infacingthedeepestdarknessandbrightestlight,Ifeltmyhumanityemerge.

Heinz-JürgenMetzgerZenteacher,peaceactivist,55

Germany

TheJapanesewhocametoNanjingwerewillingtobefullypresent.OnthefirstmorningwewenttoaplacenearthebanksoftheYangziRiver,wherethousandsofChinesehadbeenkilled.Thisplacehadbeenpraisedforitsbeautyoverthecenturies.Now,thereisamonumentcommemoratingthekillingthattookplaceonlysomemetersaway.Themonu-mentisprotectedbyatraditionalroofrestingonthreepillars.Leadinguptoitisapathofstonesteps.Oneafteranother,wewalkedupthestepsandofferedaflower.TheJapaneseparticipantsthencoveredthestepswithwhitelinen.Theytookofftheirshoesandwalkedtothemonumentagain,bowingdowntothegroundandmourningforalongtime. Later,someofthemadmittedthattheyhadbeenafraidtocometoNanjing,andthatithadbeenastruggletojustbethere.Buttheceremonyatthemonumenthadchangedtheirfeelings.Throughbearingwitnessandacknowledgingthedarkestsideoftheirhistory,theJapaneseparticipantswereabletofindinnerpeace.Ihadasimilarexperienceparticipat-inginretreatsatformerconcentrationcampsinAuschwitz-Birkenau(Poland)andWeimar-Buchenwald(Germany). TheafternoonfollowingthememorialservicewasdedicatedtothesufferingofwomenduringtheJapaneseinva-sion.TensofthousandsofwomenwererapedinNanjingandmanyofthemwerekilledinwaystoopainfultoimagine.Havingheardsomanystoriesaboutrapeandmurder—notonlyinNanjingbutalsoinSerbia,Dharfur,andotherplaces—itisdifficultformetoseethoserapesandkillingsaspartsofparticularwars.Shouldwenotseetheseactsaspartoftheongoingwarofmenagainstwomen?Howisthiswarmanifestingitselfinoureverydaylives?Whatcanwedotoendit?

MayumiOdaArtist,66

Japan,residentofUSA

MyroadtoNanjingwaslong.JapansurrenderedwhenIwasfouryearsold.ThroughoutmychildhoodIhadmanypainfulpost-warexperiences.Theyshapemylifeevennow.Ididn’twanttothinkaboutwaratall,andstronglyresistedgoingtoNanjing.Iwasnotreadytofathomthedepthandweightofallthathadhappenedthere.Ayearearlier,Ihadboughtanairticketbutcouldnotbringmyselftogo.In2007cametheseventiethanniversary.Itoccurredtomethattherewouldbefewerandfewersurvivors.WhenIthoughtoftheirtragicchildhoodexperiences,Ifinallypushedmyselftomakethetrip. FromthewindowsoftheexpresstrainfromShanghaitoNanjing,Isawmoundsofrawblackpeat.ThisremindedmeofthecampaignsconductedbytheJapaneseimperialtroopstooccupycoalandironminesontheChinesecontinent.Coalwasaninitialmotivationforthebloodybattlesourfathersandgrandfathersfought.WhatonearthcouldIdoinNan-jing?IjustwantedtolistendeeplytotheChinesepeopleandtakeintheirsorrowandanger. ThereisamemorialsitefortheNanjingmassacreatYanzijiontheYangziRiver,fromwhereonecanviewapic-turesquelandscape.Isawthevastriver,cargoshipscarryingcoal,willowtreesandvegetablefieldsspreadontheshore.Howcoulditbethatinsuchabeautifulvillagesomuchslaughteringhadtakenplace?Onlyseventyyearsearlier,our

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fathersandgrandfathersinflictedunthinkablebrutalities.Countlessswollencorpseswasheduponthatveryshore.Ifeltaburstofterrorandlamentationandstartedsobbingfromthebottomofmybody. InfrontoftheYanzijimassacrememorialsite,weJapaneseparticipantslaidoutwhitelinens,boweddownonthem,andapologized.Weborebouquetsofflowers,embracedoneanother,andcried.Unstoppabletearsdroppedontothebouquetofblue-purplelotusflowersIhadboughtataflorist’sacrossthestreetfromtheNanjingNormalUniversity. Warsareharmfultowomen,children,andtheearth.ChinaisthemotherofourJapaneseculture,andwhentheJapaneseinvadedChina,theyrapedtheirmother’swomb.Theremusthavebeensomethinginthesamuraicodethatencouragedthemtodevaluelifeandglorifybrutality.ViolencewithinusmaynotbesofarremovedfromthecrueltycommittedbytheJapaneseimperialarmy.Inmymind,theNanjingmassacrehastaughtustounderstandthecollectiveresponsibilitywemustbear. MyvisittoNanjinghelpedopenthedoortomyheart,previouslyparalyzedinthepracticalityofdailylife.Onlywhenwerememberthetragedyofwar,canoursoulsbeliberated.Havingreturnedfrommyjourney,Inowfeelthepos-sibilityoffreedomforthefuture. DoJapanesepeopleconsiderNanjingsimplyawayof“gettingeven”afterbeingvictimizedbythebattlesofOki-nawa,thegreatairraidofTokyo,andatombombsonHiroshimaandNagasaki?TheJapanesegovernmentneitherself-ex-aminedtheSino-Japanesewar,nortookfullresponsibilityforit.Instead,itreconstructedJapanundertheumbrellaofU.S.nuclearweaponsandcommercialtrade.ThepeopleofJapanmadeaconvictedwarcriminaltheirprimeminister.TheypromotedthestaffresearchersofUnit731,whoconductedlivinghumanexperimentsinChina.Itisherethattherootofpost-warsocietaldistortionlies. JapaneseyoungpeoplewhohavenotbeentaughtthetruthmaydistancethemselvesfromyoungChinese.Weneedtotakethemtothemassacresites,reflectonourcountry’shistorywithChina,anddiscusshowtoreconcileourpastandlivetogetherinthefuture.

ChenQinfa,PhDResearcherinChinese-Japaneserelationshistory

China

IteachJapanesehistory,Sino-Japaneserelations,andmodernworldhistoryattheJianxiNormalUniversity.IthoughtIknewJapanesepeople.However,inparticipatinginthisinternationalconference,Icametoknowtheminawholenewway. Idon’trememberhowmanytimesHaruhikoMurakawa—theleaderofthegroup—wasfilledwithtears.Ican’tquiterememberhowmanytimesKazuakiTanahashiembracedpeopleintheAmericanway.AndInolongerrememberhowmanytimes.MayumiOdacried. Theconferencewasfilledwithmanymovingmoments.KunikoMuramotodiscussedwarfromawideperspec-tivethroughherexperienceasapsychologistfortwentyyears.KazuyukiKusayanagi,apsychologist,playedhisoriginalpianopiece“TowardaWorldWithoutDomesticViolence.”TakashiTsumuratalkedabouthisexperiencesvisitingChinaoveronehundredfiftytimes.KazukoYokoiandYoshijiWatanabecriedwhentheybowedtothebronzestatueofMinnieVantrin.AlexRudinskitoldmeabouthisfather’ssufferingasavictimofWorldWarII.Heshedtearsagainaftertheartexhibition. IamfurousabouttheNanjingmassacre,theSino-Japanesewar,andeverywarthatishappeningtoday.Thevic-tims’sufferingbreaksmyheart. IthankeveryonewhocametoChina.Yourwordsandactionshavetouchedme.Iwillbewithyouonthenextstepofthejourney.

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AlexRudinskyArtist,filmmaker,50

USA

IwastheAmericanfilmmakerattheconference.SinceIdonotspeakChineseorJapaneseandwasfilming(ratherthanlisteningtothetranslations),Ihadlittleideawhattheparticipantsweresaying.Icould,however,getanenergeticsenseofwhatwasgoingon.Forexample,whenthemalesurvivorgesturedbeingcutonthehandandgettingstabbedinthesidewithabayonet,itwasobvioustomewhathewastalkingabout.Thefemalesurvivoralsoelicitedmanystrongemotionalresponsesamongthemembersoftheaudience.Manywerevisiblysaddenedandshocked;somewerecrying.Itwaseasytoreadtheshameonpeople’sfaces.AfterIreturnedandlookedatmyfootage,thesescenesallcamebacktomeinafreshway.ButlookingatWuXianbin’sfootage,IsawwhatIhadmissed.WhileIhadbeendocumentinginawaythatacknowledgedpeople’spersonalspace,Mr.Wuhadsetasidethoseboundaries,gettingclose-upsthatcapturedtheiremotionalintensity. IamtrulyimpressedwithMr.Wu’scamerawork.Whathebroughttotheprojectwasaconsummateskillandaninstinctforextractingtheessenceofeachshot.Mr.Wupossessedthequalitiesofafeaturefilmphotographerwhotakesmanyshotsinordertogetthebestimage.Andyet,hedidthisinrealtimeoneframeafteranother!Hetooktheskillsoffineartcinematographyandappliedthemtodocumentaryfilmmaking. Asaportraitpainter,Iunderstandtheimportanceofcomposition.ThismademeespeciallyappreciateMr.Wu’sartisticeye.Forexample,whentheJapanesewereplacingflowersoneafteranotheratthetopoftheYanzijiMemorial,hepositionedthecamerasothateachfaceandbodywouldfill50%oftheframeandtheflowers25%,withonlookersinthedistantbackgroundinterspersedamongtherocksonthehillside.Thevisualelementswerethereforearrangedinpropor-tiontotheiremotionalpower.Hisbrilliance,thoughnotobvioustomanypeople,wasconsistentandautomatic.Weweretremendouslyluckytohavehimfilmthisevent. In1968,IwaslivinginCzechoslovakiawhentheSovietinvasiontookplace.Ilivedthereforthefollowingtwoyears.Thisexperiencehelpedmeunderstandthelong-termimpactofoccupationonthecountry,families,andindividuals.Aspartoflife’sjourney,Iwantedtodocumentthe“RememberingNanjing”conferencesothatotherscouldbecomeawareoftheconsequencesofsuchahorrificevent.Ialsowantedtowitnesstheliberationandhopethatcatharsiscanbring. Iamextremelygratefultohaveparticipatedinthisproject.Itisnotofteninoureverydayworklivesthatweareabletoexpressemotionssuchasanger,shame,sadness,andremorse—notonlyinapersonalway,butalsoinasocialandhistoricalone.ThisendeavorforgenuinereconciliationbetweenChineseandJapanesecanbecomeametaphorforhealingallofus,andhealingtheworld.

KunikoMuramoto,PhDProfessorofClinicalPsychology,46

Japan

IhadlongwantedtogotoNanjing.Forovertwentyyears,IhadcounseledpeopleaffectedbydomesticviolenceandbrutalsexcrimessecretlycommittedinJapanesehomes.IcametothebeliefthatwecouldgetattherootoftheseproblemsbylookingatwhathadhappenedinNanjing. IwasappalledtolearnthattheUnit731researchers,whohadconductedlivinghumanexperimentsinChinadur-ingWorldWarII,werestillhighlyinfluentialinthecurrentJapanesemedicalfield.ThisinformationwasrecentlyrevealedduringtheMidorijujiMedicalGroupscandalaroundAIDSmedicine. IfwestudythesourceofsexslaveryintheJapanesearmy,thetrailleadsfromShanghaitoNanjing.IlearnedthatsoonafterWorldWarII,thesuspectofaserialrapemurderer—latersentenceddeath—confessedthathehadcommitted“somewhatextraordinaryrapes”duringtheShanghaiIncident,stabbingwomenwithhisbayonetandpullingfetusesoutofpregnantwomen. Forsomeyears,Ididmyownstudiesonwaratrocitiesandattendedrelatedmeetingsbutwasnotreadytogoto

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Nanjing.Thistime,however,overtakenbyamysteriouspower,Idecidedtomaketheleapandbearwitness.MyfirstgoalwastotakewhatIunderstoodintellectuallyandfeelitdeepdowninmyheart. Growingup,IrepeatedlyheardstoriesaboutthegreatairraidofTokyoin1945.Mymotherhadexperienceditscrueltyfirsthand.Asaself-preservationmechanism,Ihadalwaysregardedwarassomethingthathadhappenedlongtimeagoandhadnothingtodowithme.WheneverIheardpeopletalkingaboutwar,Ibecamenumb.Icouldunderstanditintellectuallybutcouldnotfeelit.However,asIgrewolderanddevelopedmylife’swork,Icametoharborhopeinthehumancapacitytohealandlivewithdignity,evenafterahistoryofbrutalvictimization.Ifinallybecamereadytofacethecrimesofmycountry’spast. AsIrereadmysourcematerialsinpreparationformytrip,Ibegantounderstandthesurvivors’storiesmoredeeplythanbefore.ThroughthewindowsofthetrainfromShanghaitoNanjing,IsawJapanesesoldiersswarminglikeantsandmoundsofdeadChinesebodiesburnedinmassimmolations. IwantedtohavethefullNanjingexperience,takeitin,andprocessit.Ienteredthecity.WewhoparticipatedintheconferencelistenedtothestoriesofthesurvivorsandsawphotographsoftheatrocitiesattheWarHistoryMuseum.Thesestoriesandimagesweremostlyfamiliar,andyettheyshockedmeonadeeplevel.Iwasparticularlyappalledbythestoryofbloodthatfrozeinmid-airandshatteredwhenithittheground.Whatasight! IalsodidnotknowthatJapanesetroopslaidoutthousandsofChinesecorpsesintherivertousethemasabridge.WhentheweatherbecamewarminMarch,thesebodiesrotted,saturatingthecitywithanunbearablesmell.Thisimagehitmehard.Infact,mostoftheJapaneseparticipantssufferedfromheadaches,bodypains,fevers,orvomiting.Learningaboutbrutalactionsitselfbecomeatrauma.Weallempathizedprofoundlywiththevictims. Oneofthesurvivorssaid,“TheJapanesetroopswerevery,verybad.”Thesewordsmademewanttocovermyeyesandears.ButIrealizedwemustlisten;wemustsee. Inthephotographyexhibitatthemuseum—amongcruelscenesofdismemberedbodies,mutilatedwomen’ssexualorgans,andmountainsofnakedcorpses—werephotographsofsmilingJapanesesoldiers.Theyareourfathers,grandfathers,andgreatgrandfathers.Theycamebacktothecharredremainsofourcountryandrebuiltpost-warJapan,wherewewerebornandraised.Inthatmoment,thelastpieceofthepuzzlesnappedintoplace.IfinallyacceptedthatIwasaJapanesethroughandthrough;amemberofthesocietythathad,inthepast,victimizedapeople.Thisopenedapathwayformetobringthevictims’shame,wrath,andsorrowintomyheart. Ontheseconddayoftheconference,wevisitedamassacresiteatYanzijiandheldamemorialservice.ItwasanunbelievablybeautifulplaceontheYangziRiver.TogetherwithotherJapanesepeople,Icriedandcried.Inourheartfeltapology,weconnectedtooneanother.Itwasasiftheiceinmyhearthadmelted.Thenumbnesshadvanished,andinsteadtheimageofatinygreenbudemerged.Irealizedthatthiskindofemotionalbreakthroughwouldbetheonlywaytoputanendtotheviciouscycleofdrugaddictionandself-destructivebehaviorthatnowplaguesthenextgenerationofyoungJapanese. AlthoughtheNanjingmassacretookplacebeforeIwasborn,Iliveinanextensionofthepast.Thereisnootherwayformetolivethantofacemypastwithoutlookingaway. TheChinesepeoplewemetwerewarmandkind.ThoughIsensedstronglythattheyweresuspiciousoftheJapa-nesetendencytodenyorunderestimatetheNanjingmassacre,theysawoursincerityandtreateduswithrespect.Ayounggraduatestudentsaid,“IhatedJapanesepeopleuntiltoday.Butmyfeelingshavechanged.IwanttotalkwithyoungJapa-nese.IfIwriteletters,wouldyougivethemtosomestudents?Iwanttocorrespondwiththem.Wecanbecomefriendsiftheyacknowledgethepastandwetalkaboutit.” AnotheryoungChinesestudentsaid,“Chinatakeshistoryseriously.ChinaandJapanhavemaintainedafriendlyrelationshipsinceancienttimes.”IalsolearnedtheChineseexpression:“Onlyanarrowchannelofwaterdividesus.”Hearingthis,Ifeltthevastnessofthecontinentandtheopennessofitspeople.Oursocietyneedstonurtureyoungpeoplewhoareequallyreadytoworkinthisway. Itwasatoughandpainfuljourney,butfortunatelyIcouldreturnwithclarityandoptimism.Hownourishingtheexperiencehadbeen!Itwasasmallbutsignificantstepintherightdirection.IplantocontinueinthisdirectionandhelpdevelopfutureprojectswithmyJapanesetravelcompanions.Iwanttodedicatetherestofmylifetothiscause.

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Artist Statement Exhibition:“Sino-JapaneseWar:ReflectionsandRemorse”

KazuakiTanahashiArtist,writer,74

Japan,residentofUSA

Lastingpeaceisonlypossiblewithtrust.Trustisonlypossiblewithgenuinefriendship.Genuinefriend-shipisonlypossiblebysharingknowledgeandemotionaboutthepainfulpast. TheatrocityinflictedupontheChinesepeoplebytheJapanesetroopsbetween1937and1945wasenor-mousinscaleandbrutalinmethods,unprecedentedinworldhistory.We,thetwopeoples,needtoexaminethehistorytogetherandfindthebestwaytohealfromthetragedy. Iwasfouryearsoldwhenthewarstartedandelevenyearsoldwhenitended.BylivinginJapanesesocietyandpartakingofJapaneseeducation,Iparticipatedinthewar.ItisextremelyheartbreakingtolearnandexpressmyunderstandingaboutwhatmypredecessorsdidtotheinnocentpeopleinChinaandothersinEastAsiaandthePacific.ThisartworkisanhonestexpressionofmyunderstandingandfeelingabouttheSino-Japa-nesewar.Ihopeitwillserveasasteptowardfurtherunderstandingamongthosewhoareconcernedwithwar,peace,andfriendship.

Playwright’s Statement Play:“DecemberHell:NanjingSorrow”

YoshijiWatanabePlaywright,actor,60

Japan

MywifeKazukoandIvisitedNanjingforthefirsttimein2001.AssoonaswejoinedhandsatthemassacresiteontheYangziRiver,Isawred.Seizedbyanenormousheadache,Iheardvoicesgroaningfromunderground.IrealizedthatthesoulsofthosewhohadbeenslaughteredwerestillwanderingtheYangziRiver,unabletorestinpeace.Atthatmoment,ImadeacommitmenttolookdeeperintotheNanjingmassacre.Bornin1947,Ididnotexperiencewarmyself.Inmyhome,however,thewarcontinuedevenafterJapanhadsurrendered.

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In1934,myfathervolunteeredtobeamilitaryofficerinthe“NationofManchuria,”establishedbytheinvadingJapan.Hefought,captured,andkilledChinesewhowere“anti-Manchuria”and“resistingJapan.”Afterthewar,heescapedtoJapanbutwasconvictedasaC-classwarcriminal.WhenIwassmall,hewasoftenfrightenedandwouldjumpupoutofhisbedinthemiddleofthenight.EverytimeIsawhimdothis,myheartfrozeandmybodytensed.Myparents’relationshipdeteriorated.Myfatherwouldyellatmymotherandbeatherupfornoreason.Afterhewenttobed,shesobbedandsaid,“Iwanttobeseparatedfromyourfather.”Everytimeshewasassaulted,shewouldsay,“Iamonlyabeast.”WhenIwasthirty-five,shehangedherself. Icametobelievethatourfamilyhadcommittedgreatcrimes.Becauseofthis,wecould—andinfactshould—neverbehappy.Somedaywewouldreceiveretributionforourcrimes. In1991,KazukoandIvisitedtheformerManchuria,theNortheastRegionofChina.AphotographwesawinChangchundeterminedourfutureforever.Init,aJapaneseofficerholdingaswordwassmiling.Athisfootwastheraw,decapitatedheadofayoungChineseman.Thisyoungman’sexpressionchokedme.SuddenlyImadetheconnectionbetweenthisphotographandthecrimesmyfatherhadcommitted.Thelingeringresent-mentofthemurderedChinesepeoplehaddictatedourfamily’sdailylivesafterthewar.Thesevictimshadgrabbeduswithoutlettinggo. TheNanjingmassacreistheepitomeofinvasionanddevastation.We,theJapanese,inflictedhorrificatrocitiesuponChina.Theseatrocitiesarestillmanifestingthemselvestoday.Iaspiretokeepfacingmyownguiltfortherestofmylife.Theplay,“DecemberHell:NanjingSorrow”representsKazuko’sandmyconfes-sionandremorse.

Future Plans

Prof.HaruhikoMurakawa,Prof.KunikoMuramoto,andtheircolleaguesplantobringdozensofJapa-nesestudentstoNanjingin2008.SomeJapaneseparticipantshavestarteddiscussiononbuildingamemorialmonumentinNanjingontheYangziRiverbythepeopleofJapan.Presentedpapersoftheacademicsympo-sium,aswellasfilmandphotoimages,willbepublished.

Sponsors

NanjingFriendshipFund(NFF),Nanjing (Prof.ZhangLianhongofNanjingNormalUniversity,PresidentNFF) NanjingNormalUniversityResearchCenterfortheNanjingMassacre TheJapaneseCommitteefortheInternationalConference“RememberingNanjing” NFFJapaneseBranch NFFU.S.Branch TheJapaneseCommitteefortheInternationalSymposium:The70thAnniversaryoftheNanjing Incident NanjingUniversityInstituteofChineseHistoryStudies ChinaLawyersAssociation NanjingLawyersAssociation AWorldWithoutArmies

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New Friendship, Continuing Friendship

KunikoMuramoto,WangXuan,JoanHalifax,MayumiOda WamgChunhangandAyaKasai

MayumiOdaandLuoCuicui AlexRudinskyandWuXianbin

MasashiMinagawa,ZhangLianhong,AlexRudinsky ZhangLianhongandKazuakiTanahashiembracing

HaruhikoMurakawa,ChenQingfa,MayumiOda ChineseandJapaneseparticipantsneartheConfuciusTemple

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How This Conference Took Shape

In1996,HaruhikoMurakawaorganized“AsianWorldWork”inSanFrancisco,aworkshopledbypsychologists,ArnoldandAmyMindell,todiscusstheeffectsoftheatrocitiesinflictedbytheJapanesetroops.ThefollowingyearJoanHalifaxandKazuakiTanahashiparticipatedintheAuschwitzretreatorganizedbyBernieGlassmanandtheZenPeacemakerOrder.Then,in2000,theymetZhangLianhong,YangXiaming,andotherhistoriansinNanjing.TogethertheyestablishedtheNanjingFriendshipFund.Sincethen,TanahashihasvisitedNanjingeveryyeartopreparefortheconferencewithhisChinesecolleagues.In2006,HaruhikoMurakawafoundedtheJapaneseCommitteefortheInternationalConference“RememberingNanjing.”Thatyear,atZhangLianhong’ssugges-tion,theconferencebecamelinkedtotheacademicsymposium.

Funding

FundsforoperatingtheconferencewereraisedbythesponsorsinChina,Japan,USA,andEurope.GrantsweregivenbytheFlowFund(USA)andAWorldWithoutArmies.

The role of AWWA

KazuakiTanahashi,foundingdirectorofAWorldWithoutArmies,collaboratedwiththeChineseorganizersfromtheearlystagesofplanningfortheconference.AWWAalsoprovidedsomeoftheoperatingfunds.

Special Thanks:

Dr.ChenQinfa(translation);Dr.JoanHalifax;Prof.TokushiKasahara;Ms.LiJing;Prof.LuoCuicui(translation);Mr.HiroshiOyama;Prof.JingShenghong;Prof.WangWeixing;Mr.WuXianbin;Prof.YangXiaming;Prof.ZhangLianhong;Prof.ZhangXianwen

Advisors

Rev.JoshinRobertAlthouse,BarbaraBonfigli,PeterCunningham,Prof.WilliamJohnston,MarilynnPreston,USA;Rev.Heinz-JürgenMetzger,Germany

Editors

DianeAbt,ChristineHaggarty,LindaHess,KarunaTanahashi,AlexanderWilliamson,AbbyYoung

Call for Support

AWWAistheonlyinternationalcitizens’organizationintheworldthatfocusesondemilitarizationofnations.Yoursupportiscrucialforactualizingaworldwithoutwarinapractical,step-by-stepway. TheNanjingFriendshipFundendeavorstopromotescholarlystudiesontheNanjingMassacreandprovideservicestovictimsandtheirfamilies.(YoucansendyourdonationstoAWWAtobetransferredtotheNanjingFriendshipFund.)

Pleasesendyourtax-deductibledonationtoAWorldWithoutArmies.

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AWorldWithoutArmies1520BlakeStreet

Berkeley,CA94703U.S.A.Phone:15109315661Fax:15104868188Website:www.AWorldWithoutArmies.orgEmail:info@AWorldWithoutArmies.org