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Nanjing Massacre Memorial: candlelight vigil was held to mark 76th anniversary
南京大屠殺76周年紀念日 勿忘國恥
Some non-governmental organizations have held testimonial events in Japan about the Nanjing Massacre, to reveal the atrocity to the Japanese people. Survivors have been invited to personally recount their ordeals. Iain McKinnell has the details.
Massacre survivor Wang Jin is now in her 80s. She travelled all the way from Nanjing to Japan’s Kanazawa city, just to tell her story. She was only 6 years old when she saw her father was killed by Japanese soldiers.
"My father was stabbed seven times. After he died, my mother went out to look for his body. Bodies were everywhere, lying on the streets, piled up in caves and houses. My mother searched every possible place to see if our family members were among them," said Wang Jin.
Nanjing witnessed mass murder, massacre and rape following the Japanese capture of the city on December 13th, 1937. Over three hundred thousand people were killed. But some Japanese nationalists and historians have constantly played down the massacre, saying it has been exaggerated, or even fabricated. The testimonial event has attracted many Japanese citizens.
They are shocked by the stories.
"I didn’t expect that there would be so few young people here. I’ve learned so much through this event. In the past, I knew little about this period in history. We don’t learn this in school. I think other students should also come," said a Japanese student.
Some have expressed their discontent towards the Japanese government.
"Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other politicians have yet to face Japan’s history of invasion. This is really shameful. Abe talks about establishing a beautiful country all the time. I think to accomplish this, he should face the truth, and contribute to world peace through understanding, not weapons. That’s what Japan should do," said a Japanese citizen.
The event has been held every year since 1994. 47 Chinese survivors attended gatherings across Japan, hoping to promote peaceful interaction between the two countries.
