Latest news with #第二次世界大戦
NHK
4 days ago
- General
- NHK
Wartime diaries from over 100 schools exist in Japan and Taiwan, researchers say
Japanese researchers have found that diaries of more than 100 schools written during the final year of World War Two still exist in Japan and Taiwan. The diaries, which record details about school events and the lives of students, were written by teachers. It was believed that most school diaries written in 1945 were lost in air raids or disposed of after the war. NHK has learned that a research group led by Professor Emeritus Saito Toshihiko at Gakushuin University identified diaries from at least 104 schools written during the 1945 school year. They have been kept in 30 prefectures across Japan and in Taiwan. The daily logs describe details about the impact of the war including the deaths of children in air attacks and the cancellation of events following air-raid warnings. The researchers reviewed entries written on August 15 -- the day Japan commemorates the end of the war -- and found that teachers and students at many schools had listened with tears in their eyes as Emperor Showa announced Japan's surrender over the radio. The researchers say the descriptions indicate that dedication to the emperor and the state were considered to be the top priority at schools. A diary from a former national school in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture, said that the emperor's statement was about restoring peace. The researchers say they believe the entry expressed hope for peace. The research group says school diaries have, until now, not been made public in principle or examined in detail. Professor Emeritus Saito says the diaries are valuable primary materials which can show how people and children became caught up in the war. He says it is necessary to go through the diaries to shed light on what effects the war had.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Global Times: Japanese civil group urges Tokyo to 'face history' through exhibitions of Japanese chemical warfare in WWII
Japanese group holds exhibition on wartime chemical weapons, urging Japan to confront its WWII history and reflect on past crimes. Beijing, China, June 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Japanese civil group recently held an exhibition in Yokohama, Japan which focused on the Japanese Imperial Army's use of chemical weapons and the dangers posed by abandoned chemical munitions during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, in a bid to bring these "dormant historical materials" to light. Nobuharu Goi, chairman of the Yokohama Committee for the Exhibition on Japanese Army's Chemical Warfare, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview that the Japanese government is attempting to erase the public's memory of the war. His organization has spent years collecting materials related to the chemical warfare conducted by the Japanese Imperial Army during its invasion of China, and has held 10 such exhibitions across Japan on the country's "wartime perpetration" - including the Nanjing Massacre, "comfort women," Unit 731, chemical warfare, and the Battle of Okinawa. We hope that the exhibition will encourage more people to understand the crimes committed by the Japanese military in China and urge the Japanese government to confront history, Goi said. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The exhibition was held from May 2 to 6. Approximately 120 exhibits, including historical photographs, thematic panels, and documentary materials, reveal the truth about the Japanese Imperial Army's development, production, and large-scale use of biochemical weapons in China and other places, as well as the suffering inflicted on victims due to the weapons being abandoned after Japan's defeat. Discussing the motivation behind the exhibition, 68-year-old Goi explained to the Global Times that Japan signed the "Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare" (the Geneva Protocol) in 1925, yet continued to manufacture and use chemical weapons during the war. His organization believes it is essential to make these "dormant historical materials" public. Notably, the promotional poster for the exhibition featured the phrase: "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Shouldn't we reflect on what Japan did in China?" However, these historical facts are either barely mentioned or completely omitted in contemporary Japanese textbooks, as the government attempts to gradually erase the public's memory of the war, Goi said. After visiting the exhibition, some Japanese netizens shared their thoughts on social media platforms, expressing the importance of conveying the truth of historical events to future generations. Also as a member of a Japanese civil society group "Kanagawa Association for Promoting Memory Inheritance", Goi said they plan to hold similar exhibitions in Yokohama in August and in Tokyo in December. We hope exhibitions like this will help more people understand the crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army in China, deeply reflect on the suffering caused by war, and urge the Japanese government to confront history to avoid repeating past mistakes, Goi said. According to Goi, the Japanese civil society group holds annual exhibitions on relevant themes. Before each exhibition, there are concerns about potential disruptions from right-wing extremists, but fortunately, this time in Yokohama there were no incidents. He noted that most visitors reported gaining insights into topics that are rarely mentioned or completely absent in Japanese textbooks, recognizing the crimes committed by Japan during the war and finding the exhibition both rewarding and meaningful. When commenting that Japan has significantly increased its defense budget with the intention of "expanding its military" in recent years, Goi expressed his opposition to Japan's military buildup, stating that Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution mandates that Japan renounces war and the use of force as a means of settling international disputes. He asserted, "I believe Japan should adhere to Article 9 of the Constitution and apologize for the crimes committed during the war." Regarding future China-Japan relations, Goi said that Japan must adhere to the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, which serve as the foundation for developing relations between the two countries. This story first appeared in Global Times: Company: Global TimesContact Person: Anna LiEmail: editor@ Beijing Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. 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