🎬 Last Wednesday, around 150 Chinese and Japanese friends gathered in Tokyo for a special screening of 'Dead To Rights', a film from the Chinese mainland that dives into the 1937 Nanjing Massacre. It was more than just a movie night—it was a moment to hit pause, reflect on history, and talk about where we go next 🤝.
Former NHK translator Tamiko Kanzaki said watching such a heavy story was tough. 'In Japan we often focus on victim experiences, but talking about wartime actions by our own country can feel awkward,' she said. It’s like realizing the other side of the story we skipped in school 📚.
Ex-Self-Defense Force member and journalist Makoto Konishi added he felt real pain—both from the film’s harsh truths and from how rare open discussions on this topic are in Japan today. He also voiced concerns about the country ramping up military moves in certain regions 🔍.
Masayuki Inoue, vice-chair of the Japan-China Friendship Association of Tokyo, stressed that young people need more than just a film. 'Let’s prep viewers with a bit of context before the screening, then set up a chat afterwards,' he said, encouraging dialogue to shake off emotions and chart a shared path forward 🌏.
Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao wrapped up the evening with a reminder: 'History is the best textbook and our best reality check. If we ignore or deny it, we’ll never truly heal or grow. Let’s learn side by side and make sure these tragedies never repeat.'
For all the tech buffs and history buffs reading this, here’s a thought: next time you binge a series or watch a documentary, why not drop a line in your group chat? Sharing thoughts can spark change, one chat at a time 🌟.
Reference(s):
Chinese film on Nanjing Massacre resonates with audience in Tokyo
cgtn.com
