Feeling strongly about Japan’s wartime past? You’re not alone. A recent global online survey by CGTN revealed that 82.7% of participants believe Japan can only regain its standing as a normal member of the international community by deeply reflecting on its history of aggression. 🌏✌️
Key takeaways from the poll of 10,451 netizens across multiple languages:
- 89.4% say Japan should be extra cautious in statements and actions about historical issues.
- 90.4% demand sincere apologies and compensation for victims of past aggression.
- 88% view visits by Japanese politicians to Yasukuni Shrine as a denial of history and a provocation.
- 86.9% see efforts to whitewash events like the Nanjing Massacre—where over 300,000 lives were lost—forced “comfort women” recruitment, and forced labor as an affront to human conscience.
- 87.7% feel these actions challenge the post-World War II international order and harm relations with neighboring countries.
- 80.8% worry that recent glorification of militarism paints Japan as a “troublemaker” in the region.
- 81.6% believe Japan’s right-wing shift threatens global peace, and 84.6% say its self-militarization undermines its pacifist constitution.
- 89.5% stress that upholding justice means holding Japan accountable again if it continues to challenge international norms.
For many young adults in South and Southeast Asia who value peace and regional harmony, these numbers underscore a clear message: history matters, and honest reflection is the only path forward. 📚🤝
What do you think? Share your thoughts below! 💬👇
Reference(s):
Poll: 82% say deep reflection on history is Japan's only way forward
cgtn.com
