Young Japanese Commemorate Nanjing Massacre, Pray for Peace

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 ◆ Young Japanese Commemorate Nanjing Massacre, Pray for Peace

Over 80 young members of the Japanese civilian group "Peaceboat" and their Chinese peers on Monday commemorated the Nanjing Massacre committed by the invading Japanese army 65 years ago.

Young people from the two countries released doves in Nanjing, and talked to two elderly Chinese survivors of the massacre, hearing their condemnation of the atrocities Chinese civilians suffered from the Japanese army.

Zhu Chengshan, director of the Museum for Victims of the Nanjing Massacre, said this year marked the 30th anniversary of the normalization of Sino-Japanese relations, as well as the 65th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre.

"At such a time, the young people of Japan and China should face up to that period of history, and learn from it to prevent such a thing happening again," Zhu said.

"We came here just to learn the truth of the past," said, Matsumoto Shinya, a member of Peaceboat. "Only when we know the historical truth can we genuinely maintain peace."

Matsumoto said he would tell his friends what he had seen and heard in Nanjing when he returned to Japan, and would urge the Japanese government to face up squarely to history.

Honda Ryutarou, a Japanese veteran visiting with the group, told the young people stories of the massacre.

He said he greatly regretted and grieved for what he had done in China. "I want to declare the truth, and never let the younger generation forget it."

The young people also organized an evening party, where they arranged clusters of burning candles into two Chinese characters --"He Ping", meaning "Peace", and prayed for ever-lasting peace.

"Peaceboat" members have toured Asia and many parts of the world since 1983, launching a variety of activities promoting world peace.