On Sunday, San Francisco played host to a commemoration event for the 80th anniversary of the infamous Nanjing Massacre, an atrocity committed during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). The ceremony united hundreds of activists, along with members of the Chinese and other Asian communities.
This annual event, which has been taking place for two decades, was organized by several groups including the Rape of Nanking Redress Coalition, the Committee to Promote Reunification of China, the Alliance for Preserving the Truth of Sino-Japanese War and the Comfort Women Justice Coalition. The ceremony aims to shed light on war crimes committed by the Japanese Imperial Army and inspire the public to remember and understand this tragic episode of history.
Acting Chinese consul general in San Francisco, Zha Liyou, highlighted at the service, “The Japanese army grossly breached international conventions by committing horrendous acts of violence in Nanjing, causing the death of 300,000 Chinese and demolishing one-third of the city’s structures.”
In 1937, Japanese forces seized Nanjing, the then-capital of China, on December 13th, initiating a bloody massacre that spanned over 40 days, during which tens of thousands of women suffered sexual assaults.
Judith Mirkinson, president of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, emphasized, “Our narratives are intertwined. Over 400,000 women who were sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II share a part of the Nanjing Massacre’s history.”
Mirkinson pointed out the necessity for truth and reconciliation to establish peace in the 21st century, following the violence-riddled 20th century. She urged the Japanese government to admit their wartime offenses, stating, “Justice is due to the surviving victims of the Nanjing Massacre and to the memory of the atrocities committed.”
Japan’s occupation, which began with the invasion of Northeast China in September 1931 and expanded into a full-scale invasion starting on July 7, 1937, resulted in approximately 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians being killed or injured by 1945.
This year, in honor of the victims and survivors and in pursuit of justice and lasting peace, the global Chinese community united in commemorating this significant historical event, recognized by the Chinese government as National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims.
Zha Liyou expressed, “Remembering the atrocities committed by the Japanese army during World War II is not about perpetuating enmity, but rather to ensure we never forget our history and continue to strive for peace.”
In 2015, the Nanjing Massacre was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, an initiative aimed at preserving globally significant documented heritage.
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