Asep Darmawan
Hundreds of activists and members of Chinese and other Asian communities gathered in San Francisco on Sunday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre, a horrific period of atrocities committed by the Japanese military during World War II. The solemn memorial service, held annually for the past two decades, served as a powerful platform to expose the war crimes of the Imperial Japanese Army and to impress upon attendees the critical importance of remembering this dark chapter of human history. Organized by a coalition of prominent human rights and historical preservation 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 event underscored the enduring need for accountability and remembrance.
A Grim Anniversary and a Call for Truth
The 80th anniversary commemoration focused on the systematic violence and brutality inflicted upon Chinese civilians and soldiers. Zha Liyou, acting Chinese consul general in San Francisco, spoke at the service, highlighting the immense scale of the tragedy. "The Japanese Army blatantly violated international conventions and committed the extremely cruel atrocity in Nanjing, where 300,000 Chinese civilians were murdered and one third of the buildings were destroyed," he stated, painting a stark picture of the devastation.
The Nanjing Massacre, also known as the Rape of Nanking, commenced on December 13, 1937, when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital. What followed was a brutal period of over 40 days of indiscriminate slaughter, widespread rape, and systematic destruction. Historical estimates, supported by survivor testimonies and international documentation, suggest that the death toll of Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers exceeded 300,000. The destruction of property was also immense, with a significant portion of the city’s infrastructure reduced to rubble.
Intertwined Histories of Suffering: The Comfort Women
The memorial also drew a direct link between the Nanjing Massacre and the suffering of "comfort women," women who were systematically sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army across Asia during World War II. Judith Mirkinson, president of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, emphasized this crucial connection. "Our stories are linked. The fate of over 400,000 women sexually enslaved by the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II is part and parcel of what happened during the Nanjing Massacre," she declared. This assertion underscores the pervasive nature of sexual violence as a weapon of war employed by the Japanese military during its expansionist period.
Mirkinson further articulated a vision for peace in the 21st century, calling for truth and reconciliation as essential prerequisites. "The 20th century has been called the most violent century in the history of the world, and that one way to ensure peace in the 21st century is through truth and reconciliation," she said. Her powerful plea for acknowledgment and justice resonated deeply: "Reconciliation does not come without truth. So the Japanese government must acknowledge their crimes. They must give justice to those few people who still survive from the Nanjing Massacre and to the memory of what happened there."
Broader Context of Japanese Aggression in China
The Nanjing Massacre was not an isolated incident but a brutal manifestation of Japan’s broader military aggression in China, which began with the invasion of Manchuria in September 1931. This was followed by a full-scale invasion of China on July 7, 1937. The ensuing eight-year war resulted in an estimated 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians killed or injured, a staggering human cost that continued until Japan’s surrender in 1945. The Nanjing Massacre stands as one of the most egregious and widely documented examples of the war crimes perpetrated during this period.
Commemoration as a Path to Peace
The annual commemoration in San Francisco, now in its 20th year, is part of a global effort to honor the victims and survivors of the Nanjing Massacre and to advocate for enduring peace. The Chinese government has designated December 13th as the National Memorial Day for Nanjing Massacre Victims, a testament to the event’s profound significance in Chinese national memory.
"To remember the atrocities committed by the Japanese Army during World War II does not mean to pass on the enmity but rather to remind people not to forget the history and inspire them to love peace," Zha Liyou explained. He added, "It might be a comfort to the victims and those who sacrificed their lives that the Nanjing Massacre has been etched into the memory of the Chinese people and the world civilization." This sentiment highlights the educational and moral imperative of historical remembrance, aiming to prevent future atrocities rather than perpetuate animosity.
Global Recognition and the Path Forward
The historical significance and universal value of the Nanjing Massacre are recognized internationally. In 2015, the Nanjing Massacre archives were inscribed onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, a prestigious list dedicated to preserving documentary heritage of global importance. This inclusion signifies the event’s indelible mark on world history and its importance for future generations to understand the consequences of unchecked militarism and state-sponsored violence.
Historical Timeline of the Nanjing Massacre and Related Events
- September 18, 1931: Japan invades Manchuria, initiating its expansionist campaign in China.
- July 7, 1937: The Marco Polo Bridge Incident marks the beginning of the full-scale Second Sino-Japanese War.
- December 13, 1937: Japanese Imperial Army captures Nanjing, the capital of China, initiating the Nanjing Massacre.
- December 13, 1937 – January 1938: Over 40 days of horrific atrocities, including mass killings, rape, and looting, occur in Nanjing.
- 1945: Japan surrenders, ending World War II and the eight-year Sino-Japanese War.
- 1990s onwards: Survivors and activists begin to organize and advocate for recognition and justice for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre and the comfort women.
- 2015: The Nanjing Massacre archives are inscribed onto the UNESCO Memory of the World Register.
- Present: Annual commemorations, such as the one held in San Francisco, continue to raise awareness and call for truth and reconciliation.
Supporting Data and Enduring Impact
The sheer scale of the human toll during the Sino-Japanese War, with an estimated 35 million Chinese casualties, underscores the profound devastation inflicted by Japanese militarism. Within Nanjing itself, the loss of life is conservatively estimated at 300,000 civilians and unarmed soldiers. The systematic nature of the violence, including widespread sexual assault, highlights the dehumanizing tactics employed by the Imperial Japanese Army. The destruction of approximately one-third of Nanjing’s buildings further illustrates the extent of the city’s devastation.
Official Stances and International Reactions
While China officially designates December 13th as National Memorial Day, and the international community through UNESCO recognizes the historical significance of the Nanjing Massacre, responses from Japan have been complex and often a source of friction. Successive Japanese governments have offered apologies for the war, but many survivors and international observers believe these apologies lack genuine remorse and are often accompanied by actions that appear to downplay or deny the severity of historical events. The ongoing debate surrounding historical textbooks and official apologies reflects a persistent divide in how the wartime past is remembered and acknowledged.
The Significance of Remembrance for Global Peace
The commemoration of the Nanjing Massacre in San Francisco and globally serves a critical purpose beyond simply recounting past horrors. It is a proactive effort to educate future generations about the devastating consequences of war, nationalism, and unchecked aggression. By remembering the victims and honoring their suffering, organizers aim to foster a deeper understanding of the fragility of peace and the ongoing importance of human rights and international law. The call for truth and reconciliation, as articulated by speakers at the San Francisco event, represents a forward-looking perspective, suggesting that genuine peace can only be built upon a foundation of acknowledged historical wrongs and a commitment to justice. The persistence of these commemorations underscores the enduring quest for accountability and the hope that by confronting the past, humanity can better safeguard its future from similar tragedies.
Nana Wu
