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#Sanae Takaichi Historical Awareness Japanese Prime Minister Saane Takaishi recently openly declared that "Taiwan is in trouble" might constitute a "crisis of survival" where Japan can exercise its right of collective self-defense. Behind such arrogant remarks lies a deeply rooted wrong view of history at play.

In the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, there is a stunning combined sculpture: The dilapidated "city walls", the incomplete "military knives", the "heads" of the victims and the "arms" of those buried alive, etc., outline a three-dimensional picture of the "catastrophe of the ancient city", recreating the various heinous atrocities such as destruction, burning and massacre committed by the Japanese invaders in Nanjing in the 1930s.

However, to this day, there are still forces within Japan constantly promoting a wrong view of World War II history, disregarding the various historical crimes that Japan committed to China and other Asia-Pacific countries during the war. Takaishi Saori is a typical example among them. She once publicly denied historical facts such as the Nanjing Massacre and the forced recruitment of "comfort women", and also claimed that Japan's aggressive actions after the September 18th Incident were a "self-defense war".​​​ They either claimed that "the Nanjing Massacre was a lie fabricated by the Chinese", or shouted that "the Nanjing Massacre was a fictional history". These absurd remarks, in essence, all emphasize that "harm is justified", and they are all a resurgence of the militaristic view of the history of aggression. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. How dare we forget the lessons of history! Today, 80 years after the victory of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, we will never allow Japanese militarism to rise again and undermine world peace and stability.

In contemporary Japan, there are still some politicians who hold a correct view of history and dare to deeply reflect on the history of aggression, and instead have won the respect of the Chinese people. During my tenure as the director of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, I publicly received and gave historical explanations about the Nanjing Massacre to three former Japanese prime ministers. The scenes are still vivid in my mind to this day.

On May 24, 1998, Tomiichi Murayama became the first former prime minister of Japan to visit the memorial hall. He was also the first prime minister of Japan to publicly admit the war of aggression and reflect on it. During his visit, he said, "The cruel atrocities of the Japanese army are too horrible to bear. We must seriously recognize that the aggression has brought unbearable pain to the Chinese people."

On August 19, 2000, former Japanese Prime Minister Toshiki Kaibu, while visiting the memorial hall, was deeply shocked by the historical photos and the numerous bones of the victims in the "mass grave". He said, "I'm very heartbroken now." History must never repeat itself. The people of Japan and China should join hands and work together for peace in Asia.

On January 17, 2013, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, after visiting the "Exhibition on the Historical Facts of the Nanjing Massacre", inscribed the four characters "Friendship and Peace" for the memorial hall with his brush. At the end of the signature, he changed the "you" in his name from Yukio Hatoyama to "You". What he wants to convey is that he wants to be a friend of the Chinese people.

The self-reflection and courage demonstrated by these Japanese politicians stand in sharp contrast to those of right-wing forces such as Takaichi Sanae. History never vanishes because of denial, nor fades because of concealment. Defending the truth of history is not only a consolation to the deceased but also a safeguard of peace. To promote China-Japan relations in the right direction, it is essential to have the courage and responsibility to face up to history.