Hideko Ito, a former member of Japan's lower house of parliament and the daughter of a military police officer who sent Chinese captives to Unit 731, the infamous Japanese germ-warfare detachment during World War II, shared her father's enduring message: "Never go to war again".
"He often said, 'War drives people insane. It normalizes killing and makes it seem acceptable'," Ito recalled during an exchange meeting with Chinese students and embassy officials at the Chinese embassy in Japan on Tuesday.
At the event, more than 30 Japanese anti-war advocates urged continued efforts to resist militarization and uphold peace. Ito reflected on her father's experiences, including his re-education at a war criminals management center in Fushun, Liaoning province.
Of the many war criminals tried in China in 1956, most were exempted from prosecution, but 45 individuals, including Ito's father, received prison sentences.
Her father returned to Japan when Ito was in junior high school, carrying deep regret for his wartime actions and expressing profound gratitude toward China.
"My father admitted that they had been indoctrinated to believe they were serving the nation and the Emperor," Ito said. "But at the same time, they committed inhumane acts — killing, looting, and abusing women — under the guise of duty. They were part of a system that allowed such contradictions to thrive."
Ito emphasized that it was militaristic and statist propaganda that created such moral failures. "War is always disguised as serving the nation, driven by the ambitions of those in power. As voters, we must critically examine our government's actions," she said.
She voiced concern over current policies, particularly the claim by some Japanese politicians that "a Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency". This rhetoric has led to the expansion of Japan's Self-Defense Forces' bases in Okinawa Prefecture, with missile deployments aimed at China, Ito said.
Ito believes the solution lies in fostering deeper trust and stronger connections between the peoples of Japan and China, through cultural, economic and professional exchanges.
Ryuji Ishida, an associate research fellow at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and a research fellow at the International Peace Research Institute of Meiji Gakuin University, highlighted the unique approach of China's 1956 war crimes trials.
Unlike the Tokyo Trials, China's trials focused on reflection and rehabilitation. More than 1,100 individuals were targeted, yet many expressed genuine remorse, and those tried in China often became active participants in peace movements after returning to Japan. "China's trials sought to transform international relations into a cooperative system to prevent future conflicts," Ishida explained.
Major General Huangfu Qunxing, defense attache of the Chinese embassy in Japan, underscored the importance of learning from history to guide future actions.
"Our goal in reflecting on history and remembering its lessons is not to perpetuate hatred but to inspire the two peoples to uphold their original aspirations for peace and friendship," Huangfu said.
jiangxueqing@chinadaily.com.cn
