中国の反日デモ

As someone who travels to China regularly, I know that the Chinese are a very patriotic (yet modest) race. They do not presume to be better than other nations on this planet, but do get deeply offended when other nations presume to talk down to them. Japan should follow Germany's example and teach the truth about the past, so that future generations will not make the same mistakes, and not be led into the abyss of human cruelty.
Tom Archer, Cambridge, England

Anti-Japanese protests in China are nothing but a display of militant nationalism by a dictatorial regime. If Japan's investment money is good enough to be welcome in China, then a recognition of Japan's status should be forthcoming. Since when should children be responsible for paying for the sins of their parents? The Security Council must expand to represent the world today, not as it was in 1945 - even if many people still have a mindset to that year!
Peter, Huntington Beach, CA, USA

History is written by the victor

Richard Owen, Tokyo

History is written by the victor. How many US Citizens even admit there Nation invaded Mexican Territories (Texas/California/New Mexico), started an uprising in Hawaii and took over that territory - they don't even recognise that there is an issue. Of course the Japanese are aware they have been responsible for these atrocities but for China not to recognise its own failings is pretty rich.
Richard Owen, Tokyo

If Japan cannot face up to its WWII crimes against Asia, Japan will risk isolation in Asia. Such isolation would be bad for the Japanese economy and the well being of Japan as a whole. No country could live in isolation, and the same rule applies to Japan or China or South Korea.
Denis Pan, San Jose, USA

No need to distort anything that happened in the past. No one will judge a country only by its past performance. Why Japan did not reflect the truth in the textbook to their new generation? Maybe we have no right to criticize how Japanese textbooks hide their atrocity on the neighbouring countries, but how can Chinese people tolerate their visit to a shrine every year which paid tribute to their past violence? Should we keep silence when our national feelings have been hurt again?
Zhou Jing, Singapore

I have three children taught by the Japanese prejudicial textbooks affected by Chinese Communism in the 1980s. It has been very miserable. No Japanese pride or independent minds. As a result, three children are hating China now.
K Andrew, Tokyo Japan

Have many people here have read or even heard about the Rape of Nanking? If they had, they would see how insensitive their comments are. Yes, no country has a perfect history, but the true horror of the acts committed in Nanking means that China will never move on unless the Japanese face up to their history.
Hua Li, UK


Koizumi has destroyed good relations with neighbouring countries. Japan has to face up to the realty of history.
Takashi Suzuki, Tokyo, Japan