Testimony meeting held in Tokyo to mark 78th anniv. of Nanjing Massacre

A testimony meeting was held here Wednesday to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre committed by Japanese army in 1937.

The invading Japanese troops captured Nanjing on Dec. 13, 1937 and started a bloodbath that lasted for more than 40 days. More than 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers were killed and about 20,000 women were raped.

Chen Deshou, a survivor of the massacre, called on people to cherish peace and never let wars repeat while recounting to the Japanese residents his tragic stories.

Chen, 83, lost his father and aunt during the massacre.

Chen said dead bodies could be seen all over the streets on the snowy night when he and his relatives tried to run for their lives, and the scenes still appear vividly before his eyes.

"I once had a harmonious and happy family, but the massacre broke it up," Chen said, tears in his eyes.

The testimony meeting, which was organized by Japan's civil group "no more Nanjing Massacre," attracted about 200 Japanese residents and scholars.

Kasahara Tokushi, a professor emeritus at Tsuru University, said there are many survivors like Chen whose life has been totally destroyed by the massacre.

As a noted Japanese expert on the massacre, the professor criticized Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's administration for trying to deny the massacre.

The professor said those, especially the politicians who deny the massacre should go to Nanjing first and listen to testimonies.

Since the 60th anniversary of the massacre, Japan has held testimony meetings every year. Up to now, 19 such meetings have been held in Tokyo and Osaka. Enditem