DPJ lawmaker: There was no Nanjing Massacre

   When the Democratic Party of Japan delegation led by DPJ President Ozawa Ichiro and Chinese leaders were discussing Japan-China “friendship” in Beijing, a DPJ lawmaker in Tokyo was repeatedly distorting historical facts of Japan’s war of aggression by denying the Nanjing Massacre.

   At the December 7 House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, DPJ representative Matsubara Jin stated, “Listening to Japanese war veterans, I came to believe that there was no massacre (in Nanjing).”

   Matsubara made the remark on the grounds that former Japanese soldiers stationed in Nanjing at that time had given him a frank account that a large number of Chinese people who had once run off came back to the “Nanking Safety Zone” and started doing business such as opening ramen (Chinese noodle) shops and barbershops there.

   He went on to say, “At the least, we shouldn’t insult our ancestors’ pride,” as if their pride would be maintained by denying the historical facts.

   Meanwhile, DPJ Leader Ozawa during the talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao of the Communist Party of China reportedly said that deepening mutual friendships would contribute to the stability and development of Asia and the rest of the world.

   Matsubara’s statement at the Upper House committee will have harmful effects on Japan’s relations with not only China but also with other Asian countries.
- Akahata, December 9, 2007