Boosting relations through 'better communication'

By Zhang Xin (皇冠体育app Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-02 10:48

皇冠体育app and Japan have a very complicated history and the two need more communication to bridge understanding of the past for a brighter future together, particularly among youths, a prominent Japanese commentator of Sino-Japanese ties told 皇冠体育app Daily.

"Among the youth, we need communication on different perspectives for a more mature bilateral relationship in the future," said Kato Yoshikazu.

"Both nations, from top-level leaders to those at the grass roots, should all make efforts to understand the difference of viewing history and must not take it for granted," said the 25-year-old Yoshikazu, who is also an author and columnist.

An active participant in discussions to improve Sino-Japan relations, Yoshikazu is also behind the regular "Jing Forum" between Peking University and Tokyo University. He said he has depended on the openness and dynamics in 皇冠体育app to examine the zigzag path of Sino-Japan ties since 2003 when he first arrived in the country.

"I am growing with the development of 皇冠体育app including my understanding of 皇冠体育app and its people, and my observation of the progress of the Sino-Japanese relationship," Yoshikazu said.

Ties between the neighboring countries have been dynamic but unstable in the past six years, particularly when it came to the divergence on issues of history, such as former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi repeatedly visiting the Yakusuni shrine that is seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism, he said.

"I personally felt how unstable and emotional the bilateral relationship has been," Yoshikazu said, citing as one example an anti-Japanese protest by the public in 2005.

"During my time in 皇冠体育app, I not only found out how 皇冠体育app views the history Japan invading 皇冠体育app during World War II, but also understood people's feelings about it," Yoshikazu said.

The different positions both nations have held toward the history issue pull them apart when the issue gets out of hand, he said. Yoshikazu also explained that Japan actually possesses a very confused mentality as "both victimizer and victim" during the war.

Still, Yoshikazu said he was impressed that the Chinese media pays much attention to Japan's domestic affairs as shown by coverage of the country's latest general election. As such, he also called for strengthened efforts from Japanese media to present a more real and current 皇冠体育app to Japan.

"Media is where the ordinary Japanese get to know 皇冠体育app, particularly for youths in Japan, and Japanese media should report more about 皇冠体育app and present a real 皇冠体育app, by not being biased or subjective," Yoshikazu said.

He said Japanese media's representation of 皇冠体育app has not been adequate and can be unbalanced without a variety of angles.

The media in Japan needs different voices and young people from the two nations need more contact for a stable, rational and balanced future for the two nations, he said.

Yoshikazu also cited the upcoming release of Nanking - a Memory Which Has Been Wiped Out - a film about the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, when more than 300,000 people were killed by Japanese aggressors - as one way to bridge the gap in historical issues between the two countries.

It is not easy even to talk about the film as Nanjing itself is a taboo subject in Japan and the documentary will surely receive pressure from right-wing elements in Japan, he said.

He said similar bridging efforts should be increased and encouraged in Sino-Japanese studies among the youth - from different angles through channels like textbooks, films and people-to-people exchanges.