专访丨“正视错误、承认责任才能避免再次犯错”——访日本近现代史学者石田隆至

Core Viewpoint - The interview highlights the lack of deep understanding among many Japanese citizens regarding Japan's war responsibilities, emphasizing the need for acknowledgment and prevention of repeating past mistakes [1][2]. Group 1: Historical Context - The memory of Japan's wartime actions is fading, influenced by both the passage of time and Japan's active efforts to rewrite history [1]. - The date of July 7, 1937, marking the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, is significant for Chinese people but is largely overlooked in Japan, where more focus is placed on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki [1]. - Japanese educational institutions emphasize the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki while neglecting the context of Japan's military actions that led to these bombings [1]. Group 2: Education and Historical Narrative - Concerns are raised about the Japanese government's push to modify history textbooks, which present a narrative that downplays Japan's aggression and portrays it as a response to provocation [2]. - The portrayal of the war in educational materials fosters a passive attitude among Japanese citizens towards their historical responsibilities, leading to a form of "avoidance-based pacifism" [2]. - Many individuals educated under the revised historical narratives lack a comprehensive understanding of the war, with some mistakenly believing it was a "liberation of Asia," reflecting the militaristic propaganda of wartime Japan [2].