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Summary: Japanese Americans must support our fellow Chinese Americans
Review: Japanese Americans must support our fellow Chinese Americans in their quest to seek full acknowlegement, an apology and a meaningful restitution payments for victims of the Nanking atrocities....... The exhibit, THE FORGOTTEN HOLOCAUST, had its grand opening on Sunday, July 5, 1998, at the Navy Library on Treasure Island, San Francisco. In the opening ceremony Iris Chang, the author of THE RAPE OF NAKING, The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II, spoke. She is a youthful and very talented Chinese American brought up in the Midwest. The book presents one of the most complete research and presentation about this incident at Nanking which fell to the Japanese invading troops in December 1937. Hostorcally, she traces the war's beginning to the occupation of Manchuria by Japan in 1931. Nanking was the result of Japan's highly developed military machine and her master-race mentality which out did even the Nazi holocaust acts. The deaths at Nanking exceeded the deat! hs from the American raids on Tokyo (march 1945) and even the combined death toll of the two atomic blasts at Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Aug, 1945). Nothing prepared the visitors for the black-and-white images of the Nanking massacre presented at the exhibit. It showed a terrifying disrespect for the dying. The author tells the story of the Nanking massacre from three different perspectives: from that of the Japanese, then the Chinese, and finally from the perspectives of the foreigners (Americans and Europeans) who were living in Nanking. The analysis of the Japanese soldiers' behavior in the Naking massacre is well taken. She relates of the contempt and hatred for the Chinese instilled in Japanese school kids. Later in life, as raw recruits in the military, they were subjected to humiliating treatment by older soldiers and officers. Obedience was taught them as supreme virtue. When given the power of life and death over people even lower on the pecking order, these sol! diers became sadistic. What was most distressing to the aut! hor was that these violence was perceived by the perpetrators as a necessary tool for the good of the victims. The author blames the Japanese government rather than its people for Japan's behavior during World War II. She shows how easily human beings can be modeled into a killing machine against their better judgement. The Nanking atrocities were prominently displaced in American papers like the New York Times, as were the recent Bosnia outrages seen daily on television. Somehow, However, as long as these acts of evil are personally nonthreatening to the viewers, they become only passive spectators. There are ample evidence in the form of witness, films, photos and confessions by Japanese soldiers during the Imperial Army's pillaging of Nanking in 1937. The criticism of Chang's book by the conservative academics in Japan as exaggerated and misleading is excruciatingly painful to the victims. To them, it is like experiencing the second rape of Nanking. Japanes! e American had just gone through the redress campaign which culminated in the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 passed by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan. In the face of continued denial of the Japanese government to take responsibility for the Nanking atrocities committed by her troops, Japanese Americans must support our fellow Chinese Americans in their quest to seek full acknowlegement, an apology and a meaningful restitution payments for victims of the Nanking atrocities. For the Japanese people, they would benefit from the full disclosure of their military leaders' nightmare behavior not only against foreigners but also against their own people. In the misguided sense of patriotism, the Japanese troops at Nanking became the disgrace not onlyfor Japan but for all mankind. Unless the Japanese government can now educate her future generations of citizens about the truefacts of the Nanking Massacre, Japan is denying her own people of the respect from t! he international community. The reader is kept glued t! o the book by the author's eloquence, extensive research and powerful analysis. The book is a must reading for everyone -- particularly for Japanese Americans.
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Summary: A frightening and horrible portrayal of inhumanity .
Review: I tend to agree with others regarding the author's stylisitc deficiencies. However, she did an excellent job in portraying the sheer magnitude of the horrific suffering that one group of people can inflict on others. I have read brief accounts over the years of the activites of the Japanese in Nanking and otehr areas of China. This book focuses the reader on the sheer magnitude of the crimes sanctioned by the Japanese in authority. It amazes me that the world would hunt down and deal with Hitler's butchers but did virtually nothing to Tojo's. I am well acquainted with death and war yet I cried not only when reading this book but now as I try to record my thoughts. NEVER has a book moved me like this one.
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Summary: Forgive but never forget
Review: Ms. Iris Chang's book is truly worthwhile reading. I am extremely happy to see that the Nanking masacre story is finally being made public knowledge worldwide. I had the priviledge to attend a wonderful exhibition called "the Forgotten Holocaust" on Treasure Island, San Francisco which details through words and photographs the atrocities of the Japanese Imperial Army in WWII. Ms. Iris Chang was also present to speak about her book as well as introduce her idea of producing a video database of living testimony from survivors and witnessess. It was moving to read guest books which included many entries from Japanese visitors. I think the true impact of this book is yet to be seen. Over eight thousand visitors have participated in the exhibit which will be extended through the weekends for the summer of 1998. Reading the book and then listening to people (many of whom are American POW's, Korean and Philipinos citizens) at the exhibition who have lived t! hrough the experiences of the war really bring the truth to life. This book uncovers the political cover-up and demands justice. It should be wholeheartedly supported!
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Summary: The sheer horror of this book propels you through it.
Review: The premise is that Japan is often regarded as the victim of World War II rather than the instigator. This view has been further entrenched in the international psyche because of the devastating atomic bomb blasts on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and because of Cold War politics which favored muting wartime acts of terror over forging new political alliances. Other countries have made efforts (if sometimes feeble) to own their pasts, including Germany and the United States of America. The sheer horror of the events described in The Rape of Nanking propels you through it. It's already stirring big-time emotions, and I won't be surprised if it becomes the catalyst for new policies with regard to Japan.
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Summary: An eye-opener!
Review: I am 30 years old and believed until a week ago that I had a thorough education in the history of WW II. NOT!! As I read this book, I could not believe I had never heard of Nanking and the inhumanity that took place there. I am ashamed the world community has not ripped the blinders off the Japanese people and forced them to confront their past. The U. S. has committed it's share of barbarism, but at least the government isn't altering textbooks to show that slavery never happened!! Thank you Ms. Chang for bringing this story to light. I recommend it to anyone with a thirst for the truth.
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Summary: Very informative, but lost my attention
Review: I knew absolutely nothing about the China/Japan conflicts of WWII until I stumbled upon this book. It was extremely informative and gave a graphic description of the horrible events that took place in China. I also liked the background that the author gave regarding the China/Japan differences. Although I was into the first hundred pages, I sort of lost interest as I continued and I found myself reading other things and daydreaming. All around a good book though.
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Summary: An excellent, fair and clearly written book
Review: This book I believe to be an important contribution to an overlooked area of WWII. Iris Chang has made excellent use of first hand accounts, thankfully before they are lost forever, along with previously unavailable material. The book is, stylistically, an easily read narrative though the subject matter is sometimes difficult to swallow. She does in closing fairly comment that many cultures and societies have been guilty of massive warcrimes, though this does not excuse the horrific brutality of the Japanese army. In closing, I found particularly interesting reading the fates not only of the perpetrators but also of the International Zone saviours and the survivors. A highly recommendable book.
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Summary: A Compelling thought-provoking Book.
Review: The Rape of Nanking was probably the worst of many atrocities committed by the Japanese in the Second World War. It is high time that this revolting story was told. And regrettably it is obvious that We cannot rely on the Japanese to tell it. To this Day Japanese Schoolchildren are taught Japan participated in World War II solely to rid Asia of Western domination. The average Japanese, And for that matter the average Westerner knows nothing of the atrocities Japan committed, Many of which are comparable to the Holocaust. And Nanking certainly falls into this category. Ms. Chang's Book has some deficiences.She could have gone into more detail, And Her writing style leaves something to be desired. But generally this is an excellent Book. You can't ask for a better Story. A dedicated Nazi, John Rabe joins forces with Christian Missionaries to save the People of Nanking, What a Story! Ms. Chang does a superb job of telling us how the Chinese tried to cover up their crime, A cover-up which clearly continues to this Day. As for those Who still believe it did''nt happen I can only say that the Nanking massacre is obviously a vicious rumor being spread by several hundred thousand dead bodies.This Book is a Must Read. I highly reccomend it.
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Summary: This book illuminates the horrific barbarism of the Japanese
Review: Reading this book was a real eye-opener for me. In my history class, we read a book called Lies My Teacher Told Me that addressed topics that American textbook writers refused to touch upon. I recommend that anyone and everyone who considers himself/herself a human being read this book, not necessarily because it improves one's English, but because it illuminates the infinite atrocities inflicted upon the Chinese people during the Rape of Nanking. I think that Americans and people the world over should realize the barbarity of the Japanese people during the war and their arrogance in covering up their actions after the war as well. I will definitely recommend this book to my history teacher when I return to school in the hopes that all will understand that the Japanese were NOT the victims in World War II, but the aggressors who took it upon themselves to assert their barbarity through such brutal actions as committed in Nanking. I hate to say this, but I feel that perhaps the Japanese DESERVED the two atomic bombs dropped upon them. At least they received their just desserts. Attacks upon the civilian population are horrific, as was the toll the two bombs took upon the population, but such carnage was multiplied in Nanking through pillage, torture, and rape. The only way in which this atrocity can be atoned for is for the Japanese government and its people to openly admit that this event occured, to apologize fully for it and concede that their country was at fault, and to provide full compensation. Otherwise, they CAN and WILL remain the cursed brutes and bullies of Asia. This book will testify to the TRUTH of that. I hope that more authors and historians will take it upon themselves to write and research the rape of Nanking and make it more widely known to the rest of the world.
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Summary: A must-read for all Chinese descents
Review: A must-read for all foreign Chinese descents who have little understanding of what happened to China during World War II and whose understanding of the War was limited to their Western education. The book offers a rare, in-depth view of The Rape of Nanking incident, which has been neglected by history.
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