The Nanking Massacre was a war crime committed by the Japanese military in Nanjing (Nanking), a former capital of the Republic of China, in December 1937. According to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, estimates made at a later date indicate that the total number of civilians and prisoners of war murdered in Nanking and its vicinity during the first six weeks of the Japanese occupation was over 200,000. (Wiki)

A film by Japanese director Satoru Mizushima searches for the “real truth” behind the Nanking Massacre.


Japanese director and screenwriter Satoru Mizushima’s new film, first chapter of “The Truth of Nanking” trilogy will be shown in Los Angeles.

This movie investigates the “real truth” behind the Massacre of Nanking that occurred more than seventy years ago. While the rest of the world identifies the Japanese as the culprits of the Massacre, this film investigates the involvement of the Chinese in this matter. The film is shot from a different point of view with the belief that the event was overemphasized. A movie like this allows people see a new perspective on a one-sided event.

As the first installment of a three part series, the production begins with the International Military Tribunal of the Far East, or Tokyo Trials. For 160 minutes, the film explores the testimonies of the Japanese military and government personnel at the hearing.

The Massacre of Nanking 71 years ago-

Throughout the world, the books published and movies produced about the massacre were carried out in succession, but to the extent as if it is a natural occurrence, when people of the world remember this event, there many different viewpoints to be had. However, is there not any information out there that misleads us?

“The Truth of Nanking” trilogy delves into the focus of all the countries involved, specifically from Japan’s viewpoint. The first installment begins with General Matsui Iwane charged for massacre and describes the will of the seven class A war criminals of the International Military Tribunal of the Far East. (Japan Visitor Blog)

It seems that some Japanese have difficulty accepting their past. While the exact number of victims is not easy to estimate, it is clear that the massacre was a horrible crime, not an “incident”.

Further reading:

Nanking Massacre (Wiki)
The Truth about Nanjing (Wiki)
Filmmaker to paint Nanjing slaughter as just myth (Japan Times)


6 thoughts on “The Truth About Nanking (Movie)

  1. In my USH textbook, the Sino-Japanese War was given one page and not a single sentence about the Nanking Massacre. I highly doubt that the Nanking Massacre has been “overemphasized” from China’s point of view–as far as I know, practically nobody in the US even knows about it at all.

    Though maybe that’s just the US.

  2. It is a shame that such an important event doesn’t get enough coverage, especially in the textbooks. We should acknowledge and learn from the past. Some people in the US do know about the Nanking Massacre. I hope relatively new US documentary film Nanking (2007) will raise the awareness of the public in the US and the rest of the world.

  3. First, there’s no alternative interpretation on fact and especially by the nation who commit it. It will be OJ Simpson making his own movie about the fact.

    Second, there were no seven samurai at that time. There were only an Asian military made the holocaust with guns. They only pull out their swords when victim is defenseless. The intention in using the analogy of samurai is to trying to inject false influence that these men might be noble.

    I believe younger generation in Japan is not responsible for war debt, but as a country should be have the heart to acknowledge the mistakes. With due respect.

Leave a Reply


You are commenting using your account. Log Out /  Change )

Google+ photo


Twitter picture


Facebook photo



Connecting to %s