A nations self-reflection on history is far more important…

At 10:00 AM on September 2nd, a special group interview was held at the press center for the events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Among the five international friends who made contributions to China's victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, or their family representatives, a Japanese senior named Yokichi Kobayashi drew wide attention from both Chinese and foreign journalists.

Yokichi Kobayashi, 74, is a Japanese citizen and the son of Kiyoshi Kobayashi, a Japanese veteran of the Eighth Route Army. He has long been dedicated to anti-war and peace initiatives, and was involved in organizing the Japanese veterans' association "Coconut Society" where he now serves as Vice President and Executive Director. He has actively promoted peace and anti-war advocacy and China-Japan friendship in Japanese society. Kiyoshi Kobayashi, who once served as an officer in the Enemy Forces Work Department of the Shandong Military Region of the Eighth Route Army, authored memoirs including "On Chinese Soil-The Autobiography of a 'Japanese Eighth Route Soldier'" and "A History of Japanese Anti-War Organizations in China. "

After a brief greeting in Japanese, Yokichisaid, "Today I would like to introduce myself and answer questions in Chinese."

"My father, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, was once a Japanese soldier. After being captured, he studied at the Yan'an Japanese worker and peasant school and other schools, which completely transformed his worldview. He realized that the war launched by Japan was an unjust war of aggression. He even wrote a reflection article that was published in the 'Dazhong Bao' on July 23rd, 1944," said Yokichi. As he spoke, he showed a copy of that newspaper as well as his own comic work titled "The Miracle of Pagoda Mountain."

"My father wrote many articles in newspapers and fought side by side with the Eighth Route Army against Japanese invaders. This was not only a glorious chapter in his own life, but also something that my family and I take great pride in," Yokichi said, drawing a round of applause from the audience.

"History must not be forgotten. The atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army in its aggression against China should be made known to the world. Let it be firmly remembered: a nation's self-reflection on history is far more important than another nation's forgiveness. Only a country that dares to reflect can earn the respect of the world," Yokichi said firmly, prompting another round of warm applause.

“日籍八路军”之子小林阳吉：一个民族的反省，远比另一个民族的宽容更重要

9月2日上午10时，一场特殊的记者见面会在中国人民抗日战争暨世界反法西斯战争胜利80周年纪念活动新闻中心举行。参会的5位都是为中国抗战胜利作出贡献的国际友人或其遗属代表，其中，一位名叫小林阳吉的日本老人吸引了众多中外记者的目光。

小林阳吉，男，74岁，日本籍，日本籍八路军老战士小林清之子。长期开展反战和平工作，参与组织成立八路军老战士团体“椰子实会”，现任该会副会长兼事务局长，积极向日本社会开展和平反战宣传和中日友好活动。小林清，原八路军山东军区敌军工作部干部，曾出版回忆录《在中国的土地上——一个“日本八路”的自述》及《在华日人反战组织史话》。

在用日语简单寒暄几句后，小林阳吉说：“今天我想用中文来做自我介绍和回答问题。”

“我的父亲小林清原来是一名日本士兵，被俘后他在延安等地工农学校学习，他的世界观得到了根本转变。他明白了日本发动的战争是不正义的侵略战争。他曾经写过一篇思想反省文章，刊登在1944年7月23日的《大众报》上。”说着，小林阳吉在现场拿出了当年这份报纸的复印件，还有他自己创作的漫画《宝塔山的奇迹》。

“我的父亲多次在报纸上撰写文章，并且和八路军一道抗击日本侵略者，这不仅是他自己人生辉煌的篇章，也是我和家人引以为荣的地方。”小林阳吉一说完，现场就响起了掌声。

“历史是不能忘记的，日本帝国主义侵略中国的暴行，理应公之于世，让人们牢牢记住：一个民族的反省，远远要比另一个民族的宽容更加重要，一个勇于反省的国家才能得到世界的尊敬。”小林阳吉的发言掷地有声，现场再次响起热烈掌声。

文丨记者 柳卓楠

图丨记者 周巍

翻译丨曾敏

审校丨林佳岱