War and Responsibility: War Memory and Historical Reflection

Author: (Japanese) Noda Masashi, translated by Zhu Chunli
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-07-01
Features: This book explores the transformation in the Japanese national psyche from a sense of "innocence" in war to a sense of guilt through interviews with a large number of Japanese soldiers who fought in China. It particularly emphasizes the emergence of individual guilt and self-reflection, offering an important perspective for deepening our understanding of the invasion war. Unique cultural psychological themes such as "excessive adaptation," "a life of brainwashing," and "being submerged in the group," as well as the notion of "acting out of necessity," are among the key issues highlighted by the author, Mr. Noda Masashi. The book also addresses the rigidity of Japanese emotions, the ability to recognize guilt, the time taken to become aware of it, and ultimately, the process of regaining emotional sensitivity—issues the author places great importance on.
The book introduces two individuals who maintained their conscience within the Japanese military, a group responsible for killing, looting, and rape. Through their case studies and psychoanalysis, it examines whether individuals can refuse to commit evil when their nation commits crimes. Additionally, it features two older men whose fathers participated in the invasion of China, using their perspectives to capture the war crimes and psychological states of their generation. The book underscores the significance of younger Japanese generations understanding the war's history and engaging in dialogue with their counterparts in victimized nations.
By exposing the war crimes of the Japanese military through the firsthand experiences of Japanese soldiers who fought in China, the book challenges a post-war Japanese society that lacks reflection and continues to glorify the war and the military. As a result, the book has faced attacks from right-wing forces, and the author, Mr. Noda Masashi, has received numerous anonymous letters, some of which threatened to "make you lose your professorship." Since its publication by Iwanami Shoten in 1998, the book has been reprinted seven times within less than a year.