Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall releases Japanese soldiers' letters

The Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders has released new historical documents and personal records from Japanese soldiers to mark the 81st anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.

Among the newly unveiled items are handwritten letters and postcards from soldiers belonging to the Japanese 16th and 114th Divisions. Notably, a letter dated December 20, 1937, written by Ishikawa Morita of the 16th Division, contains a direct admission stating, “a few days ago, we killed about 10,000 defeated soldiers.” This document is viewed as significant evidence supporting claims of large-scale massacres of Chinese prisoners of war during the period.

Other materials include postcards from Mitsui Shigemasa of the 114th Division describing the seizure of weapons and prisoners during an attack on a factory in Nanjing. The memorial reported collecting approximately 150 artifacts and 100 pieces of literature in the first half of this year. These archives, which also include training materials on poison gas warfare, are intended to provide undeniable evidence of the atrocities committed during the occupation of Nanjing in 1937–1938, where China estimates over 300,000 people were killed.