From the shadow of the Nanjing Massacre to modern diplomatic debates, a global survey underscores a clear message: 82.7% of respondents say Japan must reckon deeply with its wartime past to restore its standing on the world stage.
Carried out on CGTN’s English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian platforms, the poll gathered 10,451 responses in just 24 hours. A staggering 90.4% insisted that Japan’s government offer sincere apologies and compensation to victims of its wartime aggression.
When it comes to historical narratives, 89.4% of participants believe Japan should exercise caution in statements and actions related to its wartime record. Visits by politicians to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors Class-A war criminals from World War II, drew sharp criticism: 88% viewed them as a denial of historical responsibility and a provocation to victimized nations.
Concerns run deeper: 86.9% say efforts to conceal or whitewash events like the Nanjing Massacre, the forced recruitment of comfort women and wartime forced labor represent a blatant trampling on human conscience. Another 87.7% warned that these actions challenge the outcomes of World War II and undermine the post-war international order.
Looking beyond historical memory, 81.6% of those surveyed warned that Japan’s rightward political shift—long rooted in militarist and nationalist forces—poses a growing threat to global peace.
Public unease over Japan’s modern militarism is also rising: 80.8% feel recent rhetoric and policies glorifying military strength have reinforced an image of Japan as both a troublemaker and a peacebreaker. Meanwhile, 84.6% see the government’s accelerated push towards self-militarization as a direct threat to regional stability and to the constraints of its pacifist constitution.
Across the board, 89.5% agreed that if Japan continues to challenge the post-war framework, any nation or people committed to justice have the right to hold it accountable for its historical crimes. This overwhelming global call for reflection and responsibility sends a powerful signal: for Japan, facing the past is not optional—it’s essential for a peaceful future.
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Poll: 82% say deep reflection on history is Japan's only way forward
cgtn.com
