At just two years old, she was swept away from her birthplace in Japan and into a new life with a Chinese family. Today, she calls herself a "living witness of war," carrying memories that span two cultures and a shared history marked by conflict.
Her earliest recollections are fragmented: the echo of sirens, scattered belongings, and the uncertain faces of children around her. Though too young to grasp the full scale of the war, she sensed loss and fear. It wasn't until she grew older that her adoptive parents began to fill in the blanks.
They told her about the cruelty of Japan's wartime actions in China and the horrors exposed by Unit 731, where countless civilians suffered under inhumane biological experiments. These stories were difficult to hear, but her parents believed that understanding the past was key to healing and building empathy.
In their home, education became her refuge. Her adoptive parents, teachers themselves, encouraged curiosity and critical thinking. They shared Chinese poetry and Japanese haiku, weaving together lessons in history with art and literature. Over time, she learned to see her identity as a bridge between two nations.
Now in her twenties, she travels across Asia, speaking at schools and community events about resilience, memory, and reconciliation. Her message resonates with a generation that values global citizenship and the power of shared narratives to foster peace.
"I will never forget China or the history that shaped me," she says. "Our memories are living lessons—proof that even in the darkest times, compassion can light the way forward."
Reference(s):
'We are living witnesses of war,' says Japanese orphan raised in China
cgtn.com
