Blog

简体中文

Comrade Tong Zeng
How are you?

First of all, thank you very much for pursuing justice and demanding compensation for victims of Japan’s war of aggression against China. You dare say what the Chinese government dares not say and do what the Chinese government dares not do. You caused millions of Chinese victims to have a spokesperson of their own. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you on behalf of my mother and many other victims from northeastern China during Japan’s invasion of China. In February 1992, I wrote a letter about my mother’s suffering to the Japanese consulate in Shenyang, but I have not received any reply so far. Recently, after reading an article about you from Issue 644 of Digest Weekly of February 3, I got very excited. My mother wanted me to ask you what materials and documents are needed from victims during the invasion of the Japanese army? And we want to entrust you with forwarding these materials to the Japanese government. Is that possible? We hope you will succeed.

Sorry for writing to you without your permission.

Best regards,

Yu Xuejun
February 12, 1993

　　I am Gu Chunxiang, age 73. I live in No. 41-11, Jianxueli, Lingdong Street, Huanggu District, Shenyang City (near Shenyang Sport University).

That was a few days after the unconditional surrender of the Japanese government in August 1945. My family was then living in Houwoupung Village, Lingdong, Shenyang. That day, I went out to visit my younger brother in Tiexi District. When I reached the east gate of Beiling near a Japanese soldier camp (now Shenyang Sport University), a group of Japanese soldiers suddenly rushed out from the camp and surrounded me to rob me. As they found nothing on me, a Japanese company officer lifted up a Japanese sword (They had no guns after Japan’s surrender) and hacked at me. I fell down in a ditch and blacked out. When I came to myself again, I found that I was still alive, but covered with blood. I struggled to climb out of the ditch. Later, I encountered a neighbor, who asked several people to carry me home. Back then, I was young and had thick head of hair. The Japanese officer only cut off half of the skin of my face and one of my ears. At the time, that area was ravaged by war and had no medical care. Consequently afterwards, half of my face was filled with maggots. After twists and turns, , I survived the brutal attack, but the scars on my face and the mental trauma will never be erased. For many, many years, I have often dreamed of that Japanese officer lifting up his sword high and hacking at me. I woke up in sweat many times. What hurts me more is that the scars on my face made me lose the opportunity to work (Back then, I worked in Xiehe Shoe Factory). Now, I am over 70 and live a life without security of livelihood. It is all caused by that evil Japanese officer and Japan’s war of aggression against China.

Instead of treating the Chinese people as humans, the invading Japanese army freely mutilated us and seriously trampled on our basic human rights. I do not know where to find justice and how to abate my hatred. At the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Japanese friendship, I apply for human rights assistance, charge that Japanese officer with hurting me and charge the Japanese government with the responsibility for the attack.

Best wishes to Mr. Tong Zeng.

Gu Chunxiang
February 12, 1993