In the heart of Tokyo this weekend, a group of passionate Japanese citizens gathered to make a bold statement: it's time to return the Chinese cultural relics taken during the past conflicts. ✊🏽✨
Takakage Fujita, co-representative of the civil group championing this cause, emphasized, \"Many nations are beginning to right the wrongs of history by returning looted artifacts. It's only fair that we do the same.\"
He continued, \"The first step towards true reconciliation is acknowledging and correcting past mistakes. Keeping looted treasures as if it's acceptable isn't the way forward.\" 🕊️
The group pointed out that the University Museum of the University of Tokyo houses and occasionally displays artifacts from the Shangjing Longquan Prefecture Site of the Bohai Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty. These treasures were taken from \"Manchukuo,\" a puppet state established during Japan's control over Northeast China.
They're urging the university to come clean about all artifacts obtained through questionable means, including disclosing their origins. 🧐📜
Around 50 people from across Japan joined the rally. One Tokyo University student shared with Xinhua, \"I genuinely want to know more about our university's collection of Chinese relics. Listening to today's speakers made me realize the importance of understanding history and returning these artifacts.\" 🎓🌍
The civil group's mission is clear: encourage Japan to return Chinese cultural relics, foster historical reconciliation between the two nations, and promote stronger bilateral relations. 🤝🌏
This year, they're stepping up efforts to have the Japanese government return significant artifacts like the two Chinese stone lions outside the Yasukuni Shrine and those inside the Yamagata Artomo Memorial Hall. 🦁🏯
Reference(s):
Rally held in Japan urging return of relics looted from China
cgtn.com
