Public Cries Run High for Disclosure and Acknowledgement of Korean Massacre in Japan
Date: 19/09/2023 | Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN) | Read original version at source
It is now a century since the great Kanto earthquake struck Japan on September 1, 1923.
On this occasion, public opinion is running high in Japan calling for the authorities to disclose the truth of the massacre of Koreans by the then Japanese imperialists and to acknowledge their past crimes.
Ex-Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama, who attended the mourning ceremony for the Korean victims, told reporters that “Not enough had been done during the government-launched investigation into the facts.”
He also stressed that “Avoiding the past will only deny the future. One must develop the will to apologize properly for its mistakes and Tokyo Province and Kanagawa Prefecture also have to take relevant responsibility.”
In a press conference, the Governor of Kanagawa said that it is necessary to look properly into the truth of the Korean massacre.
People from all walks of life including university professors, historians and lawyers denounced the attitude of the Japanese authorities asserting that the Korean massacre is an undeniable historical fact.
They pressed the government to look into its regretful history properly and immediately launch an investigation into the facts, though belatedly.
They also remarked that discrimination and history distortion still persist in Japan as they did a century ago.
Meanwhile, before and after September 1, forums, meetings, lectures and other various mourning ceremonies were held in several regions including Tokyo Province, Gumma Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, and Osaka City.
Videos, films and books based on the massacre of Koreans were produced and published.
In Tokyo Province, the Governor again stated that she would not send memorial writing to the mourning ceremony for Korean victims, which sparked a demonstration of students.
They paraded around the municipal building holding up slogans and fans inscribed with the letters “Don’t repeat the past!” and shouting “Tokyo Province should not deny the massacre!”.
Major media including Kyodo News and 《RKB Mainichi HOSO》 carried articles titled “Mourning ceremonies for Korean victims held in various regions, indelible history of massacre”, “Tokyo Provincial Governor encouraging those attempting to deny truth about Korean massacre” and “100 years since great Kanto earthquake, government’s intolerable distortion of facts”, and noted that the massacre of Koreans is an undeniable fact supported by numerous testimonies and historical evidences and that it is only natural to mourn the victims.
More From Ministry of Foreign Affairs (EN)
The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) sent a congratulatory message to the 14 th Congress of the Communist
January 20, 2026
The Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) sent a congratulatory message to the 14 th Congress of the Communist
The DPRK youth movement featuring brilliant inheritance, tradition and noble feats is now in the heyday of its development writing
January 19, 2026
The DPRK youth movement featuring brilliant inheritance, tradition and noble feats is now in the heyday of its development writing
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
January 18, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Today, our young people are significantly marking the 80 th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League. There
January 17, 2026
Today, our young people are significantly marking the 80 th founding anniversary of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League. There
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received New Year cards from heads of state and government, political party leaders and
January 17, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received New Year cards from heads of state and government, political party leaders and
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the New
January 16, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the New
Filled with the spirit of pioneering into the uncharted territory and strong will and burning enthusiasm to remain faithful to the
January 14, 2026
Filled with the spirit of pioneering into the uncharted territory and strong will and burning enthusiasm to remain faithful to the
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a reply
January 13, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a reply
Kim Song, Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea（DPRK） to the UN, issued the following press
January 13, 2026
Kim Song, Permanent Representative of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea（DPRK） to the UN, issued the following press
The permanent mission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations issued the following press
January 12, 2026
The permanent mission of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations issued the following press
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a flower basket to Thongloun Sisoulith upon his reelection as the general secretary of
January 10, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a flower basket to Thongloun Sisoulith upon his reelection as the general secretary of
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK), sent
January 09, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK), sent
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to Comrade
January 09, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to Comrade
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
January 09, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs of the
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a
January 09, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un continued his journey of devotion for our people to provide them with an affluent and happiest
January 07, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un continued his journey of devotion for our people to provide them with an affluent and happiest
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a message
January 07, 2026
Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, received a message
A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on January 4 as regards
January 04, 2026
A spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry of the DPRK gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA on January 4 as regards
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to her Cuban counterpart
January 02, 2026
Choe Son Hui, foreign minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to her Cuban counterpart
Pak Thae Song, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greeting to Manuel Marrero Cruz, president of the Council of
January 02, 2026
Pak Thae Song, premier of the DPRK Cabinet, sent a message of greeting to Manuel Marrero Cruz, president of the Council of
More Articles
