Nanjing Incident documents put on list

The inscription was met with criticism by Japan, with Tokyo’s foreign ministry questioning the authenticity of the documents, calling on UNESCO to be neutral and fair and for changes to be made to the process.

Leaders from Japan’s ruling bloc are threatening to slash Tokyo’s contribution to UNESCO after the world cultural and education body chose to include the 1937 Nanjing Massacre on its Memory of the World global Register.

Historical issues, including the Nanjing Massacre and the ” comfort women” abomination, have been a major obstacle for Japan to mend ties with its victimized Asian neighbors, especially China and South Korea, and there have been few signs that the Japanese government wishes to reconcile with the two closest neighbors.

Historically valuable documents and paintings are eligible for inclusion in the Memory of the World Register list.

But UNESCO’s decision came after a two-year process where experts rigorously studied the nominations with an unbiased attitude.

According to Foreign Universities, the number of victims is actually much lower.

If Japan still deems itself as a responsible member of UNESCO, it should respect the world body’s decision and use it as a mirror to correct its own perception of history.

China historian Jonathan Spence, for example, estimates that 42,000 soldiers and citizens were killed and 20,000 women raped, many of whom later died.

The Memory of the World register, set up in 1992, is aimed at preserving humanity’s documentary heritage, and now holds 348 documents and archives that come from countries all over the world.

She urged Japan to reflect on its history, and to stop obstructing the work of UNESCO. The Japanese government and Maizuru city applied to register those documents in March 2014.

The documents were “Toji Hyakugo Monjo” (Archives of Toji temple contained in 100 boxes) and “Return to Maizuru Port-Documents Related to the Internment and Repatriation Experiences of Japanese (1945-1956)”. The collection – records of the ancient temple system and social structures – was designated a National Treasure in 1997.