Chihiro’s experience of Japan’s war
Chihiro was a young girl during WWII. Upon entering an all-girls school at the age of twelve, the Manchurian Incident erupted, and when she graduated at 17, Japan commenced war with the aim of invading China.
Chihiro’s parents were both involved in Japan’s national war plans. Her father was an architect for the military and her mother, after retiring from teaching, worked to send Japanese citizens to Manchuria. Because of the work her parents did, Chihiro’s family enjoyed a privileged life despite the war. However, on May 25, 1945, their house burned down in an air raid and she had to flee for her life in a sea of flames. Chihiro, along with her family, evacuated to Matsumoto City in Nagano Prefecture and it was there that they learned about Japan’s defeat and the end of World War II. She was 26 years old at the time.
After the war, Chihiro learned that the Pacific War was a war of aggression by Japan and that her parents had contributed to it, which was the reason behind the privileged life that they enjoyed. Later, Chihiro said, “It was only after the war ended that I came to understand why wars occur. And that there were people who opposed the war and were thrown into prison. And I also learned that some of those who were imprisoned were killed. My heart was moved. I also realized that their deep love for humanity and their search for the truth made them fight against this war, even at the risk of their lives. ”Through her own experience of war, Chihiro determined that war should never be repeated and wished for the realization of a peaceful world. This desire is evident not only in her works based on the theme of war, but in all of her works.
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