ABSTRACT

This chapter describes the terrible atrocities that the Japanese military committed against Chinese people during the Second World War through reading Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking. It introduces peace studies in Japan, defining its mainstream agenda and institutions, with an emphasis on the issue of Japan's responsibility for the aggression. The chapter discusses exhibitions of Japan's aggression at various Japanese peace museums. Peace studies are defined as the 'ultimate science for human survival' because it addresses the following crucial issues: Taken together with the few areas of study mentioned earlier, these topics delineate the mainstream of peace studies in Japan today. Peace museums may thus play an important role in peace research and education, as well as reconciliation between conflicting parties. A peace museum can also play an important role in community education.