Today, on the National Liberation Day of Korea, I am reminded of the deep and painful history that shaped not only my country but also my family. This day marks Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, a period marked by atrocities that left lasting scars on generations. It holds personal significance for me as the granddaughter of Jang Yoon-duc, a general of the Righteous Armies and a martyr who fought against Japanese imperialism. Tortured to death for his resistance, my great-grandfather bit his tongue to avoid giving up vital information to his captors—a hero to Korea, but a terrorist to the oppressors. His sacrifice, like many others, is part of a broader narrative that is often neglected in global historical discourse: the atrocities of Imperial Japan, what could be called the "East Asian Holocaust."




*Japan’s Imperial Expansion and War Crimes

The term "East Asian Holocaust" may seem unfamiliar to many, particularly outside of Asia, but it accurately reflects the devastating human cost of Japanese imperialism across Korea, China, and other parts of Asia. From the early 20th century until the end of World War II, Japan embarked on a brutal campaign of conquest and occupation, leaving behind a trail of war crimes, forced labor, and human suffering. In Korea, the colonial occupation from 1910 to 1945 was characterized by forced assimilation, exploitation, and violence. Seodaemun Prison, a place I visited as a child and where I fainted from the sheer horror of it, stands as a testament to the cruelty. Korean independence fighters like my great-grandfather were imprisoned, tortured, and often executed in this facility.

One of the most heinous examples of Japan’s atrocities is the **Nanjing Massacre** of 1937, during which an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers were slaughtered in the span of six weeks. Japanese troops raped tens of thousands of women, and entire families were brutally exterminated. The scale of violence was so extreme that it is often compared to the worst horrors of the Holocaust in Europe.

Another egregious crime was the **comfort women system**, where hundreds of thousands of women, primarily from Korea, China, and the Philippines, were forced into sexual slavery to serve Japanese soldiers. These women endured unimaginable suffering, and their voices were silenced for decades, with the Japanese government refusing to fully acknowledge or take responsibility for the atrocity.

During World War II, Japanese forces also conducted biological and chemical warfare experiments on human subjects in **Unit 731**, a covert research unit in northeastern China. Prisoners, including Koreans, Chinese, and even Allied POWs, were subjected to vivisections without anesthesia, infected with diseases like the plague, and exposed to deadly toxins. The scale and cruelty of these experiments were unparalleled, yet they remain relatively unknown to much of the world.




*The Tokyo Trials and Japan’s Escape from Accountability

After Japan’s defeat in World War II, the **Tokyo War Crimes Trials** (1946-1948) sought to hold Japanese leaders accountable for war crimes, similar to the Nuremberg Trials for Nazi officials in Europe. However, the outcomes of these trials were far from satisfying for the victims of Japan’s wartime atrocities. Only a few top military leaders were convicted, and many others, including members of the imperial family and influential politicians, were shielded from prosecution. The U.S. occupation of Japan and the rise of the Cold War saw a shift in priorities. In exchange for political stability and Japan's role as a bulwark against communism, many war criminals were granted amnesty, and the historical narrative of Japan's atrocities was downplayed.

This erasure has had profound consequences. Unlike in Germany, where Holocaust education is mandatory and the country's role in World War II atrocities is confronted openly, Japan has largely avoided reckoning with its past. School textbooks often omit or minimize Japan's role as an aggressor during the war, and the country has not issued the kind of unequivocal apology demanded by many of its Asian neighbors. Even today, when I ask my Japanese friends about these events, 99.9% either don’t know or are in denial.




*Why Is This History So Unknown in the West?

The atrocities of Imperial Japan remain largely unknown in Europe and other parts of the Western world, especially when compared to the widespread recognition of the European Holocaust. There are several reasons for this disparity.

Firstly, the post-war political landscape contributed to the erasure of Japan’s war crimes from global memory. The U.S. and its allies, eager to rebuild Japan as a democratic ally in the fight against communism, helped shape a narrative that prioritized Japan's role as a victim of the atomic bombings rather than its role as a perpetrator of war crimes. This strategic forgetting allowed Japan to reintegrate into the global community without fully addressing its past.

Secondly, Western-centric education systems often focus on European history, particularly World War II's European theater, while glossing over the Asian context. The atrocities committed by the Nazis are widely taught, and rightfully so, but the brutal realities of Japan’s imperial conquest are often left out. This lack of awareness perpetuates ignorance and allows the narrative of Japan as a victim of the war to dominate, rather than one of accountability for its actions.

Lastly, the victims of Japan's war crimes were primarily from Asia, and the suffering of Asian populations has historically been marginalized in global narratives shaped by Western power structures. The atrocities committed against Koreans, Chinese, and others have not been given the same attention or recognition as those against European populations. This marginalization persists today, as the voices of survivors and their descendants continue to struggle for acknowledgment.



*Living with the Legacy

As the descendant of a man who gave his life fighting against Japanese oppression, this history is deeply personal for me. My grandfather shared vivid stories of my great-grandfather’s struggles, and the torture he endured has left a lasting imprint on our family. Even though I never directly experienced the oppression, I carry its weight, resonating with the pain of others who have suffered under similar circumstances.

I have always been struck by the silence around these atrocities, both in Japan and in much of the Western world. The oppressor may forget, but the sin remains with the oppressed, and this burden is passed down through generations. I live with the hope that we can raise awareness of this hidden history, not only for Koreans, Chinese, and other East Asian peoples but for all of humanity. Acknowledging these past horrors is the first step toward true liberation from their lingering effects.

This National Liberation Day is a reminder that while political independence may have been achieved, the emotional and historical liberation of East Asia from the shadow of Japan’s imperial past is far from complete. Let us remember, let us educate, and let us strive to never be the oppressor in any form.