Rape Of Nanjing Essay

Japan’s desire to expand their empire was the primary cause of the second Sino-Japanese war. Along with Japan’s conquest of China began a horrific event known as the “Rape of Nanjing,” or the “Nanjing Massacre.” After Japan conquered Shanghai, they started to invade Nanjing. This is where the film starts. On December 9th, 1937, Japan invaded Nanjing. Although China had more soldiers than Japan, Japan was more resourceful military-wise, giving them the advantage. Once the battle began, it was clear that China would lose Nanjing. Eventually, the Japanese cornered the Chinese, forcing them to surrender. Some were executed on the spot while others marched into a fenced off area with other soldiers. Thus, the Nanjing Massacre began. The soldiers

Eventually, John Rabe, Mr. Tang, and Ms. Jiang went to talk to Japanese Officer Second Lieutenant Ida Osamu to stop the issue. However, Ida didn’t support them. Instead of stopping his soldiers, Ida threatened the center’s stability. He asked for 100 refugee women to serve as “comfort women,” whose purpose was to ‘revitalize’ the Japanese soldiers. If the safety zone’s committee refused to do so, then troops would be sent to destroy the safety zone. One of the most emotional scenes in the film was when John Rabe and Ms. Jiang broke the news to the refugees. Bravely, many young women stepped up and volunteered to serve as “comfort women” in hopes that their sacrifice would benefit the center. One of the women was Mr. Tang’s sister-in-law, May. Later, Kadokawa (Japanese soldier) witnesses many “comfort” women, who died from abuse, being taken away. He also witnesses Ida killing May, who had gone mentally insane. With all the violence going on around Kadokawa, he wasn’t able to fully understand what was happening or why. He often seemed conflicted as to whether or not what they are doing was moral or

Some men were being told that they would work as workers, while others, who were believed to be soldiers, were being loaded on a truck that would take them to be executed. One of the men on the truck was Shunzi. The women and the committee kept pleading to the Japanese that their loved ones were not soldiers. Ida allowed the women to save only one male relative who was on the truck. Ms. Jiang, on the other hand, was trying to save the lives of some of the soldiers by claiming that they were her husband. Although Kadokawa notices her, he doesn’t say anything, as if he wanted her to save them. However, while she was trying to save Shunzi, Ida catches her and has soldiers take her away. Ms. Jiang asks Kadokawa to shoot her and to everyone’s surprise, he fulfills her wish. Once again, chaos starts and the men, including Shunzi and Xiaodouzi, are taken