JAPAN AND WORLD WAR II MEMORY
News Articles Arranged By Topic:
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Sources
Listed below are a few useful news sources to check for other articles. Certainly do not hesitate to check for academic articles in the NIC Databases or for relevant web-sites.
Procedure
Listed above is a series of topics connected with the history of Japan during World War II. Clicking on individual terms will link you to recent news articles. Many of the subjects -- such as the legacies of the Unit 731 biological warfare research project, the use of sex slaves in occupied territories, Japanese politicians' visits to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, and curricular debates about what to include in the national school -- can stir intense controversy more than seven decades after the end of the war.
Pick at least one topic. Read several news articles for each topic chosen. How and why has it been in the news? To what extent, if any, is it associated with contemporary conflict? What commentary might you offer on any debates? Can you place the topic within an historical context or use it to explore the broad theme of how the past is remembered? What did you learn about the collective memories of Japan's World War II experiences through this exercise?