There is still controversy over the genocide in Nanking occurring today. Some Japanese officials disagree on the severity and in some cases even existence of the massacre. “Former Justice Minister Shigeto Nagano denied that the massacre had occurred, claiming it was a Chinese fabrication” (Scarred by history: The Rape of Nanjing). These officials are stating that this massacre was just media exploited to the masses and it was not at all as it was made out to be. This altercation has caused a gape in the teaching of history throughout Japan and China. “Professor Ienaga Saburo spent many years fighting the Japanese government in the courts with only limited success for not allowing true accounts of Japanese war atrocities to be given in school textbooks”(Scarred by history: The Rape of Nanjing). These disputes caused contrasting information being recorded about the same event. War crimes charges against the Japanese soldiers have been brought to light. “Twenty-eight men were prosecuted for, "...mass murder, rape, pillage, brigandage, torture and other barbaric cruelties upon the helpless civilian population..." Eye-witnesses gave testimonies of the atrocities. Of the twenty-eight men, twenty-five were found guilty. Of the other three, two died during the trials, and one had a mental breakdown. This man was later released free from the psychiatric hospital. Seven criminals were put to death by hanging, sixteen were sentenced to life imprisonment, and two had lesser sentences. However, all the criminals were let out on parole after eight years” (Go Train). Even though most men were sentenced life in prison the got out on parole after only 8 years. Today this immense massacre is still not that widely know, but more people are learning about it through a documentary that was made to inform people of this monstrosity. “The showing was an incredible success, the theater was filled with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of Chinese men and women, many standing against the walls as all the seats were taken. The president of the university sponsoring the film, proclaimed it was the most successful and most well attended event in the history of the school” (Rhawn). Movements like this are helping move society forward by learning our past and how people can move foreword. The current situation is highly vexed between the Japanese and the Chinese.
