According to Xinhua News Agency, at the beginning of this month, a letter entitled "Support for Japanese Historians" was first circulated in American academic circles, which then triggered a strong condemnation from international academic circles. In just two weeks, the number of signature scholars has increased from 187 to more than 460, including many famous historians from North America, Europe and Australia. * * * Call on Abe to face up to historical facts such as Japan's forced recruitment of "comfort women" during wartime and support Japanese historians who are not afraid of Japanese pressure and dare to explore historical facts.

Encourage Japanese historians

Alexis Duden, a professor at the University of Connecticut in the United States, and Jordan Sander, a professor at Georgetown University, served as the drafters, but in fact many scholars participated in the drafting. After the contents were unanimously agreed by scholars, * * * was published in early May. At the earliest, * * * had 187 signatures, but since then more scholars have joined in, and the number of signatures has exceeded 460.

Mark Selton, a senior research assistant at Cornell University, was one of the first scholars to sign * * *. When talking about the reasons for the signature, he said that the political atmosphere in Japan has changed a lot since Abe took office. This letter is intended to respond to and arouse the attention of all sectors of society.

He said that at present, the most important archives of Japan's reflection on colonial rule and aggression and atrocities, such as "Murayama talk" and "Kono talk", are being attacked by many parties, and Abe and some mainstream media have obviously played a role in them. In this political atmosphere, Japanese historians are in a difficult situation. This letter is also to encourage these Japanese historians to continue their work under difficult circumstances.

I hope Abe will face up to the history of aggression.

Many media, such as the Wall Street Journal and the Financial Times, believe that scholars are "accusing" Abe and hope that he will face up to the history of colonial rule and aggression in his speech on the 70th anniversary of the war this fall.

Abe previously stressed that the words "colonial rule and aggression" and "sincere apology" mentioned in "Murayama talk" would not be used in "Abe talk".

Duden said that * * * intended to accuse Abe of "nothing wrong". He hoped that Abe could truly inherit the practice of the former Prime Minister, not only "inherit" Murayama's talk or Kono's talk, but also repeat the contents of these talks word for word. "They are the will of the Japanese people."

Scholars are labeled as "anti-Japanese"

After the release of * * *, there were some voices of opposition in Japan. Du Deng was labeled as "anti-Japanese" by at least one Japanese critic, thinking that she deliberately "smeared" Japan.

Du Deng said that in the past, she specifically contacted the Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun about * *, but failed to get any response. Later, she sent * * * to * * for an interview with a Yonhap News Agency reporter, but this made her labeled as "pro-Korean".

Duden said that many signed scholars are aware of the worrying trend of Japanese historical issues and hope that * * * can cause discussion in Japan.