Lost Chances for Emotional Reconciliation between China and Japan

Abstract

China and Japan are haunted by the Second Sino-Japanese War that ended more than 70 years ago. The rise of nationalism in China fuelled by the massive patriotic education campaigns seems to suggest that the two sides hardly have any opportunity to reconcile. However, this article argues that there are two lost chances for emotional reconciliation in the past seven decades. The “we-ness” consciousness and representation of humanity can open the door to reconciliation.