The TV series "Eyes of Dawn", adapted from the novel of the same name by South Korean writer Kim Sung-jong, tells the love story between a Japanese female journalist, Kazumi Akiyama (played by Atom Yan) and Huang Ziqian (played by Sun Zhongyi), an underground member of the Chinese Communist Party, during the Anti-Japanese War, as well as her tragic experience in the comfort station of the Japanese army. The play is directed by Bruce Lu and starring Zheng Peipei, Zeng Jiang, Bruce Lu and Li Yixuan.
The plot is set in Nanjing at the beginning of the 21st century, and gradually reveals Kazumi Akiyama's past through the investigation of Japanese lawyer Nao Asano (played by Meng Xiang) and brain doctor Zhang Min (played by Li Yixuan). The story goes back to 1943, when Kazumi Akiyama infiltrated the Japanese comfort camp in order to reveal the truth about the comfort women, and was unfortunately captured and assassinated. Fortunately, she was rescued by Huang Ziqian, an underground CCP member disguised as Kenichi Nakamura, a major of the Japanese Army's Intelligence Department. The two fell in love with the common anti-Japanese concept and fled to Yangon, Myanmar, to get married and have children. But the good times didn't last long, Kazumi Akiyama was separated from his family when the Japanese army attacked Burma, was captured by Japanese general Masafumi Suzuki (played by Lu Xiaolong), and was sent to a comfort station to be tortured. There, under the name of "Liu Hemei", she recorded what she saw and heard in the comfort station, as well as her thoughts about her family.
A climax in the play is when Liu Hemei unexpectedly meets Huang Ziqian at the comfort station, but she can't recognize him due to amnesia. In order to save her, Huang Ziqian did not hesitate to sacrifice himself and started a desperate struggle with Suzuki Masafumi. With Huang Ziqian's encouragement, Liu Hemei finally regained her memory, but witnessed her husband's sacrifice. Grief-stricken, she picked up Huang Ziqian's pistol and shot at Suzuki Masamune, but missed. Instead, she was hit by Masafumi Suzuki, who expressed her deep love by holding Huang Ziqian's body tightly before dying.
Another plot climax of the TV series "Eyes of Dawn" occurs when brain doctor Zhang Min (played by Li Yixuan) accidentally discovers Liu Hemei's diary and photos of her daughter during hypnotherapy for Liu Hemei. This discovery shocked Zhang Min, because she was surprised to find that Liu Hemei's daughter was actually her own mother Huang Xiaoli (played by Yuan Hezhen), and Liu Hemei was her maternal grandmother. Zhang Min quickly informed his mother and grandfather in the United States of the news, prompting them to rush to Nanjing to meet Liu Hemei.
Maternal grandfather Huang Ziqian (played by Zeng Jiang), as Huang Ziqian's younger brother, has always been concerned about the whereabouts of his brother and sister-in-law. When he finally saw Liu Hemei, he called excitedly: "Hemei, you are still alive......" Liu Hemei also recognized him, and his tears revealed deep family affection: "Xiaoqian, you look like your brother ......" The tight embrace between the two is a profound interpretation of the reunion after years of separation. The arrival of Huang Xiaoli further completes this touching family picture. She hugged Liu Hemei tightly, with sincere feelings: "Mom, I am your daughter, little Lili......" Liu Hemei looked at her with a smile: "Little Lili, you look so beautiful......" This scene, the reunion of three generations, is a beautiful presentation of a warm home after a long separation.
"Eyes of Dawn" shows the tragic experience of comfort women, the heroic sacrifice of anti-Japanese heroes, and the power of family and love through this true story that transcends time and space. Actors in the play, such as Zheng Peipei, Atom Yan, Zeng Jiang and others, performed the roles vividly and vividly, bringing a profound emotional experience to the audience. This drama is not only a work of art, but also a history textbook, which reminds us of that distorted and unknown history, and also makes us cherish the peace and happiness of the present.