Preface
A murderous case that occurred on the streets of Japan has caused the contradictions between the Chinese and Japanese people to renew their feelings. The incident is full of suspicions, what shocking truth is hidden? And how will the two sides deal with it? Let's find out!
01. Event Overview
A shocking incident unfolded in the early hours of March 22, 2023 in the Otake city of Hiroshima, Japan. A Chinese man single-handedly assaulted two Japanese office workers on a local street in a brutal scene.
According to the accounts of witnesses at the scene, the Chinese man seemed to be ruthless at that time, and forcibly beat two Japanese men who were not inferior to him in height and physique to the ground. He first threw one of them to the ground, then slammed the other on, opening the way with both fists and sending them back. Soon, the two of them were subdued by him to the ground, where was there still the slightest strength to resist.
But at this moment, the Chinese man's behavior escalated, and he actually rode on one of them and punched the man in the face. When the man was completely unconscious, he turned to the other man and struck him in the face. Some witnesses even saw that he actually raised his foot and kicked the man in the face, and the force was chilling.
Eventually, both Japanese men were beaten and bruised and unconscious. The Chinese man who committed the crime did not stop there, he even forced the two to kneel down and admit their mistakes, with a fierce attitude. The whole process looks as if the opponent kneels down and surrenders, making people feel that he is taking revenge on the two as enemies. This ruthlessness made the onlookers feel afraid, and they avoided him one after another.
It wasn't until the Japanese police arrived that more tragedies were prevented. Two Japanese men were taken to hospital with serious injuries, while the Chinese man was also arrested on suspicion of intentional injury. It's hard to imagine how a seemingly ordinary night could have escalated to such a level. What exactly was the motive of the parties and the cause of the incident?
02. Japan did not disclose the cause of the incident
There is no greater mystery about this shocking incident than its cause. Although the Japanese police have arrested the Chinese men involved in the case, they have been secretive about the triggers for the conflict.
According to local media reports, the only clue to follow is the simple explanation that the three men had been drinking at a caverna that night. However, based on this information alone, it is clear that we cannot guess how things escalated and spiraled out of control. Could it be that just three people in the same box can cause such a violent brawl? This is unreasonable.
For a time, various speculations and inferences poured in, the most concerning of which was that two Japanese men may have carried out verbal provocation and discrimination against the lone Chinese after drinking, which in turn angered each other and caused subsequent bloodshed.
Thinking about this possibility is not unfounded. For a long time, there has been a lot of discrimination and unfriendliness towards foreigners, especially Asians, in Japanese society. And some drunken Japanese people can't hold their own sharp mouths, and often squeeze their eyebrows and rebuke other people's races, nationalities, and skin colors, and their mouths are uncovered. Once they encounter a foreign person who is just facing them, it is easy for both sides to get into a physical altercation.
Of course, we cannot equate such speculation with facts. What is the cause of the incident still needs to be clarified by the parties and more witnesses. However, even in self-defence, the Chinese man's approach to the two Japanese was clearly too brutal and illegal. The Japanese side's low-key handling of this matter is likely to be out of consideration for both sides. But in any case, sooner or later, the local police will have to restore the cause of the incident and give an explanation to all parties!
03. Question the police handling
What is even more puzzling is that although the incident occurred on March 22, it was not until May 9 that the Japanese police took action to arrest the Chinese man involved in the case. Nearly two months apart, the efficiency of the police in a personal injury case of this magnitude is questionable.
What is even more questionable is that after the arrest of the madman, the Japanese police's description of what happened was also extremely vague and simple. They did not mention the cause of the conflict, and even kept silent about the details of the crime scene, which seemed to be quite secretive. This style of conduct undoubtedly gives the impression that they are deliberately concealing some important truth.
Could it be that some details of the case are enough to make it difficult for the Japanese side to explain? Or is it because there are some difficult issues involved, so you have to choose to keep silent? It cannot be ruled out that some people still wonder whether the Japanese side took advantage of this interval to do something during the two-month period, and some people even speculate whether it has created any perjury.
Whatever the reason, the Japanese police's handling of this case does lack the transparency it deserves, leaving the outside world unable to know the truth. As a country concerned, the Japanese side should have upheld the principles of openness, justice and fairness, made all the information in its possession public, and cleared the case. Even if the truth inevitably touches on some sensitive topics in the end, the Japanese side should have the courage to face it squarely, instead of pretending to be secluded and silent.
The masses naturally have the right to know the truth about the cause of a case of personal brutality and injury. If the authorities continue to cover up, they will create more suspicion and speculation, and raise questions about their approach. Of course, we hope that the Japanese side will be able to clear the clouds and see the light in time so that this thrilling incident can be brought to light instead of being overshadowed. There is no need to hide the truth, and transparency often brings justice back to light.
04. The incident escalated into ethnic hatred
Although the cause of the incident has not yet been completely revealed, many people have begun to raise it to a higher level -- the contradictions and hatred between the Chinese and Japanese nations. In their view, this street brawl was fundamentally an outbreak of deep-seated ethnic contradictions, and it was no accident that it happened for a reason.
In the final analysis, it is inevitable that there will be some deep-seated estrangement and mustache between the Chinese and Japanese peoples. As neighboring countries in Asia, although the two sides are geographically close, they have had many fierce wars and conflicts in history, leaving behind many scars and wounds of ethnic hatred. To this day, many Japanese people still have a certain feeling of "dissatisfaction" with the war history of the last century, and have not truly achieved complete repentance and admission of mistakes.
In contrast, it is even more difficult for the Chinese people to let go of the humiliation and hurt they suffered back then. In the eyes of many, an apology alone is not enough to heal the wounds caused by the war, not to mention that the Japanese side has yet to take concrete action. All along, both sides seem to be complacent, as if waiting for a historical opportunity to write off old and new hatreds.
It can be said that deep down in the hearts of the Chinese and Japanese peoples, the feelings of national resentment and hatred have always been lurking, but they have been covered up by the dilution of time on the surface. Like a sleeping volcano, once ignited or detonated, it bursts with incredible heat and energy. And this street brawl ignited the fuse of national sentiment on both sides.
Many commentators are calling for the time to settle old scores between China and Japan. A peaceful and prosperous era is of course precious, but if the deep-rooted national contradictions are not resolved, I am afraid that sooner or later they will become a social disaster. Only when the showdown is resolved, and the two sides resolve the estrangement through open communication, can we truly let go of the past and look forward to the future. Otherwise, small frictions again and again are likely to become the spark of rekindling hatred!
05. The demands of the Chinese people
In response to this incident, many Chinese people have made many demands on the authorities with patriotic enthusiasm. They called on the Chinese Embassy in Japan to stand up and take the initiative to intervene in this incident to uphold justice and protect the rights and interests of Chinese citizens who have been unjustly treated in Japan.
As China's official representative office in Japan, the embassy should attach great importance to this and must not sit idly by and watch some compatriots suffer harm and insults in a foreign country. Many people believe that the embassy in Japan can use diplomatic means to exert a certain amount of pressure on the Japanese side, asking them to confess to each other, restore the whole story of the incident, and clarify which party's fault led to this tragedy.
More and more people have begun to express their indignation and dissatisfaction with the Japanese side's practice of concealing the truth. They questioned the inefficiency and transparency of the Japanese police, and even speculated whether there was a suspicion of forgery. Therefore, the demand that Japan fully disclose the ins and outs of the incident to the Chinese public has become the common cry of countless people.
Concealing the truth will only further escalate the situation and give rise to more speculation and suspicion. If the Japanese side insists on confrontation, it will inevitably increase the condemnation of the Chinese people. At that time, the relationship between the two sides will be even worse and fall into new tensions and confrontations.
It is sincerely hoped that the street brawl was an isolated accident rather than the work of deep-seated hatred between the Chinese and Japanese people. But if the Japanese side insists on evading and covering up, it is likely to escalate the situation dramatically, which in turn will trigger a new wave of nationalism. That being said, we can't say in the air. After all, it is difficult to judge the merits based on the rhetoric of one side alone!
epilogue
Although the cause of this street brawl is still mysterious, we should not reduce it to a shell of individual actions or ethnic contradictions. As wise modern civilizers, we should draw valuable lessons from this and reflect on how to make China-Japan relations stable and long-term.
Only in this way can we truly overcome hatred and let the national sentiments of both sides no longer be held hostage by superficial prejudice and antagonism. In its place, there will be mutual understanding, mutual appreciation, and mutual respect. This will not only be conducive to the long-term development of bilateral relations, but will also contribute to the peace and stability of the whole of Asia and the world.
Many years ago, the Chinese and Japanese peoples fought side by side as comrades-in-arms and shed their blood for the just cause. Today, we are no longer as hostile as we once were, but share a common vision for peaceful development. Let us uphold this precious spirit and work together to create a new era without prejudice and antagonism.