The descendants of Japanese combatants in China during World War II, who last year knelt in apology to the Chinese people on behalf of their fathers in northeast China's Jilin Province, stressed the crucial need for Japanese people to recognize the atrocities committed by their ancestors and offer sincere apologies as an obligation. On July 7, 1937, Japanese troops attacked Chinese forces at the Lugou Bridge on the outskirts of Beijing, marking the beginning of Japan's full-scale invasion of China and China's nationwide resistance against the Japanese invaders, initiating a whole-of-nation war effort that opened the main Eastern battlefield in the global war against fascism. In September 2024, Kuroi Akio, along with five other descendants of Japanese soldiers who had invaded China, came to Gongzhuling City in Jilin Province with historical documents to apologize to the Chinese people on behalf of their fathers. Kuroi's father, Kuroi Keijirou, participated in two separate campaigns in northeast China in 1932 and 1941. These campaigns included violent acts against civilians, something Kuroi is determined to address and atone for. Kuroi recalled watching a video featuring an American veteran of the Vietnam war. The veteran disclosed that he continued to dream about the killing of Vietnamese civilians and woke up screaming in the dead of night. Kuroi observed that the veteran's harrowing experiences bore a striking resemblance to his father's sorrowful countenance. This led him to believe that his father suffered from the same kind of war trauma. During last year's apology ceremony at Gongzhuling Zhanqian Primary School, under the Chinese national flag, Kuroi removed his shoes and socks and knelt down to kowtow before the students. Shotlist: Japan - Recent: 1. Various of photo album; photos showing barracks, Japanese invaders in China during World War II, including Kuroi Keijirou, father of Kuroi Akio; 2. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kuroi Akio, descendant of WWII Japanese invader (starting with shot 1/partially overlaid with shots 3-4): "As far as I can remember, my father was always a quiet man who rarely spoke. I hardly ever saw him smile -- he always wore a gloomy expression. I never had any experience of him patting my head or giving me a hug; no affectionate father-son interaction ever passed between us."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 3. Various of photo of Kuroi Keijirou with personal information; 4. Photos showing scenes during wartime; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Location and Date Unknown 5. Various of screen, photos showing American veteran of Vietnam war; Japan - Recent 6. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kuroi Akio, descendant of WWII Japanese invader (starting with shot 5/partially overlaid with shot 7/ ending with shots 8-11): "Some people have shared with me their experiences of fathers who, due to war trauma, have subjected their families to domestic violence, such as beating or kicking their mothers, or struggling with alcohol abuse. As a matter of fact, in Japan, soldiers who suffered psychological breakdowns due to war were deliberately concealed by the authorities during wartime. I believe that my father also understood that it was the wrong war. I think it is crucial to convey the sentiment of 'I am truly sorry to the Chinese people' to express this feeling."; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 7. Various of historical documents during wartime; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Changchun City, Jilin City, northeast China - September 2024 8. Changchun Longjia International Airport; 9. Various of descendants of WWII Japanese soldiers walking at airport, boarding bus; 10. Kuroi sorting historical documents on bus; 11. Various of Kuroi displaying, explaining historical documents in school; 12. Various of screen showing photos of Japanese violent acts against Chinese civilians; 13. Various of descendants of WWII Japanese soldiers, students at apology ceremony; Kuroi speaking; Japan - Recent 14. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kuroi Akio, descendant of WWII Japanese combatant (starting with shot 13): "For Japanese people, kneeling in apology is considered the most solemn way."; FILE: Changchun City, Jilin City, northeast China - Sept 2024 15. Various of Kuroi speaking, kneeling down to apologize at apology ceremony; Japan - Recent 16. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kuroi Akio, descendant of WWII Japanese combatant (starting with shot 15/partially overlaid with shot 17): "At Gongzhuling Zhanqian Primary School, it is the actual ground where many murdered Chinese people are buried, and where the blood of numerous Chinese people has flowed. As a Japanese, I believe that I cannot wear shoes while standing on this land."; FILE: Changchun City, Jilin City, northeast China - Sept 2024 [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 17. Various of descendants of WWII Japanese combatant, students at apology ceremony; Kuroi speaking; [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 18. Various of descendants of WWII Japanese combatant at apology ceremony; Japan - Recent 19. SOUNDBITE (Japanese) Kurokawa Yasuko, descendant of WWII Japanese combatant (starting with shot 18): "China is our neighboring country, with which we should live in harmony. We must openly confront the painful facts of the atrocities and aggression committed in the past and sincerely apologize from the bottom of our hearts. I believe this is something that must be done."; FILE: Changchun City, Jilin City, northeast China - Sept 2024 20. Various of descendants of WWII Japanese soldiers at apology ceremony. [Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]