Published: 16:32, July 8, 2025 | Updated: 17:20, July 8, 2025
Japanese civil groups mark 88th anniversary of historic July 7 Incident
By Xinhua

TOKYO - Four Japanese civil groups have jointly held a memorial rally in Saitama city calling for remembering history, deep reflection and cherishing peace, as Monday marked the 88th anniversary of the historic July 7 Incident.

The organizations, including the Kanto Japan-China Peace and Friendship Association and the Fushun's Miracles Inheritance Association, hosted the commemoration on Monday.

July 7th is a very important day in history. The Lugou Bridge Incident that occurred on this day in 1937 marked the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China, Miyuki Endo, lecturer at Japan's Kanda University of International Studies, told Xinhua, stressing a memorial rally held on July 7th is precisely to remember this history.

Endo said Japan should have a correct understanding of its aggression during the war, adding "We have the responsibility to reflect on what we have done in the past and pass on this reflection to the next generation."

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Tokyo resident Yumiko Iida, who attended the rally, said the Lugou Bridge Incident, like the September 18th Incident in 1931, was also caused by the Japanese army, noting that the Japanese invasion of China began in Northeast China and then developed into a full-scale war of aggression against China.

Therefore, both July 7th and September 18th are of great significance and should be remembered, Iida said.

President of the Kanto Japan-China Peace and Friendship Association Hisao Shintaku told Xinhua that Japan has caused great harm to China and Southeast Asian countries, and should reflect deeply and uphold a peaceful anti-war stance.

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Momoko Hirayama, a representative of Fushun's Miracles Inheritance Association, hoped that through commemorative gatherings and other means, the Japanese people can have a correct understanding of history.