Disclaimer: My view might be “enlightened” to some of you guys.
First of all, it is extremely terrible and disturbing that the Nanjing massacre happened. However, the actual numbers of victims are quite hard to prove and debatable. I know it is a sad and terrible thing, but I find many of these evil things had happened throughout human history. Under an uncivilized society, it is not unexpected for killing and raping when the walls fell. For example, during the occupation of Germany, hundred of thousands or millions of German women were raped by the Red Army (no exact number). However, the Nanking massacre was very bad and I am not here to defend any evil act. My point is there might be some little connection between the orginal Japanese to the atrocious violences.
The society and the atmosphere the Japanese people created at that time might have some contribution. The Japanese people supported and followed the totalitarian government. They were not being critical to the government and the media which were trying to shape their thoughts. There could be the angers of the liberators. In the Manchurina girl, I can see the frustration in the Japanese people in liberating other Asians. I can the Japanese people really buy this idea in the imperial mothers and the Greater East Asia idea. The orginal Japanese people were angry because of the hostility toward them from the Korean, the Chinese, and the Manchurian. Because they believe as they are helping other Asians to greater, they should be treated with welcome. The Japanese society feared the image of modern girls as revolutionary and away from traditional imperial mothers. That fear of losing the tradition in Japanese girls might push the Japanese soldiers into much deeper of their goal of Greater East Asia. Finally, I can see the anger as liberators and the fear of losing tradition in the ordinary Japanease might have some influences on the violence at colonies.
