2 Nanjing Massacre survivors leave for Japan to present testimony

86-year-old Ai Yiying will travel with 82-year-old Chen Deshou to present their testimonies in Japan.

Two Nanjing Massacre survivors are leaving for Japan for a testimony gathering on December 5th and December 10th. The testimony gathering has been an annual tradition since 1994. Survivors will go to Japan to share their experiences with Japanese residents about the atrocities the Japanese army committed during its invasion of China 77 years ago.

86-year-old Ai Yiying will travel with 82-year-old Chen Deshou to present their testimonies in Japan in the coming weeks.

When Ai Yiying was nine years old, she watched Japanese soldiers slaughter her father, two uncles and cousin right in front of her.

"Ai Renyin was my father, Ai Renbing, Ai Renyi and Ai Renlin were my uncles and Ai Yisheng was my cousin," she said.

The two survivors were invited by the Chinese War Victims Testimony Meeting Committee and Japan-China Friendship Association to share their stories of what happened during a very bloody time in China's history.

They will leave for Japan on two separate trips on December 5th and 10th.

During their visits, they plan on seeing many cities such as Osaka, Nagoya, Tokyo and Nagasaki.

So far, a total of 49 survivors have attended the testimony gathering in 34 different groups.

"We must remember this history not only for all our lives, but for our descendants too. When I go to Japan I will also tell local people what their ancestors did. They need to remember history and not repeat those mistakes," Ai said.