Ai Yi-ying is a survivor of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, otherwise known as the “Rape of Nanking”.  When the Japanese invaded, her family was trapped, and many were killed at the outset.  Ms. Ai’s mother managed to save some of the family members, and they were able to escape to the nearby mountains, evading the Japanese and managing to keep starvation at bay.  Even after the massacre subsided, Ms. Ai recalls that many Chinese civilians who survived the ordeal continued to hide from the Japanese soldiers, all the while dealing with other harsh wartime realities.

Ms. Ai spoke to participants on the Alpha Education Peace and Reconciliation Tour in July 2017, with the hope that her story carries a message of social justice to future generations.  Translation was facilitated by Wang Junyi of the Nanjing Memorial Hall of the Victims.

In July 2017 Crestwood teacher Scott Masters took part in Alpha Education’s Peace and Reconciliation Tour.  Seventeen educators, activists, lawyers, and documentarians toured China and Korea, learning about the Asian perspective on the Second World War, and exploring ways to raise awareness of this side of the war to a non-Asian audience.  The tour was organized by Don Tow, as part of his ongoing efforts to stimulate social justice education and to improve Asian-American understanding and relationships.

Please note that this interview is in Chinese, with the English translation at the end of each segment.