Yang+Liu's+diary+entry+2

Dear Diary ,



When I opened my eyes, I was still in Japan. I do not know exactly which part of Japan I am now at and why and how I arrived at this place. The only thing I am sure was that I am still in Japan. As I went out to the street, I noticed something awkward in the atmosphere and there were so many destructions that made me think that there was something peculiar and rather serious going on in this place.

It was then when I saw a group of Americans beating up a Japanese soldier. I was so scared that there was violence happening right in front of me. I quickly ran away as fast as I can but I was so curious why they were beating the Japanese soldier. So I decided to hide myself behind a building nearby, listening carefully to what they were saying. I heard one of the man saying that the Japanese killed his son. As I was listening to what the group of Americans, it seemed like they were not beating the Japanese soldier due to a personal reason but for what Japan did to America as a whole. Then I heard one of the Americans named Mr. Klein, say, "If you guys did not bomb Pearl Harbor, my son would have not been killed!" Now I had a glimpse to what was happening between the Americans and the Japanese.

As I kept thinking about this to myself, I could not understand why Japan would do such a thing. America was economically and politically much more powerful than the Japanese so it is pretty clear that it will be really hard for the Japanese to make a successful attack on the US. Japan did not even have abundance in their natural resources and were dependent on other countries for all their raw materials. So if the US decided to stop exporting the natural resources, then Japan would not be able to get oil and steel. This means that they would not be able to continue to fight for long due to their lack of resources and would therefore, have to surrender. Maybe Japan will find a solution despite their weak position but I personally believe that it will be really hard for Japan to have a successful attack. I am curious how the two countries will end up being and I really hope that violence would be stopped because I have to see and meet my parents before I die. I really miss my parents. I feel really lonely and confused these days. Where are my parents? Are they still in Tokyo? Are they still alive?

December 8th, 1941