RON+Brendan

=Rape of Nanking = =: Ant Farm Diary =

**Name:** 後藤 健太 Gouto Kenta **Age:** 36 years old: Born February 5th, 1901 **Gender:** Passive Male **Occupation:** Japanese Soldier (Former Teacher) **Social Class:** Hardworking Peasant **Financial Situation:** Moderate **Appearance:** Gouto is quiet attractive and has a comforting smile. Due to his occupation, he has an intellectual aura surrounding him with a gentle posture. Despite his height only being 169cm, his body is very well proportioned and is in great shape with detailed muscles from running. **Location** ([|map]): Kyoto **Habitual locations:** Common-sized Machiya with a minute garden with various flowers
 * Daily routine: **

__5:00~5:30am__- Wake up/cleansing

__5:30~6:00__- Enjoys breakfast (piece of bread with meager amounts of water)

__6:30~9:00__- Morning session of training (running)

__9:00~11:00__- Teaches fellow soldiers how to read/write

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__11:00~12:30pm__- Plays sports with companions or relaxes solitarily with a novel

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__12:30~1:00__- Enjoys lunch (ramen)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__1:00~5:30__- Afternoon session of training (shooting, combat skills, strategies)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__5:30~6:00__- Enjoys dinner (pieces of meat with soup)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__6:00~7:00__- Free time (writing a diary)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__7:00~9:30__- Night Session of training (rehearse/prepare for warfare procedure and ambush attacks)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__9:30~10:00__- Cleans up materials and gets ready for sweet sleep

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">__10:00~5:00am__- Goes to bed (small space compacted with soldiers)

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Personality/Quirks/Unique Personality Traits:** Due to the fact that Gouto was a teacher before being recruited as a soldier, he is not vicious, fierce nor violent like his fellow companions. Therefore, he is calm, gentle, intelligent, and caring, which is going to be intriguing when he has to face the Rape of Nanking. He despises the detrimental effects war brings to humanity, and thus has interesting actions and notions throughout the war. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Past/individual-family history:** Gouto’s parents were both educators in a grand school and were role models for Gouto. His dad was anti-violence and always taught Gouto that violence is not an option for a solution. Moreover, this teaching engraved in Gouto’s heart will have substantial impacts on his actions. His parents are both alive and lives apart from Gouto, Okinawa; but they still interact by writing. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Family:** Gouto is single. Fortunately, he may have a chance to meet a Japanese nurse during the war. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since Gouto’s occupation is a Japanese soldier, he has no social relations with the people. Furthermore, he may build up relationships with the people during the war. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Religion:** Zen Buddhism <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Education:** Highly educated in Japanese Literature and therefore was a teacher. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Portrait:** Located on right
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Social relations with your own and other classes (people you deal with or know about in other classes, AND your opinions and feelings about them): **

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diary # I: Calm Before the Storm
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">July 7th, 1937

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Mom and Dad 母父,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My beloved parents, this is Gouto apologizing for not writing in a month. Due to the recruiting, my daily routine has changed substantially and a typical day reflects training, eating, sleeping, and training. Therefore, I can see myself getting stronger physically and mentally. The previous teaching position had to be yielded, but I feel that serving my life for my country is a better decision and a situation to be in. Fortunately, I was not assigned as a full-combat soldier but assigned as a teacher/soldier who teaches how to read and write for the illiterate companions. This doesn’t mean that I’m free of violence. During severe battles and conflicts, I will most likely be participating in the cruel environments. Speaking of battles, I have devastating news. The Empire of Japan and China were not in a good relationship, and it’s getting worse recently. As you may know, there was a Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and many “incidents” following. Furthermore, there was an incident called the Marco-Polo Bridge Incident today, and this seems to be the inception point of the Second Sino-Japanese war. The Empire of Japan and the Republic of China are now belligerents of the starting war, and I, your loving son, am obliged to participate in it. However, this will not be the last piece of writing from me; I will be consistently writing journals in my diary and I will make sure it gets delivered to you despite of any obstacles. Unfortunately, I will not be able to see you face to face, but we will be connected through our hearts and soul forever. Please do not worry much about me, as I will stand strong and come back home safe.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sincerely with love, <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(I am pretty sure that the picture here is not of the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. That one was purely military)

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gouto Kenta __

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diary # 2: A Knock at the Gate
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">December 9th, 1937

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Precious Diary,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am now officially a soldier experienced with a wartime situation. As the Japanese army marched strongly towards the city of Nanking, my heart was pounding for such detrimental experience we will bring to the city. There were meager Chinese resistance on the way to Nanking, however it was nothing compared to the Japanese Imperial army’s fierce and vicious force. Whenever <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> a <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">resistance appeared, I was quite worried of death; not mine, but the <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">resistances’. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I couldn’t stand opening my eyes watching the <span style="font-family: 맑은 고딕; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"> grass turn red and hearing devastating groans in pain. However, my companion is telling me that these bloody scenes are nothing compared to the “actual” war that is coming closer and closer to us. Due to the fact that I am part of the Imperial army I would have to adapt to the bloodshed environment. On the other hand, I love my country and have the honor to serve my life for it, but I strongly disagree with the ideas of war, torture, hatred, and chaos. I can see the innocent people in Nanking having to worry because of us, and how we will bring pain to their lives. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To get my thoughts organized and to avoid the stressful circumference, I took a walk while my companions were taking a nap. During the peaceful walk, a single Chinese man came in sight, but all soldiers were told to eliminate every single Chinese in sight. However, I had to disobey that rule- I’m still loyal to the Empire of Japan- due to my curiosity of the feelings held by the Chinese. The man was stunned to see a Japanese soldier, but I immediately assured him with safety and that I had no intention to steal his soul. With my fundamental Chinese I had a concise conversation with the man. The 21 year old student was tall, muscular, and intelligent. However, his eyes were filled with fear due to the devastating war and the bloody future he is predicting. According to the student, many innocent civilians are unarmed and unaware of the Japanese army, and that the Chinese military will not stand a chance protecting the people. My heart was tearing apart when imagining these innocent families having to face such detrimental situations in the near future. Therefore, I quickly told the student to evacuate as much civilians as possible and headed back to the base camp. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After the grief conversation with the student, I noticed some of my companions talking, laughing, and yelling. I was curious about the topic they were talking so passionately on, so I went by to eavesdrop- this was a bad decision. These soldiers were talking about their “great” plans to rape women and children tomorrow when the army assails Nanking. Again, I was devastated for the women and at the fact that I couldn’t help them. The assault and conquer of Nanking will be one of the heartbreaking moments of my life. I hope for all innocent citizens and especially women to evade the “Rape of Nanking.”

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gouto Kenta __

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt;">Diary # 3: The Gates Come Tumbling Down **
<span style="color: black; font-family: 맑은 고딕;">December 10th, 1937

<span style="color: black; font-family: 맑은 고딕;">Dear Precious Diary,

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">It was horrifying, devastating, pathetic, and unforgiveable! Today was finally the day when the Imperial Japanese army dilapidated the gates to Nanking and conquered the former Chinese capital. It was a blissful day for the Empire and the soldiers, but it was the opposite for me. Moreover, the battle was not a battle- it was a massacre. The immense number of the Imperial Japanese army devoured the city of Nanking, while there were meager resistances and protection. The city was stained with red and filled with groaning, screaming, and crying. I tried not to kill anybody- especially the civilians- while still looking passionate in the battle field. My companions may accuse me for not <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">participating in the massacre and for not obeying the honorable Empire of Japan. However, I took the risk and just shot bullets in an empty building or a window. The war scene was terrifying, it reflected hell. Infants and children were crying in their streets with their <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">parents corpse <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">slaughtered, and Chinese men were wrenched in blood- in their own blood. The Chinese student I had met recently came in my mind, “Is he safe? Or is he just lying in the streets with an arm mutilated.” <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One depressing scene was irritating me the whole time during the massacre in Nanking- rape. My companions were searching door-to-door for young girls and women. As soon as they found one, they would strip the poor being and rape her- even in groups- to fulfill their sexual pleasure. While having this horrendous scene on sight, I indubitably could not understand how they can rape such beings. There are pure girls who don’t even know “anything” being helpless and abused by men twice their size. There are women who lost their husbands due to the battle being raped by the Imperial Japanese soldiers- vulnerably. The most shocking fact was that these raped girls and women were killed violently after the rape. They were often mutilated and stabbed viciously. Tears were hanging on my eye lashes, and I wanted to shoot the rapists with my rifle. However, I did not have the courage for it, and I couldn’t kill my companions under the Empire of Japan. I cannot believe I am under this unfortunate and heartbreaking situation, and I hope to stand strong and overcome the dreadful future.

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gouto Kenta __

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==

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 18pt;">Diary # 4: Through the Gates into Hell ** == <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Dear Precious Diary,

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">December 13th, 1937 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">The horrifying devastation is on the downfall from its climax. The city of Nanking finally fell into the Imperial Japanese Army’s hands today. As the 9th Division entered Nanking via the Guanghua Gate and the 16th Division entered via the Zhongshan and Taiping Gate, our army completely encircled Nanking. Thus an hour ago, the Empire of Japan declared victory of the battle. All of my companions are delighted and excited due to the amazing victory, and I am too. However, all the misery, devastation and deaths followed by the victory are striking my heart. In spite of the safety zones established by foreigners, essentially by John Rabe, there were still astronomical numbers of Chinese soldiers and innocent peasants who lost their soul. Moreover, I was recently informed that China did have a chance to show mercy and surrender before the invasion, which is shocking to hear. I am assuming that China didn’t know the power of the Imperial Japanese Army, and the fact that China’s decision will bring detrimental effects to its people. After all the bombardment and assailing of bullets, General Tang Sheng-chi of China commanded his Chinese army to retreat from Nanking. This scene was simply a chaos. Chinese soldiers filled with fear in their eyes were stripping the civilians and putting on the civilian’s clothing as fast as they can. This is to blend in with the civilians. Unfortunately, many desperate soldiers were unsuccessful and were shot to death. As I saw these men- looking similar to my age- collapsing and making a blood puddle, I was stunned and was dazing off. Every time I closed my eyes, there were more and more Chinese soldiers on the ground desperate to live. Suddenly, my gaze was broken by Second Lieutenant <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mukai Toshiaki: he slapped me in the back and yelled, “What the hell are you doing just standing here! Go kill those Chinks and make the Empire of Japan proud! You will severely be punished if not devoting your life in this battle!” Thus, I obeyed his words and “tried” to participate in the massacre. I really couldn’t understand the Lieutenant’s thoughts; these Chinese soldiers are not bringing any harm to us, then why kill them so brutally? After the declaration of victory in Nanking, my fellow comrades were excited and happy again. Not because the battle was over, but because they can now fulfill their sexual pleasure more with no caution of Chinese soldiers. Please, help these innocent people.

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gouto Kenta __

=<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">Diary # 5: A Survivor =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">December 13th, 1977

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dear Precious Diary,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am blissful and fortunate now that I've found you! I thought I lost the precious diary 40 years ago during the Sino-Japanese war, particularly the Rape of Nanking. My age has leaped to 76, but the terrifying moments from 40 year ago are still lively animated in my heart. The misery, the devastation, the horror sometimes haunt me down in my dreams, and I was suffered a minor war-shock for the first 2 years after the Second Sino-Japanese war. Despite the detrimental event, the Empire of Japan and China eventually assimilated the relationships and became immensely dependent on each other substantially on trade. However, Japan is denying the Rape of Nanking and stating that it has no concrete evidence for the massacre, and therefore fabricated. This notion outrages me. As a survivor, participant, and therefore a witness, the Rape of Nanking was indeed a horrific event where Japan has to be embarrassed about. Astronomical numbers of Chinese men viciously slaughtered and women along with young girls brutally killed after rape. More shockingly, I still remember the contest to kill 100 people using a sword participated by many of my companions. How more inhumane and preposterous can this be? The remembrances of these horrific events and numbers just stun me and still fill my eyes with tears. As I do not have many years left breathing on this beautiful earth, I wish for no more events like the Rape of Nanking- forever.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">Looking back at the Rape of Nanking, it did shape me and influence me on various aspects. Having to overcome such a devastating environment, I became more mature and stronger. Furthermore, I had experienced and interacted with the cruel and different sides of human beings and probably saw everything they can do. I hope the future never becomes dark due to catastrophic events like the Rape of Nanking, and it shines with peace, laughter, and love.

__<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gouto Kenta __


 * Pictures Citation **

[] [] [] [] http://nycsunflower.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/mr-miyagi.jpg