I admit, I saw the anime first.
Although I thought it was phenomenal, seeing real people in this similar situation (told by the aunt's oldest daughter to her granddaughter) really brought the tragedy of war home, and although Japan was the "enemy", you see how many people did not want to fight, lose family members and endure fire bombings (and this movie completely took place in Kobe. Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren't mentioned once, though the atomic bomb was).
As an American, I am fully aware of Japan's request for an apology for nothing other than using nuclear weapons against them. And though the American government hasn't apologized, I hope Japan will accept my apology. Many Americans are extremely sorry we used nuclear weapons. There is never an excuse for them.
In my opinion, WAR IS MURDER, whether it be Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima, etc.
I'm glad they showed more of the aunt's character here. She was not evil, though she could have been more sympathetic to little Setsuko.
After the war, Japan was forced to adopt a pacifist constitution. It is so wonderful to see how the Japanese have not only accepted it, but embraced it. Every country should embrace such a constitution. It would bring about world peace.
Although I thought it was phenomenal, seeing real people in this similar situation (told by the aunt's oldest daughter to her granddaughter) really brought the tragedy of war home, and although Japan was the "enemy", you see how many people did not want to fight, lose family members and endure fire bombings (and this movie completely took place in Kobe. Hiroshima and Nagasaki weren't mentioned once, though the atomic bomb was).
As an American, I am fully aware of Japan's request for an apology for nothing other than using nuclear weapons against them. And though the American government hasn't apologized, I hope Japan will accept my apology. Many Americans are extremely sorry we used nuclear weapons. There is never an excuse for them.
In my opinion, WAR IS MURDER, whether it be Pearl Harbor or Hiroshima, etc.
I'm glad they showed more of the aunt's character here. She was not evil, though she could have been more sympathetic to little Setsuko.
After the war, Japan was forced to adopt a pacifist constitution. It is so wonderful to see how the Japanese have not only accepted it, but embraced it. Every country should embrace such a constitution. It would bring about world peace.