Abe should apologize for Japan's wartime crimes in WWII speech

In his view, Japan's actions are characterized by an idea of "Japanese superiority" which has led the Asian nation "to be the natural ally of European fascism and to practice a form of authoritarian and particularly brutal imperialism."

"The dead, the massacres, the destroyed villages, torture, reduction in slavery of women and men from China and other Asian nations are a wound that Japanese governments have made amends for over the years, but that unfortunately Abe's nationalism is trying to elude," Rossi told Xinhua.

"I think it is crucial that China on Sept 3 and South Korea on Aug 15 want to properly mark the end of a terrible era. And it is evident that if Japan admitted its responsibility, this would be crucial to strengthening peace and cooperation with China," he stated.

Meanwhile, Italian rock band 7grani has dedicated a song titled Ragazza di Nanchino (Nanjing Girl) in remembrance of the Nanjing Massacre to raise awareness among young generations about genocides in history.

7grani is made up of three brothers - Fabrizio, Mauro and Flavio Settegrani - who identify strongly with topics related to WWII and the atrocities that the human race inflicted upon each other during that time.

"We were very affected by this extermination of thousands and thousands of Chinese people, which continues to remain largely forgotten," said Fabrizio, the lead singer of the band, in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"Our band wishes that Abe will apologize. This would be an important sign to give the right value to historical truth and re- put two important cultures in contact through an act of great political sensibility in the name of peace," Fabrizio said.