The Second Sino-Japanese War was the war fought between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan from 1937 to 1945 as part of World War II. It is often regarded as the beginning of World War II in Asia. It was the largest Asian war in the 20th century and has been described as "the Asian Holocaust", in reference to the scale of Japanese war crimes against Chinese civilians. It is known in Japan as the Second China–Japan War, and in China as the Chinese War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.
Image: Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces in Battle of Shanghai 1937
Image: 1944 Operation Ichigo IJA Type 92 Heavy machine gun
Image: US equipped Chinese Army in India marching
Image: Nanking bodies 1937
During its imperial era, the Empire of Japan committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity across various Asian-Pacific nations, notably during the Second Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars. These incidents have been referred to as "the Asian Holocaust", and as "Japan's Holocaust". The crimes occurred during the early part of the Shōwa era, under Hirohito's reign.
Chinese civilians being buried alive by Japanese troops
Samurai warriors of the Chosyu clan, during the Boshin War period of the 1860s
Two Japanese officers, Toshiaki Mukai and Tsuyoshi Noda competing to see who could kill (with a sword) one hundred people first. The headline reads, "'Incredible Record' (in the Contest to Decapitate 100 People)—Mukai 106 – 105 Noda—Both 2nd Lieutenants Go Into Extra Innings".