Japanese Father’s Heartfelt Letter After Son Stabbed in Shenzhen
Japanese Father’s Heartfelt Letter After Son Stabbed in Shenzhen
"Retribution for the perpetrator" would be more understanding between Japan and China, the grieving parent writes.
After the tragic stabbing of a 10-year-old Japanese boy in Shenzhen, southern China, at the hands of a Chinese stranger, a poignant letter, reportedly written by the boy's father, circulated widely on Chinese social media. The letter moved many to tears before censors eventually removed it.
Today, a prominent Chinese journalist confirmed on social media that the letter is authentic.
I am sharing an English translation of the letter while omitting specific names. First, the letter allows for the possibility of wide circulation. Second, millions in China have already read the letter, which remains accessible outside the Great Firewall and is effectively in the public domain. Third, a translation probably marks the first time the letter is made available in English, which I believe is a compelling interest.
Dear Mr. R and Mr. F,
Thank you for staying with me late into the night yesterday.
I understand that you have your own discretion regarding the comments on the consulate and the company. However, I wanted to express my feelings, so I decided to write this letter. Perhaps it’s more for organizing my own thoughts, and I apologize if some parts are not well written. Whether you share this letter or not, and with whom, I leave entirely up to you.
K loved insects and reptiles and had a unique talent for spotting even the tiniest creatures. He had a heart more gentle than anyone else's. From a young age, he loved drawing and was gifted with languages, being fluent in both Japanese and Chinese.
He was hesitant about moving with me to Shenzhen. Due to his picky eating habits, it was difficult for him to adjust to the local cuisine at first. But recently, he had started to enjoy more and more Chinese food and had become passionate about basketball, which he had just begun playing.
His sudden departure has left me completely unprepared. My heart is now filled with confusion and endless grief. I will never get to see how he grows, how he becomes an adult. The fact that I couldn’t protect him will be a regret that I carry with me for the rest of my life.
K was both Japanese and Chinese. His mother is Chinese and lived in Japan for nearly ten years, while his father is a Japanese man who has spent nearly half of his life in China. K spent most of his early years, before the age of three, at my wife’s family home in China. Regardless of how the outside world might report on this tragedy, the fact that he has roots in both Japan and China will never change.
We will not hate China, nor will we hate Japan. Regardless of nationality, we consider both countries our own. While customs and cultures may differ, we know better than anyone that at our core, we are all the same. Therefore, I do not wish for the actions of a few vile individuals with twisted minds to harm the relationship between the two nations. My only wish is that such a tragedy never happens again.
Once, K said to me, “I want to be like you when I grow up.” Perhaps it was just a fleeting thought, but as a father, those words gave me immense joy. I work in Japan-China trade, acting as a bridge between the two countries. My main responsibility is to bridge the gap in mutual understanding and promote smooth communication. If this unfortunate event had not occurred, I believe he would have grown to be someone even more valuable than I am. But now, all I can do is strive to be a person he would be proud of and continue to make a small contribution to fostering understanding between Japan and China. This will be my way of atoning for my beloved son, and my form of retribution for the perpetrator.
Most importantly, I want to express my gratitude to K. Thank you for making us parents. Thank you for spending 10 years, 8 months, and 7 days with us. We will continue to live on strongly, for him, and walk the path that he could not finish.
Sincerely,
JK
