War is not only recorded through armed clashes on the battlefield, but also leaves a profound impact on both individual and collective memory.

We learn about war through the stories passed down in families, taught in schools, and portrayed in the media.

After the war, memories of “victims” and “perpetrators” often existed side by side, unresolved—sometimes conflicting, and sometimes recounted without critical historical reflection.

Media narratives, shaped by differing perspectives, have further politicized these memories. In Japan, the postwar narrative as a defeated nation has favored “harmony first,” leading to a reduced willingness among younger generations to study history or actively engage in the process of reconciliation.

The special program "War Memory and the Formation of the Postwar Order," held in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, explores how historical memory in postwar East Asia has been constructed and reconstructed across multiple dimensions—including international order, personal trauma, migration experiences, and the narratives of war-torn landscapes.