Understanding is crucial to peace

Of the many Japanese eager to see their country's ties with China improve, Kenji Tanaka, 61, stands out.

"My father was injured when the US dropped the atom bomb in 1945. Needless to say, I am against war," Tanaka, now president of the Asia Pacific Forum, told China Daily in an exclusive interview on the weekend.

"I want to see countries make peace with each other, and am willing to do whatever is in my power to see the friendship between China and Japan grow," he added.