Documentary features stories of Japanese war orphans in China

"My Chinese mother, Xu Suzhen, lost all her teeth before she turned 40 because she would chew scorching hot sorghum to feed me since she couldn't produce milk," Kimura recalled. "I vowed to help her get dentures when I grew up, but she passed away at 52. This unfulfilled promise has become my lifelong regret."

The documentary, comprising over 200 hours of ultra-high-definition footage, portrays these elderly war orphans as they grapple with their dual identities eight decades after the war. Their stories, largely overlooked, reflect both the war's impact on civilian lives and the compassion of their Chinese adoptive families.

Facilitated by the National Radio and Television Administration and produced by Shanghai Media Group, the documentary will be broadcast on Dragon TV at 10 pm on Tuesday and simultaneously made available on major streaming platforms including Bilibili, Tencent, Youku, iQiyi, Migu and Mango TV.

International versions in Japanese, English, and other languages are scheduled for release later this year, with broadcasts planned on Phoenix TV and Radio Television Hong Kong on Sept 3.