Photo shows former Japanese leader kneeling in apology in Seoul, not Nanjing

China’s announcement that former Japanese prime minister Yukio Hatoyama will attend an enormous army parade on September 3 to mark the top of World Battle II was properly obtained by Chinese language social media customers, however a photograph of the ex-leader kneeling was not taken in japanese China’s Nanjing metropolis as claimed on-line. The image in actual fact exhibits him paying tribute to victims of Japan’s colonial rule in South Korea’s capital, Seoul.

The picture of Hatoyama in a black go well with and white gloves kneeling earlier than a wreath in a courtyard was shared on X on August 28, 2025.

The caption states the previous Japanese chief — who was in workplace for simply 9 months between 2009 and 2010 — was slated to attend occasions commemorating China’s conflict towards the Japanese, including: “Yukio Hatoyama as soon as knelt to apologise for the Nanjing bloodbath” (archived hyperlink).

Japanese troops carried out six weeks of mass homicide, rape and looting after coming into the then capital Nanjing in 1937, killing tens if not tons of of 1000’s, with the Chinese language placing the dying toll at 300,000 (archived hyperlink). However some Japanese arch-conservatives have denied the bloodbath, regardless of overwhelming worldwide proof.

China has deliberate an enormous army parade on September 3 centred on Beijing’s Tiananmen Sq. to mark 80 years for the reason that finish of World Battle II (archived hyperlink). Tens of millions of Chinese language folks have been killed throughout a chronic conflict with imperial Japan within the Nineteen Thirties and 40s, which grew to become a part of a worldwide battle following Tokyo’s assault on Pearl Harbour in 1941.

The Chinese language Ministry of Overseas Affairs introduced Hatoyama, together with greater than 20 different leaders together with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, would attend the massive spectacle wherein China will showcase its army prowess (archived right here and right here).

Chinese language social media customers additionally shared the picture of Hatoyama kneeling in Weibo and X posts praising the previous chief for being keen to acknowledge Japan’s previous.

“Probably the most conscientious Japanese prime minister, he’s deeply revered by the Chinese language folks,” one wrote.

“You might say that this pro-China prime minister is an outdated buddy of ours,” one other stated.

However the picture doesn’t present Hatoyama in Nanjing.

A reverse picture search utilizing Google led to a photograph story revealed by South Korean broadcaster KBS on August 12, 2015 (archived hyperlink).

The caption reads, “Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama visited the Seodaemun Jail in Seoul Wednesday and knelt earlier than a memorial monument.”

Chinese language state broadcaster CCTV revealed comparable footage of Hatoyama’s go to to the Seodaemun Jail Historical past Corridor, which was utilized by Japan to imprison Korean independence activists (archived right here and right here).

CCTV’s report on August 13, 2015 stated Hatoyama knelt in entrance of the memorial to pay tribute to these killed by the Japanese throughout World Battle II.

Google Maps imagery of the Seodaemun Jail corresponds to the circulating picture of Hatoyama kneeling (archived hyperlink).

Hatoyama paid tribute on the Nanjing Bloodbath Memorial on January 17, 2013, bowing to a monument there to apologise for Japan’s wartime acts (archived hyperlink).

AFP debunked different misinformation about China’s army parade right here and right here.