Erased from Memory: Underrepresentation of Filipino Victims of the Asia-Pacific War in Japanese Visual Media

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March 3, 2026

Erased from Memory: Underrepresentation of Filipino Victims of the Asia-Pacific War in Japanese Visual Media
Erased from Memory: Underrepresentation of Filipino Victims of the Asia-Pacific War in Japanese Visual Media

Volume 24

Abstract: The Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942–1945) caused the loss of 500,000–1,000,000 Filipino lives—a tragedy largely erased from Japanese visual media. A 2017 study of Japanese television and a 1980–2023 study of Japanese films found Filipino victims scarcely represented or omitted entirely. Unlike Chinese and Korean victims, whose narratives remain visible owing to activism and diplomatic pressures, Filipino experiences have been marginalized. This study reveals Japan’s selective war memory and advocates for addressing overlooked histories and fostering inclusive media representation to enhance societal cohesion and strengthen Japan’s international relations.

Keywords: Filipino Victims of the Asia-Pacific War, Japanese Visual Media, Collective Memory of the Asia-Pacific War, Historical Reconciliation, Memory Problem

Read the full article here.

This article is part of a special collection: The Memory and Legacy of the Asia-Pacific War in the Philippines, Part 1.

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Volume 24

About the author:

Esteban Córdoba Arroyo is a postdoctoral scholar-fellow at the Division of Contemporary Japanese Studies, Osaka University, funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). His research focuses on memory studies, media studies, and historical narratives in East Asia, with particular attention to Sino-Japanese relations. He holds a PhD and an MA in integrated sciences for global society from Kyushu University, and a BA in journalism from the International University of the Americas, Costa Rica. His current project, funded by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKEN), examines visual media representations of the Asia-Pacific War in Japanese films from 1945 to 2025.

Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus is a peer-reviewed publication, providing critical analysis of the forces shaping the Asia-Pacific and the world.

    About the author:

    Esteban Córdoba Arroyo is a postdoctoral scholar-fellow at the Division of Contemporary Japanese Studies, Osaka University, funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). His research focuses on memory studies, media studies, and historical narratives in East Asia, with particular attention to Sino-Japanese relations. He holds a PhD and an MA in integrated sciences for global society from Kyushu University, and a BA in journalism from the International University of the Americas, Costa Rica. His current project, funded by the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKEN), examines visual media representations of the Asia-Pacific War in Japanese films from 1945 to 2025.