As thousands of demonstrators pass the window chanting 'boycott Japanese products' and 'down with Japanese imperialism', a journalist who works for a party-run paper staunchly hostile to Japan reflects sadly on his countrymen.
'The young have no historical memory and are easily misled,' he said. 'The way we beat Japan is not to chant empty slogans but to work harder and make better products. We are only trying to do what Japan did a century ago - leave the ranks of the poor in Asia and join Europe.'
My journalist friend was not alone in his unease at the flood of anti-Japanese propaganda that provoked and sustained a month of angry street demonstrations and attacks on Japanese companies and diplomatic buildings. More cool-headed Chinese, especially intellectuals, fear the hostility towards Japan is bad for China's image and will hurt its wider interests.
These calmer voices are expressed not only in private conversations, but have even found their way into the editorial pages of leading publications such as the weekly Economic Observer and the bi-weekly Caijing.
Such public cracks in the 'consensus' against Japan would not have been tolerated five years ago, but the liberalisation of society has allowed those who disagree with the mainstream to speak out on the subject. Other issues, such as the question of Taiwan's independence or the fight for religious freedom in Tibet, are still off limits.
The dissenting voices call a boycott of Japanese products absurd and see a trade war as being against the interests of both countries, especially when China's future depends on a free system of world trade.