Japanese military songs banned

MAJOR karaoke-lounge chain is to withdraw Japanese military song discs after strong protests.

Demonstrators who marched through Causeway Bay yesterday welcomed the move but vowed to continue the battle until every lounge followed suit.

Several big karaoke bars offer Japanese military songs to attract Japanese customers.

Lyrics contain lines such as 'victory will inevitably be ours' and 'we will never regret [joining the war]'.

Japanese flags, military flights, wounded fighter pilots and parachuters are common scenes accompanying the songs.

One demonstrator, Kaname Odachi, believes the military songs will mislead young people. 'Many young Japanese do not understand how Japan attacked other countries during World War II because they are not taught about that in school. Singing these songs will only promote militarism.' Ms Odachi, a Chinese University student who has been in Hong Kong for six years, said she hoped the songs could not only be banned in Hong Kong but also in all other Asian countries which suffered during World War II.