A private collection of over 100 pieces of memorabilia from the Japanese invasion of China between 1937 and 1945 is now on show in a local museum in Tianjin.

The memorabilia includes a variety of photos and documents and other items, such as Japanese sabers, army overcoats, army caps, canteens, simplified editions of Japanese-Chinese dictionaries for Japanese soldiers and an aerial map belonging to the Japanese air force, which was a rare find.

The items were collected by Lu Shikui, a 50-year old worker at the Tianjin Textile Machinery Factory. Lu said he has spent his entire savings collecting the items sine the 1980s.

"Some Japanese and Koreans also wanted to buy these things when I bought them. I think they should be preserved for the next generation's knowledge of the war launched by Japan."

Lu said he would continue his collection although he is not rich.

Beginning on July 7, the exhibition has attracted many visitors as concerns have arisen about the Japanese government's refusal to amend its disputed history textbook which glorifies the Japanese invasion of Asian countries, including China and the Korea Peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency 07/11/2001)