When Naoko Jin tells former Japanese soldiers that the Filipinos they fought against during World War II are ready to forgive them, they simply don't believe her.

"They don't expect to be forgiven," said Jin. "They don't think it's possible that anyone could forgive them."

For four years, Jin, 31, has ferried video messages back and forth between Japan's former soldiers and their now-elderly victims in the Philippines — an attempt by her to bridge the gaping chasm in communication left by the violence of war.