The sanitisation of the past has dulled its impact.

过去的消毒已经削弱了它的影响。

Mr Dower is particularly interested in Japan's sanitisation of its military past, but also the way history in general is often a tool used by the powerful.

道尔对于日本粉饰其军国主义历史的行为特别感兴趣，但他也同样关注当权者通常是如何利用历史的。