Brenton
Japanese Revison of History Textbooks
April 5th 2007 01:45
Over time, there have been a number of textbook controversies in Japan. In Japan before schools use a textbook for teaching purposes it must be approved by the government. Some of the decisions made by the Ministry of Education, however, have caused controversy in Japan and overseas.
In Spring, 2005 there were anti-Japanese demonstrations in China and Korea as a direct result of the content condoned by the Japanese Government in these textbooks. This included the downplaying of First Sino-Japanese War (A Chinese/Japanese conflict), in Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910, in the Second Sino-Japanese War, and in World War II.
One of the most controversial of these is the Atarashii Rekishi Kyokasho (新しい 歴史 教科書) - New History Textbook.
These events have been followed recently by new controversies. According to Associated Press’ writer Hiroko Tabuchi, on Friday April 1 2007, seven books have been told to change their depiction of forced suicides during WWII. This is similar to a previous criticism of books containing references to Japan’s war time comfort women.
This follows the election of Shinzo Abe as Japanese Prime Minister in 2006. Since his election he has promoted nationalistic pride. He is a long term supporter of the Society for Text book Reformation, and has said that a textbook must help form a national consciousness.
Despite the large amount of controversy over Atarashii Rekeshi Kyokasho, in reality it is only used in less than one per cent of Japanese schools. It does not reflect the opinion of the majority of Japanese citizens.
Revisionist history is not unique to Japan. The Australian Howard Government has had similar involvement in their attacks on ‘Black Armband History’. This view suggested the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians had been exaggerated. This is similar to Abe’s claims that the mistreatment of Chinese, Koreans and others involved in Japanese conflict have been exaggerated.
Image Details (Public Domain)
In Spring, 2005 there were anti-Japanese demonstrations in China and Korea as a direct result of the content condoned by the Japanese Government in these textbooks. This included the downplaying of First Sino-Japanese War (A Chinese/Japanese conflict), in Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910, in the Second Sino-Japanese War, and in World War II.
One of the most controversial of these is the Atarashii Rekishi Kyokasho (新しい 歴史 教科書) - New History Textbook.
These events have been followed recently by new controversies. According to Associated Press’ writer Hiroko Tabuchi, on Friday April 1 2007, seven books have been told to change their depiction of forced suicides during WWII. This is similar to a previous criticism of books containing references to Japan’s war time comfort women.
What images would the New History Textbook user to accompany the story of the bombing of Shang Hai?
Despite the large amount of controversy over Atarashii Rekeshi Kyokasho, in reality it is only used in less than one per cent of Japanese schools. It does not reflect the opinion of the majority of Japanese citizens.
Revisionist history is not unique to Japan. The Australian Howard Government has had similar involvement in their attacks on ‘Black Armband History’. This view suggested the mistreatment of Indigenous Australians had been exaggerated. This is similar to Abe’s claims that the mistreatment of Chinese, Koreans and others involved in Japanese conflict have been exaggerated.
Image Details (Public Domain)
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