The Japanese government's final decision about middle school history textbooks for the 2002 school year is simply disappointing. The claim is that the textbook has been through considerable revision and supplementation, but people in Korea and China, as well as members of Japanese academia, are rallying against the textbook written by the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform. The final decision is evidence of how the whole process was problematic from the start.
An official with Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology says the system in place does not allow examiners room to question the qualifications of textbooks based on the philosophy of history, and that only objective defects may be taken issue with. He says also that the ministry gave as much consideration possible to the positions of neighboring countries. The greatest problem with this textbook, however, is precisely its view of history. From the very start it was from the position that Japan is a superior society with a superior history. It is rightist, ultra nationalist, and distorts historical fact.
The Japanese government says it demanded changes to 137 out of 323 pages. In other words, few areas were left untouched, and there were indeed many areas that were either deleted or revised. A sentence claiming "the Korean peninsula is a weapon that is constantly thrust at Japan" was deleted. Mention of the forced land surveys during the colonial period, policies to make Koreans more subservient subjects of the Japanese emperor, the backlash from the Koreans, forced conscription, and other cruel acts of the colonial period were added. A section that diluted the significance of Japan's invasion of Korea was deleted in its entirety.
But the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform is reportedly nevertheless quite satisfied at the government's decision, calling it a "step forward." The basic structure of its textbook remains in place, an idealization of Japan's imperialist past. The result of the revisions ordered was to make this idealization palatable. It still glorifies the kamikaze, and still calls the War in the Pacific a war to liberate East Asia from Western imperialism. Still in place are claims that Japanese colonial rule aided Korea's modernization. So is the part asserting that earthenware discovered in Japan is the oldest in the world. Statements such as that the Korean kingdoms of Shilla and Paekje were both tributary states to Japan remain in place also.
Japan is glossing over and glorifying its past of incurring pain and suffering on its neighbors. One wants to ask the Japanese people and the Japanese government what it is they desire to achieve from teaching their children made up history. How can they go on talking about friendship and good relations with its neighbors? Teaching lies is not patriotism. The Japanese youth that learn from textbooks like these will clearly become the stragglers of the worlds next generation.
(April 4, 2001)
