Asian criticism of rightist textbook is not interference: JCP Yoshioka

Chinese and Korean protests against the junior high school textbook published by the "Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform" are not interference in internal affairs, Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Councilors Yoshioka Yoshinori emphasized in the Upper House Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting on April 17.

Yoshioka pointed out that how Japan describes and expresses remorse for its past war of aggression and colonization is an important ingredient in Chinese and Korean history.

Citing the example of Germany and Poland making efforts to jointly write a history textbook, Yoshioka suggested that this would be one idea for Japan to solve the problem.

Referring to the need to check historical facts as much as possible, Foreign Minister Kono Yohei showed a positive attitude to the idea of considering cooperation with Asian nations.

The foreign minister was also concerned that the textbook in question conflicts with successive Japanese governments' apologies and statements remorse for Japan's aggression. (end)