September 13, 2015

Akahata Sunday edition

A Korean language version of the book of Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo was published in August by a major private university in South Korea.

The university, Konkuk University, has around 25,000 graduate and undergraduate students. The publication of the book, titled “War and Peace”, is a part of the university’s project to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 50th anniversary of the normalization of relations between South Korea and Japan. The translated book is intended to be used as a textbook for university students.

Shii in the preface to the Korean version expressed his hope that his book will help Korean readers think about the way to build a true friendship based on trust and mutual respect between the two countries. He also hopes that the translation will give the readers a better understanding of the JCP and its activities.

In the postface, the JCP chair explains about the JCP proposal for creating peace and cooperation in Northeast Asia as well as its five-point proposal on a basic stance that the Japanese government should adopt at the 70th year following the war’s end.

Hong Sanghyun, the translator of the book and visiting research fellow at the University of Tokyo, in his afterword says that the book provides valuable suggestions to people who are trying to explore the possibilities for a new South Korea-Japan relationship sincerely seeking for peace in Northeast Asia.

Past related articles:
> JCP issues 5-point proposal for Japan’s basic stance to promote friendship in Asia [January 21, 2015]
> Shii calls for creating peaceful community in Northeast Asia [November 13, 2013]
> JCP book to be published for the first time in South Korea [May 16, 2013]