Japan Press Weekly

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2011 March 30 - April 5 [HISTORY]

History textbooks glorifying Japan’s war of aggression approved

The Education Ministry on March 30 approved ultra conservative publishers’ history textbooks praising Japan’s past war of aggression for use in junior high schools starting in the 2012 school year.

The textbooks were submitted to the ministry by Jiyusha, backed by the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform, and Ikuhosha Publishing Inc., subsidiary of the rightist publisher, Fusosha Publishing Inc. The ministry also approved their civics textbooks for junior high schools.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Miyamoto Takeshi on the same day commented on the ministry’s approval of history textbooks as follows:

“The post-war Japanese society should start with a true reflection on the war of aggression and colonial rule by the past Japanese government and atonement for the past deeds. In order to truly join the international community, Japan is absolutely required to do this. The government should be severely criticized for approving textbooks rejecting this position. In this regard, the Democratic Party of Japan-led government has again betrayed the public trust.

“Children should know about Japan’s past aggression and learn that the democratic Japanese Constitution calling for true peace is based on lessons learned from the past. It is essential for children to learn this fact in order to become an adult member of a nation promoting peace and democracy. Together with people in various fields, the JCP will work hard to counter to the move glorifying wars of aggression.”