Japan Press Weekly

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2014 June 18 - 24 [POLITICS]

Japan’s booksellers take action against antiforeignism

Akahata ‘current’ column

Bookstores are now awash with books stirring up public hostility toward China and South Korea. Those books, which are filled with abusive language, appear to be selling well.

Amid such a trend, Kawade Shobo, a Japanese publisher, called on booksellers around the country to organize book fairs entitled “Now, let’s think about our nation.” In response to this call, some 150 bookshops have been holding the fairs, selling books dealing with various social issues in present-day Japan.

Many of the publications fanning resentment against the two neighbors deny the fact that the Empire of Japan invaded other Asian nations during World War II.

A person teaching modern and current Korean history at a Tokyo university is concerned that antagonism and scorn for China and South Korea have been increasing among students. “There are a number of students who don’t know about Japan’s war of aggression and the so-called ‘comfort women’ issue. They are easily misled by such provocative books. It’s probably because they simply hate to have their own country criticized,” he said.

The Abe administration published on June 20 the results of a survey on the 1993 Kono Statement which admitted to the Japanese Army’s involvement in running the wartime sex slavery system. The study report states that the statement is “appropriate”. This gave a heavy blow to those who are trying to rewrite history by revising the official statement.

Many young Japanese captivated by those kinds of books seem to believe that the two countries are carrying out malicious propaganda against Japan by spreading false rumors. Meanwhile, it is said that a sense of despair stemming from the prolonged economic stagnation helps the sales of those books. A Kawade Shobo official stressed, “So as to create a bright future, it is essential to honestly look back on the past and give serious thought to problems facing us today.”

Past related article:
> Racial discrimination goes against the spirit of Buddhist pilgrimage [April 13, 2014]