Japanese textbooks

Japan's rekishi mondai (history problem) with Asian neighbors significantly involves the treatment of Japanese imperialism and war in government approved textbooks. Chinese, Koreans and others often object Japanese textbooks at best white-wash Japan's imperial past, and at worst distort and manipulate history for political purposes.

I have often been surprised by the apparent lack of historical knowledge among Japanese students (many Americans' lack of historical knowledge frankly scares me, but that's another discussion…) Suffice it to say, history education is a real problem in Japan. But many of the international charges against Japanese textbooks are made based on hearsay, not on actual readings of Japanese textbooks.

This is where Japan Echo comes in. A website just launched (http://www.je-kaleidoscope.jp/) provides a collection of translations (in English, Chinese and Korean) of Japanese middle school history textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education. Making this material available online is important work for closing perception gaps on the history issue and facilitating good-faith efforts to improve history education in our countries.

The information will not have an impact, however, unless word gets out about the project. I am presently conducting research in Korea and regularly read the Chosunilbo, Hankookilbo/Korea Times, JoongAng Daily, Korea Herald and Hankyoreh. I haven’t seen any coverage in these papers about the Japan Echo translations, so I have written suggesting they mention the website in any upcoming articles about the textbook issue.

I have read Korean news reports that the Fusosha textbook (probably the most revisionist) has been adopted by less than half a percent of Japanese schools. Korean sources have noted this is thanks in part to the efforts of Japanese civil groups advocating a boycott of the text. And more than one editorial has suggested an alliance of Japanese and Korean civil society groups to discourage the use of revisionist textbooks.

It is worth noting that the recently published Korea-China-Japan joint history textbook has received favorable press and sales here in Korea. I have not yet read this volume, but have heard it represents a start in building common understandings of history, despite current limitations of the project (I am told that what the three sides couldn't agree on was basically thrown out, leaving serious gaps in historical coverage).

Finally, I have also noticed that Korea is engaging in some healthy self-criticism on the textbook issue – the Korean Ministry of Education is soliciting suggestions on their website about how to improve Korean history textbooks.