Japan's textbook, Controversial in Asia Options

[azn_r4pf4n]

Experts slam Japan's incendiary school book
By Qin Jize (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-04-07 06:35

Chinese historians met in Beijing yesterday to express their anger over a newly authorized Japanese history textbook.

The historians insisted action should be taken over the Japanese Government's apparently revisionist attitude toward history.

"The book places emphasis on pride in the nation, service to the nation and the obligation of national defence by glorifying the war and distorting historic facts," said Bu Ping, a researcher of Modern History Research at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

He said that the basic reactionary and absurd nature of the new textbook is the same as one once used for military purposes before the war.

The textbook, he said, deified the Japanese monarchy and claimed that the Japanese are superior to other Asians.

"The book is dangerous and it will mobilize Japanese people and children to future war," he said.

The junior high school history textbook compiled by Japanese right-wing scholars received official approval from the Ministry of Education on Tuesday and will be offered for adoption in schools.

The textbook is an updated version of one published in 2001 which attracted strong protests from Beijing and Seoul.

Bu said the 2001 edition was adopted by only about 0.03 per cent of schools, which compilers considered a failure.

As the Japanese educational authority screens textbooks every four years, the compilers revised the book, however, the revisions do not eradicate the potential dangers of the textbook.

Bu said the goal of publishers was to gain a foothold in the market.

"They are planning a series of promotional activities and their aim is to increase the adoption rate to 10 per cent," Bu said.

Bu Ping and his fellow scholars from Japan and the Republic of Korea are now compiling a new history book aiming to put right mistakes made in the Japanese textbook.

The new book, named "A Common Book on the History of East Asian Countries," should go public this year and will be published simultaneously in three countries, Bu said.

Li Liangzhi, professor with Renmin University of China said it was not a coincidence that the Japanese Government chose to approve the textbook on Tuesday, which is Qingming Festival or "Tomb Sweeping Day" for Chinese.

Li said Qingming is the time when Chinese mourn their dead and many will commemorate the 35 million Chinese killed in the anti-Japanese war.

"Japan's approval of the book is simply an insult to the feelings of the Chinese people," he said.

Wang Xinhua, head of the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Aggression War Memorial Hall said that, as the world in general is preparing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the victory over fascism, Japan should consider its history and pursue the road of peace and development.

Wang said China has never conducted any anti-Japanese education. He said the exhibitions in the memorial hall commemorate the victims of war, arouse the conscience of humanity and look to a peaceful future.

"The Nanjing Massacre, which wiped out 300,000 Chinese lives, is a tragedy for the Chinese, which we want very much to forget about, however, the words and deeds of some Japanese politicians always remind us not to forget the past,"he said.

Pics:





+ credits ; chinadaily, bbc, aljazerra (english)


This is causin a lot of controversy in China and South Korea. What do you think about this event? I heard that some Chinese people might boycott the Japanese from this.

[gelionie]

(I'm Chinese)

We don't have any control over what the Japanese history textbooks say, but distorting historical facts is a BIG NO.

You can't imagine how many people were killed by the Japanese during when Japan invaded China... yet it's so sad that they turn it into something good.

I'm not trying to be racist, but it's just the same with Jews against Germans.

[racoons > you]

if this is gonna get controversial, then it needs to be moved to debate, really. (pfft im turning into such a back-seat mod... lol if it bothers the mods, pm me and i'll stop)

but i agree with niez... dont distort the facts.

[DaTru KataLYST]

Japan is at it again? Oh well, America to the rescue again.

But seriously, the distortion of history is only the victor's privilege (although immoral). Japan didn't even win, how dare they?

[rememberme]

they about to get more radiation, and infertility

[*jooleeah*]

(I'm Chinese)

We don't have any control over what the Japanese history textbooks say, but distorting historical facts is a BIG NO.

You can't imagine how many people were killed by the Japanese during when Japan invaded China... yet it's so sad that they turn it into something good.

I'm not trying to be racist, but it's just the same with Jews against Germans.

I agree, I can't believe they tried to turn something so horrible into something good.

[funbobby]

Babies on bayonets, wide spread rape and pillage and suicide bombers. Yeah real f**king great. I'm doing japanese studies and history at uni this september and really, the right wingers are taking precedence again; the first real time since the 30s. If the army gets in control again I'm going to get in there and spank some bottoms, I really will!

[DanielleMaria05]

Wow. i smell a debate...

anyway.. thats crazy

[*Solipsist*]

Aww man, that's gonna suck if they start attacking.
They'll totally own us with their Gundams and thingamabobs.

- Solipsist

[liloandstitchx3]

yeah i heard that when i was researching for my homework on the nanjing massacre.

[*islandgirl4eva*]

Solipsist - Hahahaha! OMG...my sides hurt. That was funny.

[gelionie]

It's getting worse and worse...
the people in Mainland China are boycotting Japanese goods and shops.

I just hope there won't be a war breaking out...

[kryzcoak47luv666]

Japan is at it again? Oh well, America to the rescue again.

lol, isn't that what always happens?
I do agree with the fact that you shouldn't change facts, opinions can be opinionated on, but facts are solid, and carved in stone.

Aww man, that's gonna suck if they start attacking.
They'll totally own us with their Gundams and thingamabobs.

- Solipsist

ROTFLMFAO!
wipes tear

This post has been edited by kryzcoak47luv666: Apr 12 2005, 05:07 AM

[Eryi]

the first pic has korean characters...

[Ballpointpencil]

There is always a spin and distortion that the victor puts in their textbooks. It isn't a new thing. Unless they actually changed facts, I can't fault them too badly as everyone does it.

Aww man, that's gonna suck if they start attacking.
They'll totally own us with their Gundams and thingamabobs.

- Solipsist

ROFFLE!

[Rachel]

but it's just the same with Jews against Germans.

I'm pretty sure it was the Germans against the Jews

And it is just awful that Japan is trying to forget it's past. At least Germany owned up to their mistakes.

[*Statistik*]

HEY LETS GO TO NORTH KOREA AND JAPAN AND KICK THOSE BAD ASS MOTHA f**kers AND NUCLEAR BOMB THEIR WHOLE COUNTRY AND KILL THEM. ALL. SLAY. and let us help south korea! f**k NORTH KOREA. f**k KIM SUNG IL THE NK PRESIDENT. GO BUSH.

wishes to south korea..im south korea..i dont give a crap about china..but i hate nk and japan..

[azn_r4pf4n]

HEY LETS GO TO NORTH KOREA AND JAPAN AND KICK THOSE BAD ASS MOTHA f**kers AND NUCLEAR BOMB THEIR WHOLE COUNTRY AND KILL THEM. ALL. SLAY. and let us help south korea! f**k NORTH KOREA. f**k KIM SUNG IL THE NK PRESIDENT. GO BUSH.

wow what the?? why are you putting north korea involved in this thread? haha

the first pic has korean characters...

b/c japan thinks their superior to all asian countries which is causing lots of controversy.

[to-devastate]

Ew. I love Japan. (although I'm Chinese) but I find that just wrong. Japan superior to other asians? Puh-leeze.

Aww man, that's gonna suck if they start attacking.
They'll totally own us with their Gundams and thingamabobs.

- Solipsist

[twisted_stripes]

The japanese no offense are weird. They are denying that WWII even happened or that they were involved. Even germany's textbooks, they are denying that they never made gas chambers.. hello!!! then what's auschwitz for? THEY CANT DENY IT U KNOW.

[azn_r4pf4n]

More pics of the protests:

+ credits ; soompi members chynagongju and Tamago86, bbc

[[o0p]]

slam books suck!

[toodlepops.]

They should'nt have distorted the facts.

[yukichan]

HEY LETS GO TO NORTH KOREA AND JAPAN AND KICK THOSE BAD ASS MOTHA f**kers AND NUCLEAR BOMB THEIR WHOLE COUNTRY AND KILL THEM. ALL. SLAY. and let us help south korea! f**k NORTH KOREA. f**k KIM SUNG IL THE NK PRESIDENT. GO BUSH.

wishes to south korea..im south korea..i dont give a crap about china..but i hate nk and japan..

i kind of take that really offensively...(sp?)u cant just nuke a country because of what the government did...im japanese...but what japan did is wrong..but if u think about humans, wouldnt some of them lie to make themselves look better?thats what i think...

i think this should be moved to debate...its starting to sound like a debate...

[azn_r4pf4n]

yeah go ahead. mods can feel free and move this to debate as they wish.