"No Forced Labor" Japan Faces Flood of Criticism Over Repeated Historical Distortions

'Forced Labor History Distortion and Denial' by 'Nihon Sangyo Isan Joho Center' Opens to Public on 15th
Japan Diplomatic Bluebook Provokes Dokdo: "Korea Continues Illegal Occupation"
Japan's Next Year Junior High Textbooks Include 'Dokdo is Japanese Territory' Extensively

The guidebook related to the "Industrial Heritage Information Center," established in the annex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications' 2nd Government Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo, which opened on the 15th, lists 23 facilities including the Hashima (端島, also known as "Gunkanjima") coal mine, which the Japanese government proudly promotes domestically and internationally as industrial heritage from the Meiji period of modernization. The 18th entry contains the explanation related to Gunkanjima.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] The Japanese government is embroiled in controversy for distorting historical facts, including denying any abuse of Korean forced laborers conscripted to the coal mines on Hashima Island (commonly known as Gunkanjima) in Nagasaki City during World War II. In 2015, Japan acknowledged the forced labor of Koreans and announced plans to establish an information center to honor the victims.

The Korean government protested, stating that Japan had failed to fulfill its promise to properly acknowledge the history of Korean forced labor, but Japan firmly denied the government's claims, asserting that it had "faithfully implemented UNESCO's recommendations."

In this year's published diplomatic white paper, Japan distorted contentious issues in Korea-Japan relations such as forced labor and the comfort women issue. Furthermore, from next year, Japanese junior high school textbooks will include content such as "Dokdo has never been Japanese territory," sparking controversy. Japan's repeated historical distortions are expected to become another obstacle in the already deteriorated Korea-Japan relations, worsened by Japan's retaliatory export restrictions.

On the 15th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Japanese Ambassador to Korea to strongly protest Japan's distortion of the forced labor history in the "Gunkanjima exhibition."

At around 1:53 p.m., Vice Foreign Minister Lee Tae-ho summoned Ambassador Tomita Koji to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. Vice Minister Lee reportedly expressed regret to Ambassador Tomita over Japan's distortion of the forced labor history at Gunkanjima during the Japanese colonial period in the "Industrial Heritage Information Center" located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.

When Japan registered seven forced labor sites, including Gunkanjima, as World Heritage sites in 2015, it acknowledged that Koreans and others were forced to work under harsh conditions and pledged to establish an information center to honor the victims. However, it ultimately failed to fulfill this promise.

The newly opened "Industrial Heritage Information Center" mainly features content showcasing Japan's industrial achievements. Even in the introduction to the Gunkanjima coal mine, testimonies and materials denying the existence of forced labor victims were displayed, and the Japanese government did not provide any content or space honoring the forced labor victims as initially promised.

Japan maintains that there is no problem. Chief Cabinet Secretary Okada Naoki stated at a regular briefing that "the Japanese government has faithfully implemented the promised measures in accordance with the World Heritage Committee's resolution" and that "the statement promised to the international community at the time of the 2015 World Heritage registration is displayed inside the center." Near the entrance of the center, Japan introduced its 'promise' with UNESCO but claimed to have fulfilled it without actually exhibiting the promised content.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported the 2020 edition of the Diplomatic Bluebook, which reiterates Japan's territorial claims over Dokdo, to the Cabinet. The photo shows the section related to Dokdo in the main text of the Japanese Diplomatic Bluebook. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Netizens have strongly criticized this. They demand a formal apology from Japan for the ongoing historical distortions concerning forced labor, comfort women, and the Dokdo issue.

One netizen said, "Is this the first time Japan has distorted history? They keep troubling our country with the same issues, but have we ever received a genuine apology from Japan? Our government needs to respond more firmly."

This is not the first time Japan's historical distortions have caused problems. The 2020 edition of Japan's diplomatic white paper, released last month, also sparked controversy. It claimed that Korea's response to contentious Korea-Japan issues such as forced labor and comfort women was the cause of the problems.

In the white paper, Japan referred to Dokdo as "Takeshima" and included statements asserting that "Dokdo is Japanese sovereign territory and that Korea is illegally occupying it." While Japan's 2017 white paper claimed Dokdo as its territory, it did not accuse Korea of illegal occupation. However, since 2018, Japan has used the term "illegal occupation" to assert its territorial claims.

Regarding the comfort women issue, Japan claimed, "Using the term 'sex slaves' for the Japanese military comfort women is inaccurate, and Korea also acknowledged this point in the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women agreement."

The junior high school textbooks approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and published by Japanese publishers refer to Dokdo as "Takeshima" (竹島, the name claimed by Japan for Dokdo). Most of the approved junior high school social studies textbooks state that "Takeshima is Japan's inherent territory" and claim that South Korea is "illegally occupying" it.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In March, a Japanese junior high school textbook containing content that "Dokdo is Japanese territory" passed the screening process, causing controversy. The textbook included statements that "Korea is illegally occupying Dokdo," and with the approval, these claims will be widely included in Japan's new junior high school social studies textbooks starting next year.

Experts suggest that solidifying effective control is a useful strategy to resolve the Dokdo dispute.

Professor Kim Kyung-joo of the College of Liberal Arts at Tokai University appeared on YTN Radio's "Kim Hoseong's Starting Morning" and said, "There are two major triggers that escalated the Dokdo dispute. One was the sudden establishment of 'Dokdo Day' by Shimane Prefecture in Japan in 2005, and the other was former President Lee Myung-bak's visit to Dokdo in 2012, the first by a Korean president." He added, "At that time, some in Korea praised the visit, but it also gave Japan a pretext for offensive actions."

He continued, "Above all, maintaining effective control is most important. Japan cannot take back territory that is effectively controlled. We should quietly and firmly maintain our effective control. That is the most useful strategy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.