Japan Repeats Distortion of History Textbooks Instead of 'Sincere Response'

Removing Conscription and Coercion Terms, Strengthening Dokdo Sovereignty Claims
Gono Statement Acknowledged Japan's Responsibility but Shows Historical Awareness Regression

Every year, controversies over the Japanese government's distortion of textbooks recur, and this year as well, elementary school textbooks containing distorted claims that dilute the Japanese government's responsibility have passed the screening process.

On the 28th, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced that 149 types of textbooks to be used in elementary schools from 2024 have passed the screening. In some publishers' 6th-grade social studies textbooks that passed the textbook screening committee, the word 'conscription' related to Japan's forced mobilization was deleted, or the expression 'forced' was omitted. The description of photos of Korean soldiers mobilized by Japan was also changed from 'young Koreans who became soldiers' to 'young Koreans who volunteered and became soldiers.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

All 11 textbooks, including 9 social studies textbooks for 4th to 6th graders and 2 guidebooks, referred to 'Dokdo' as 'Takeshima.' In particular, during the screening process, the phrase 'Dokdo = Japanese territory' was revised to 'Dokdo = Japan's inherent territory,' strengthening Japan's territorial claim over Dokdo.

The controversy over the Japanese government's distortion of textbooks repeats every year. In March last year, in history textbooks used by Japanese high school students in the 2nd grade and above, the term 'forced mobilization' of Koreans during the Japanese colonial period was deleted, and the use of the term 'comfort women' was effectively banned, causing controversy. In 12 social studies textbooks excluding history, such as geography, civics, and political economy, unjust territorial claims that Dokdo is Japan's inherent territory were strengthened.

The Japanese government acknowledged the responsibility of the Japanese military in the 1993 Kono Statement issued on August 4, stating, "Comfort stations were established at the request of the military authorities at the time, and the former Japanese military was directly or indirectly involved." Regarding the recruitment of comfort women, it also recognized the involvement of authorities, stating, "Although contractors who received requests from the military mainly handled recruitment, there were many cases where women were recruited against their will through sweet talk or coercion."

However, expressions revealing the illegality and coerciveness of forced mobilization during the Japanese colonial period have been gradually deleted through the annual textbook screening process. It appears to be an attempt to evade legal responsibility by claiming that it was recruitment, not forced conscription, or by making the responsibility for mobilization ambiguous.

"Japanese Textbook Distortion, Omurice Master" Criticism of Korea-Japan Summit

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Our government previously used the analogy that "the glass of water is more than half full" when announcing the solution to forced mobilization, expressing hope that Japan would respond and fill the remaining half to achieve mutual benefits for both Korea and Japan. Foreign Minister Park Jin said, "There are future mutual interests between Korea and Japan, and we must create national interests for future development, so we expect Japan's sincere response to continue."

However, after the Korea-Japan summit, there has been no 'sincere response.' The opposition parties have blamed the government for the distortion of Japanese history textbooks, accusing it of 'humiliating diplomacy toward Japan.' On the 28th, Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "I expected this when the government engaged in humiliating diplomacy without any reflection or apology for past history, but I did not expect it to be this humiliating," adding, "(Japanese history textbooks) are the result of unilaterally granting Japan a pardon while betraying the Korean people."

Criticism has also come from the ruling party. On the 28th, former Future United Party (now People Power Party) lawmaker Lee Eon-ju criticized on Facebook, saying, "This Korea-Japan summit was a serious mistake," and "By fully accepting Japan's position at the Korea-Japan summit, the grounds to criticize textbook distortion have weakened." She added, "We should not easily think that past history is unimportant," emphasizing, "Past history is important because it forms the basis for handling current and future issues between the two countries."

She pointed out, "Japanese students who learn textbooks that sincerely reflect on the history of past invasions are less likely to commit similar atrocities in the future," and "The Dokdo issue is also directly related to how it is taught in schools, which affects whether territorial disputes between Korea and Japan will intensify and lead to conflicts, as well as how public opinion and political responses in Japan will be shaped."

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