Newsletter

On July 27, 2012, the NAHF held a conference to analyze Korea-related descriptions found in high school textbooks approved under the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) textbook authorization system. At this conference, NAHF research fellows presented the results of their review and analysis of Korea-related descriptions found in 39 types of history/geography and civics textbooks out of the 274 types of Japanese high school textbooks authorized on March 27, 2012. And external experts were invited to the discussion of the descriptions of the textbooks on how they had evolved, what their characteristics were, and what problems they had.
The textbook controversy, which illustrates the marked difference in historical perception between Korea and Japan, has been the annually recurring cause of bilateral historical conflict over the past affairs. To bridge the gap in historical perception between the two countries, proper measures need to be taken to deal with the textbook controversy, including prompt and accurate analysis of the contents of the MEXT-authorized textbooks. For this conference, the NAHF had obtained copies of the textbooks submitted for authorization and currently on exhibition, and had its internal research fellows review and analyze their contents. Considering that these new textbooks will be used in school starting from the next year, this conference for the discussion of their evolution and characteristics was a timely event.

Review and Analysis of Korea-Related Descriptions in Japanese History Textbooks

This year's Japanese textbook authorization draws our attention because it was the first MEXT textbook authorization based on the New Teaching Guidelines for High School (Mar. 2009) and the Manual for Teaching Guidelines (Dec. 2009) released in accordance with the Basic Act on Education (2006) revised for the first time in about 60 years by the initiative of the conservative force of Japan. This conference was focused on reviewing and presenting specifically how the history textbooks described Korea-Japan relations and how the geography and civic textbooks described topics related to Korea, such as sovereignty over Dokdo, the naming of East Sea, Japan's forced annexation of Korea, and sexual slavery by Japan.

The conference was opened by Junro Ito, a professor at the University of Tsukuba, who gave a presentation designed to help understand the significance of the 2012 textbook authorization and the textbook system of Japan. Professor Ito outlined the revised 'Teaching Guidelines and Manual' based on which the Japanese textbooks were written, and explained the significance of this year's textbook authorization with focus on the geography and history textbooks. He pointed out that the objective of teaching geography and history, according to the revised Teaching Guidelines, was to cultivate qualities as "Japanese citizens," and that modern and comtemporary history was being highlighted in history classes (world history, Japanese history) in Japan.
Professor Ito's presentation was followed by the presentations of NAHF's research fellows. First, Research Fellow Yeon Min-su presented his analysis of how the Japanese history textbooks described ancient Korea-Japan relations, pointing out that their descriptions of Korea in ancient history emphasized Japan's political superiority over Korea and the introduction of the Korean culture to the Japanese ancient culture in its making. Yeon added that the Japanese textbooks still included Japan's claims that they had formed the sphere of influence in the southern Korean peninsular or exerted influence on that region, and this needed to be fixed through academic exchange and dialogue between Korea and Japan. He insisted that the results of research done in Korea should be introduced to Japan in order for the textbooks to be fixed.

As for the history of medieval and modern times, Research Fellow Yoon Yu-sook made a comparative review between the new and old textbooks on various topics, including Wa, the national name of Joseon, and the Imjin War. She pointed out that the inclusion of Joseon people in Japanese pirates and the frequent use of the term 'Lee Joseon,' instead of the official national name Joseon, to debase the country simply because it was a Japanese colony were problematic. Regarding the Imjin War, the phrases 'dispatch of troops' or 'sending troops' were often used in describing their invasion of Joseon, which might conceal the fact that it was a war of invasion unilaterally waged by Japan. What she also identified as being problematic were the misleading descriptions, in explaining the backgrounds that led up to the war of invasion, implying that Joseon's refusal to comply with Japan's request to lead the way to Ming (征明嚮道) had been the cause of the war. In addition, she remarked on Joseon envoys and the guesthouses for Japanese delegation (Waekwan) in the Korea-Japan relations during the Edo period.

In the category of modern history, the detailed analysis of the descriptions of the Seikanron (advocacy of a punitive expedition to Korea) debate, the Great Kanto Earthquake, and 'comfort women' was presented with the argument that East Asian perspectives should be adopted in the descriptions of Japanese textbooks. Research Fellow Lee Won-woo reviewed the descriptions of the 'Seikanron debate' in the recently approved textbooks as well as the textbooks from the Meiji Period. He pointed out that in Meiseisha's high school textbooks, categorized as rightist textbooks in Japan, Saigo Takamori, the advocate of Seikanron, was depicted as a messenger of peace. And Research Fellow Kim Min-kyu pointed out that the descriptions of the Japanese textbooks lacked 'East Asian' perspectives. Having reviewed the descriptions of the Great Kanto Earthquake and the ensuing massacre of Koreans, I introduced the recent 'attack' by the conservative, right-wing media on the textbook descriptions of the Great Kanto Earthquake, and pointed out the problem with the descriptions of the groundless rumor and the 'massacre' at the time of the earthquake which were not clear about who actually had spread the rumor and committed the massacre. The Japanese textbook's descriptions of sexual slavery by Japan were analyzed by Research Fellow Seo Hyun-ju, who noted that the textbook descriptions of sexual slavery by Japan had decreased recently in both quantity and intensity. She also proposed the direction of the descriptions of 'comfort women' in textbooks for reconciliation.
Research Fellow Nam Sang-gu analyzed the trend and current status of Dokdo descriptions in the Japanese high school textbooks, including geography and civics as well as history textbooks. According to him, Dokdo-related descriptions in Japanese textbooks have increased exponentially since 2003, and it is in this context that the high school textbooks authorized this year were written.
Compared with the older textbooks, Dokdo descriptions have appeared in four more newly approved textbooks. To cope with the increasing descriptions of Dokdo in the Japanese textbooks and counter Japan's 'inherent territory' claim, it was suggested that academic approach should be taken.
The general discussion session at the end of the conference was participated by textbook experts, who voiced their opinions on the presentations of the NAHF research fellows. It was suggested that the future analyses of the Japanese government-authorized textbooks should be supported by scientific evidence and logic to criticize Japan's historical perception within a larger frame work and fill the gap in historical perception between both countries.

Review and Analysis of Korea-Related Descriptions in Japanese History Textbooks

Recently, territorial disputes and controversies surrounding historical perception are intensifying conflict among nations in East Asia. Although such conflict arising from the differing historical perception, including textbook controversies, is not easy to resolve, efforts to resolve it through various channels of exchange and dialogue must continue. Japan has almost completed the high school textbook selection process for the next year, and is in the process of screening the remaining high school textbooks for which the authorization decision was not made earlier this year. Against this backdrop, this conference was held for the analysis of the Japanese government-authorized textbooks, and confirmed the importance of the descriptions of textbooks in resolving conflict over the past affairs between Korea and Japan, and the need for scholars and experts of both countries to continue historical dialogue in order to improve the descriptions of textbooks.