From: yoichi@milton.u.washington.edu (Yoichi Ii)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.china,soc.culture.korean
Subject: [LONG] Textbook Inspection (was: Irresponsibility ...)
Date: 19 Aug 92 23:22:17 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Aug19.232217.17406
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

ntetsuya@lamar.ColoState.EDU (Nishimura) writes:
> [deleted]
> Well, this is all that I can recall for now.  The censorship of the 
> texts-to-be is held every three years and newly publishing texts as well
> as the ones that passed the censorship three years before have to be 
> "advised."  Yes, this is just pieces of "advices," though, if you don't
> follow the advice, the text won't be published.
>
> The results of censorship (or advice) are undoubtedly published on the
> very first page of newspapers with detailed explanations and commentary,
> which usually occupy two to three more pages, and are broadcast on most
> TV and radio news.

I knew there was a textbook review quite recently but it took me a while
to locate an article on it.  This one is from The Japan Times (July 1, 1992).
If you have articles from other newspapers (Asahi, Yomiuri, Mainichi, etc)
please summarize and post them; it is always nice to read other points of
view.  I hope I don't get into trouble for posting this ... I thinks it is
for a worthwhile discussion (and thus OK) :-).

----------------------------- Start of Article -------------------------------
                   [*** Textbooks uphold right to defense ***]
  [*** But references to colonial rule and war will also be expanded ***]

By Takahiko Ueda (Staff Writer) July 1, 1992

Social studies textbooks for use at junior high schools from next April will
include references to the nation's right to defense and take a more positive
view of the Self Defense Forces.

The revisions were approved following the Education Ministry's annual inspec-
tion of textbooks, in which 114 were cleared, including 26 on social studies.

Although the approved textbooks contain fewer controversial allusions, such
as to "Kimigayo" (the de facto national anthem) and Hinomaru (the de facto
national flag), which recall Japan's imperialistic past and were conspicuous in
last year's approved elementary school textbooks, observers noted references 
to the SDF indicated that the overall tone of the texts still remains nationa-
listic.

All eight approved textbooks on modern society studies touch upon the SDF
issue; seven of the eight publishers were instructed to make revisions.

[Balance asked]

The ministry stressed that references to the SDF in textbooks "should both 
deepen understanding on pacifism stipulated in the Constitution and let
students think about the nation's security and defense."

It said three elements must be present: A sovereign nation has a right to 
self-defense; efforts are being made for national defense; and the SDF has its
purposes and missions.

One publisher responded by proposing this insertion: "Countries all over the
world consider themselves as sovereign states and thereby have the natural
right to arm themselves for self-defense and make efforts to guard themselves.
The creation of the SDF in 1954 to protect our nation's peace and independence
and preserve its security was based on the understanding that a sovereign
nation has the natural right to self-defense."

The ministry directed publishers to include various opinions on the SDF. At
the ministry's request, one publisher inserted a comment that support for the 
government position is gaining among people.

['A subtle attempt']

Hiroyuki Tsukamoto, an executive member of Japan Teachers' Union, called the 
textbook revisions, "a subtle attempt on the part of the government to legiti-
mize what many considered the unconstitutionality of the SDF."

The ministry said inspectors expressed an average of 50 opinions for each 
social studies draft textbook, far fewer than previous inspections.

Koichi Kimura, in charge of textbook affairs of the Japan Federation of 
Publishing Workers (Shuppan Roren), said the drop in opinions may give an 
impression that the ministry is easing control on textbook contents, but the
ministry still has a firm grip on the how key issues should be handled.

Observers said the new textbooks include more criticisms on socialism and 
communism than before.

The ministry said many of the submitted draft textbooks failed to detail the
stagnation of socialist economies or go into the reasons why a market economy
has been introduced in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union republics.

One publisher was directed to take up negative aspects of Stalin's policies
and poor economic conditions of North Korea. Another was asked, in reference
to the Vietnam War, to mention the importance of the Cold-War at the time.

[U.N. role pushed]

The ministry also instructed publishers to contain references to United 
Nation's resolutions on the U.S.-led military actions in the Korean and Gulf
wars.

Critics said the instructions show ministry officials are still obsessed with
a Cold-War mentality.

The ministry explained, however, that such points were often ignored, over-
looked or left ambiguous before, but dramatic changes in global affairs have
prompted the ministry to ask the publishers to be more thorough and accurate
in writing about historical events.

The ministry said textbooks should mention both positive and negative aspects
of controversial issues.

This was adopted in screening textbooks references to official development
assistance.

[Comparison deleted]

One publisher was ordered to delete a detailed description on Swedish ODA
programs when the ministry objected to references that addressed only negative
aspects of similar programs in Japan. The ministry called a comparison on the
two nations' programs inappropriate.

In comments about foreign workers in Japan, one approved textbooks, under the 
heading "Japan and Asian Today," noted, in part: "in recent years, an increas-
ing number of students and workers come to Japan form Asian countries. Products
manufactured in Asian nations are becoming familiar in our lives."

The original wording included: "... There are an increasing number of foreign
workers who are willing to work long hours for cheap wages."

[Foreign worker issue]

The ministry stressed problems of foreign labor cannot be understood properly
without references to a government policy of not introducing manual foreign
workers.

Observers, however, felt some improvements had been made. More pages are devot-
ed to Japan's colonization of Asian nations during World War II.

The ministry applied the socalled "neighboring nations criterion" in screening
sections on Japanese wartime activities.

The criterion, employed after descriptions of Japan's wartime agression created
controversy in 1982, requires sections on modern Asian history to "contain 
appropriate consideration from the viewpoints of international understanding
and cooperation."

Under the criterion, a publisher was instructed to rewrite a passage that
read in part, "We must not forget Japan has a history of causing inconvenience
(to Asian countries)."

['Unbearable sufferings']

The sentences was changed to: "We must not forget Japan has a history of 
inflicting unbearable sufferings."

References to Japan's annexation of Korea also have become more detailed with 
the name of An Chung Gun, assassin of Hirobumi Ito, Japan's first governor 
general of Korea, included.  An is described in one approved text as a Korean
national hero.

Yet despite the improvements, Tsukamoto of the Japan Teachers' Union was not
impressed.

"It is apparent the textbooks were authorized only when they conformed with 
the government philosophy and policies," he said.

----------------------------- End of Article ---------------------------------