Japanese elementary school textbooks, which will be used from next year, will be described in the direction of diluting the compulsory mobilization of Koreans in Japanese colonial era. Some argue that Dokdo is “Japan’s own territory.” It further raised the level of expression by reflecting the existing view of claiming sovereignty over Dokdo.Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced at a textbook screening committee held on the 28th that 149 textbooks used by third graders or higher have passed the screening process since 2024.
Among them, looking at social textbooks (3 types) in the 6th grade of elementary school, it is confirmed that the technology that recognizes Japan’s “compulsiveness” for victims of conscription has retreated from 2019 when it was tested four years ago.The Tokyo Book stated in the 2019 verification that “Joseon and Chinese were forcibly brought in” as “Joseon and Chinese were forcibly mobilized” in the verification. The expression ‘forced arrest’ used in a small number of textbooks has all been changed to ‘mobilization’ or ‘drafting. The issue of Japanese military Japanese Military Sexual Slavery was not included as in the previous version.Ambiguous expressions have also increased to avoid the responsibility of the Japanese government. The damage was solved in passive sentences such as “being drafted” and “being involved.” The technology in the text of the textbook was also changed from “Men were conscripted as Japanese soldiers” to “Men participated as Japanese soldiers and the conscription system was later implemented.”On September 1, 1923, which marks the 100th anniversary this year, the fact that Koreans were massacred during the Great Kanto Earthquake (Kanto) disappeared. The 2019 edition of the Japanese literature textbook said, “The Joseon people are solving poison in the well.” There was also an incident in which many Joseon people were killed due to false rumors such as etc.’ All of these information was deleted from this verification. Territorial claims have been further strengthened. In particular, it is noteworthy that Dokdo is described as “illegal occupation.” The Tokyo Book stated in its certified map textbook for third and sixth graders in 2019 that “Takeshima is Japan’s own territory, but Japan is protesting because it is occupied by Korea,” but added “illegal” this year.The learning guidance instructions ordered, “We will deal with the fact that Takeshima is a territory unique to Korea (Japan).
” The instruction manual for learning instructions said, “The Takeshima is illegally occupied, and Korea is protesting against the Republic of Korea repeatedly.”Japan Literature Publishing marked Dokdo as a Takeshima on a map showing Japanese territory, territorial waters, airspace and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in its sixth-grade social textbook. In the previous black version, the area was marked as Japanese territorial waters, but this time it was further included in the wide range of EEZ.
Chang-young CHOI
US ASIA JOURNAL
