This chapter examines, through a Sankei Shimbun editorial, the results of textbook screening for junior high school textbooks to be used from the following spring. While descriptions of the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands have improved, biased descriptions concerning the so-called “military comfort women” and Korean wartime laborers remain.

2020-03-25
On the other hand, descriptions based on a masochistic view of history, which deliberately portray Japan in a bad light, especially in modern and contemporary history, still remain.
Today’s Sankei Shimbun editorial also proved that the Sankei Shimbun is now the most decent newspaper in Japan.
The correction of biased descriptions is insufficient.
The screening results for junior high school textbooks to be used from next spring have been announced.
It is unacceptable that, even after the screening, unbalanced descriptions remain, including the reappearance of the postwar coined term “military comfort women.”
With the revision of the Courses of Study, the content of each subject will be renewed.
In social studies, whose screening results draw particular attention, the Northern Territories, Takeshima, and the Senkaku Islands were clearly described, in geography, history, and civics, as territories inherent to Japan, in accordance with the Courses of Study.
It is desirable that the descriptions have been enriched.
In classes as well, teachers should properly understand and teach the historical background and other matters.
On the other hand, descriptions based on a masochistic view of history, which deliberately portray Japan in a bad light, especially in modern and contemporary history, still remain.
For example, the inappropriate description “military comfort women” passed the screening.
In a footnote to a text headed “Colonies and occupied territories under the wartime system,” it says, “At ‘comfort facilities’ established in war zones, women were gathered from Korea, China, the Philippines, and other places — the so-called military comfort women.”
“Military comfort women” appeared all at once in junior high school textbooks whose screening results were announced in Heisei 8.
However, corrections proceeded, as the “forced abduction theory” was denied and descriptions using the modifier “military” disappeared.
Because the issue involves sexual matters on the battlefield, questions were raised as to whether it was necessary to deal with it deliberately in junior high school, and there was a period when it was no longer treated.
Another textbook also summarizes and takes up the statement by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono, which acknowledged coercion in the recruitment of comfort women.
It is indispensable to review the Kono Statement, which continues to leave harmful consequences even in textbooks.
Regarding the mobilization of Korean laborers and others as well, descriptions such as “they were forced to work under harsh conditions,” which can lead to the misunderstanding of “forced abduction,” are being allowed to pass.
It is regrettable that the history textbook published by Jiyusha, promoted by the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform, which has worked to review such a masochistic view of history, was rejected.
Is even the textbook screening bound by a masochistic view of history?
There are also conspicuous descriptions related to the Olympics, such as “Let us look back” on the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Because the postponement of the Games is being considered due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, substantial voluntary corrections are expected.
We live in an age in which no one knows what may happen.
The way textbooks are edited and screened should be reviewed once again, so that one-sided descriptions are eliminated and students’ ability to think from multiple perspectives is cultivated.