|
Japan's 'Asian neighbors' clause
Education official Shimomura is way off base.
March 10, 2005
"Consideration for Japan's Asian neighbors'' is one of the provisions for the
screening of public school textbooks by the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology. Specifically, the provision requires that Japan
respect the spirit of "international understanding and cooperation'' in its
appraisal of history with its Asian neighbors.
But a senior education ministry official has made a comment that effectively
negates this provision.
Hakubun Shimomura, a parliamentary secretary in the education ministry and a
Lower House member, recently told a lecture meeting in Tokyo: "Ever since this
provision was created, schools have become more Marxist-Leninist in leaning to
teach a masochistic view of Japanese history. This is something that must not
be overlooked, and that is why we have formed a parliamentary league (to
consider the future of Japan and history education).'' Shimomura has been
secretary-general of this suprapartisan league since its inception.
In the same speech, Shimomura voiced his support for Nariaki Nakayama, the
education minister who said in November that "it is good that such terms as sex
slaves of the Japanese Imperial Army and forced Asian labor were less
frequently mentioned in school history books.''
Nakayama later said he should have refrained from speaking about his personal
thoughts. Shimomura, however, told his listeners that he had conveyed his
support for Nakayama to South Korean parliament members.
The post of parliamentary secretary was created in 2001 to expedite
decision-making under the initiative of politicians, instead of bureaucrats.
Officially called daijin seimukan in Japanese, it is the third highest rank in
the ministerial hierarchy for politicians after the minister and senior vice
minister.
Given Shimomura's position, his comments could influence the ministry's
administrative policy. It's also a matter of the nation's fundamental policy.
We cannot overlook what he has done.
In fact, we also hold Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi responsible for having
given the post to someone like Shimomura-the secretary-general of a
parliamentary league that openly opposes the "Asian neighbors'' provision in
the school textbook screening guideline.
The provision was created in 1982. The harsh censure was made from China and
South Korea for Japan's attempt to gloss over its history of invasion of China
and colonization of the Korean Peninsula. In response, the Japanese government
issued statements to the effect that its sense of remorse for the past remained
completely unchanged, and that it would readily heed criticisms against the
contents of history textbooks and correct mistakes. Later, at the
recommendation of an advisory panel to the education ministry, the provision
was added to the textbook screening guideline.
That was not the first time the government voiced remorse for the past. It was
mentioned in the Japan-South Korea joint communique of 40 years ago, as well as
in a similar joint communique with China 33 years ago. Furthermore, it was in
acknowledgement of this remorse that, as recently as in 1998, then-Prime
Minister Keizo Obuchi and then-President Kim Dae Jung jointly declared their
resolve to build a "future-oriented'' relationship.
The "Asian neighbors'' provision embodies this basic national principle. It has
nothing to do with Marxist-Leninist philosophy. Objections to this provision by
any senior education ministry official would raise questions about Japan's
basic stance. This is hardly in the nation's interest.
Nakayama noted on Shimomura's comment, "Even if we didn't have the provision,
that shouldn't change the fact that we need to aim for international
understanding and cooperation.'' He is right. Whether we have this provision or
not, we must never make light of our history with our neighbors.
The Asahi Shimbun
Comment on this story,
click here.
Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com. All rights reserved. No
content may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.
Please contact us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.
|
|
 |
