Many say the books gloss over Japanese military atrocities - such as using Asian
women as sexual slaves for troops in Asia and massacring civilians in Nanking,
China - in the 1930s and 40s.
The new textbooks do not mention sexual slavery, and relegate the Nanking
killings to a footnote.
Japan also colonized the Korean Peninsula in 1910-45. On Wednesday, Seoul
quickly expressed "deep regret" over the decision to use the textbooks.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the books contain
material "glorifying Japan's past history of invasion" and could lead to
"repetition of an unfortunate history."
Anger in China over Japan's approval of the books triggered violent riots in
several Chinese cities in April, worsening tensions between Beijing and Tokyo,
which have been feuding over ownership of several islands and other territorial
disputes.
Wednesday's decision by Otawara educators means about 2,300 students at 12
public junior high schools in the city will begin studying from the books in
April 2006, said Otawara city official Masaru Kizami. They will use the books
for four years, he said.
Many of Japan's 580 school districts are expected to choose textbooks by late
August for the 2006 school year. It was not immediately clear how many were
likely to adopt the two controversial books, which were prepared by nationalist
scholars.
On Wednesday, Otawara officials defended their decision.
"I understand there are various opinions about the books, but we made the
decision only from the educational point of view," city board of education
chief Ryu Onuma said at a news conference. "I strongly believe the books can
help children accurately learn about the traditions and history of our country
and develop pride and love for their nation."
Supporters of the textbooks hailed the decision by Otawara officials as a
"remarkable achievement."
"We hope the books will be adopted across the nation," the Japanese Society for
History Textbook Reform said in a statement.
By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer
