6. The Japanese History Textbook Disputes In The 1980s (Part II)

Abstract

This chapter sketches and compares the civic campaigns and protests in China, South Korea and Japan. It surveys the wider regional and cross-regional repercussions of the controversies. The chapter analyses the textbook issue with reference to Phase III and the 'Wider Context' of the framework. Both Beijing and Seoul underlined their nationals' indignation and the physical and mental suffering which they had experienced at the hands of the Japanese and which continues until today. In Hong Kong, students, teachers and university faculty staff played a central part in organizing large-scale demonstrations and signing campaigns in the summer of 1982. Forcing the Japanese government and society to react to overseas criticisms over history textbooks, the disputes eventually revealed Japanese views and attitudes about Japan's prewar/wartime conduct and provided useful pointers to the 'consequences' of history education.Keywords: China; civic campaigns; Japanese history textbook; South Korea