Japan's History Textbook Controversy: What Is Being Disputed
From the 1982 textbook row to recent deletions
Under Japan's textbook screening system, the problem of some textbooks glorifying or downplaying colonial rule and wars of aggression has occurred repeatedly.
Notable examples include the 1982 textbook controversy, the 2001 controversy over adoption of the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform's textbook, and ongoing issues of deleting descriptions of comfort women and forced labor.
Korea and China criticize this as historical revisionism and emphasize the importance of proper history education.
Key Timeline
1
1982: First textbook controversy
2
2001: Controversy over JSHTR textbook adoption
3
2011~: Strengthened Takeshima descriptions
4
2021~: Retreat of comfort women and forced labor descriptions