Textbook concession hint

Press, 9 August 1982, Page 6

Textbook concession hint

NZPA Tokyo The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Zenko Suzuki) had made up his mind to accept, in principle, Chinese and South Korean demands to rewrite historical facts about Japanese acts before and during World War II for high school textbooks, the “Asahi Shimbun” reported at the week-end.

The influential newspaper, without naming its sources, said that he bad judged that a prolonged dispute over the textbooks might add fuel to anti-Japanese sentiments in China and South Korea. He was also worried about possible adverse effects on his scheduled visit to Peking next month. The “Asahi” said that Mr Suzuki had already, told the Education Minister (Mr Heiji Ogawa) of his intention and had begun preparations to persuade his Liberal Democratic Party to agree with him. Mr Suzuki is president of the party. The textbook issue stemmed from revisions made by the Education Ministry’s textbook screening process to descriptions of the Japanese invasion of China and treatment of Koreans before and during World War 11.

The issue took on an international colouring in late June when China criticised the replacement of the word “aggression” with “advance” to describe the invasion that began in July, 1937. Protests spread later, leading eventually to official demands by China and South Korea that the revised descriptions be modified. A controversial Japanese film about World War Two which China has criticised as militaristic has drawn full houses at premieres throughout Japan, its makers say. The three-hour film, “Dai Nippon Teikoku” (The Imperial Japanese Empire) went on circuit during the textbook row.

The Toei Film Company told Reuters that its $NZ7.69 million film was expected to draw four million people in two months to the 214 cinemas where it is showing.’ According to the screenplay of “Dai Nippon Teikoku" the United States plotted to let; Japan launch its strike on Pearl Harbour by sabotaging pre-war diplomatic talks to avert hostilities. -