S Korea unhappy with Japanese textbooks

South Korea should be more worried about North Korea and what they're teaching, thinking, plotting, and planning.

I don't know why South Korea consistantly demonizes Japan so much when they should be making mends with Japan - their only Democratic Asian Country right next door...they just baffle me Man.

The south Koreans should have regret having a neighbour and an 'unwanted ally' like Japan! The coming fascistrization of Japan under Abe's administration was foundation due to America's amnesty war criminals family (like Kishi) and their inheritages!

Otago....lost in translation comes to mind here. South Korea should worry about their own history and education plus the ever pressing issue of its immediate neighbor. This crap that China and Korea is always spewing out is getting old ! I personally think that the rest of the world when they hear this coming from both parties are thinking " again ??!! " remember when your parents said "grow up ! "

Although most Japanese recognize the importance of trade with and investments with South Korea, national security at the moment seems more important. Japan has much more to gain from cooperation with South Korea than from conflict. Harping about past sins and inflaming the dispute over the islands do little good. Japan PM Abe calls for revisiting its commitment to pacifism, and for making the school curriculum more patriotic. The long shadow of history continues to haunt relations between the two countries.

Other >unhappy< Korea things: Quick Google search:

North Korea Unhappy with Call for Human Rights Investigation

S. Korea unhappy about weakening yen

South Korea's economic reforms – a recipe for unhappiness

North Korea Unhappy With ROK Xmas Tree Plans

South Koreans unhappy that Japan doesn't adore 'Gangnam Style

To name a few, please Japan, make them "happy".

Let's see . . . North Korean Army or Japanese school books? Which is the easier target?

I've always been amused by these Asian disputes on one another's textbooks. Growing up where I did, I never gave 2 sh-ts about what some other country wants to teaches in school.

"no future for those who close their eyes to history"

I can't think of better advice to give to South Koreans who whitewashed their own history and buried their participation against the allies in WWII. Koreans were in the Imperial Japanese military doing bad things to other Asians. Don't know why they think they can just re-write history the moment Imperial Japan fell and play complete victim.

“no future for those who close their eyes to history,”

Really ?What about the 44 Japanese fishermen   that koreans brutally murdered.

“The Korean government lodges a strong protest with Japan over its approval of high-school textbooks with content that does not squarely face history while disregarding Tokyo’s responsibility.”

Oh,yes a thief trying to justify your theft.Takeshima islands belong to the Japanese people for centuries,idiots.

As an Australian, I've lived in the ROK and visited Japan often, and like and admire both countries and the huge majority of the people I've met in both. However, as an educator, I have observed that the school history text books in BOTH countries leave a lot to be desired in terms of the nationalist whitewash they each apply to their 20th Century histories.

While the Koreans have a right to point out the inconsistencies and nonsense in Japanese texts, if they don't address the inconsistencies and nonsense in their own, it's simply a case of the pot calling the kettle black. The children of both countries deserve to be told the truth about their history, and the adults in both should be mature enough to accept it - warts and all.

If Takeshima is a Japanese territory, perhaps the education ministry can explain why Japanese cannot travel there without a passport?

Filling textbooks with factually incorrect information won't improve Japanese education. It would be more accurate to state that Takeshima is claimed by Japan, but is currently under the administration of South Korea.

S Korea unhappy with Japanese textbooks

Er... so what's new?

Let Mao Asada and Kim Yuna settle this dispute on the ice.

Saketown South Korea should be more worried about North Korea and what they're teaching, thinking, plotting, and planning. I don't know why South Korea consistantly demonizes Japan so much when they should be making mends with Japan - their only Democratic Asian Country right next door...they just baffle me Man.

You fools... How is Japan ever going to be treated as an Adult when they keep, insisting on distorting and re-writing history... Japan needs to Educate it populous about exactly what they did, 60 and 100 years ago... Then stick to it, and not keep having PM's and other politicians going around making speeches about how Japan was Right to Invade and colonize, ect... That's your problem... You're criticizing every other country, yet, Japan was the biggest Offender in History, By Far... Get your story straight, then stick to it... It does no one, absolutely any good to have a PM apologize, then, 10 minutes later, he's making speeches saying it was all BS....

Japanese media underlying of Sina and SK except San-Kei are also unhappy with Japanese textbooks.

Tetsu-rou Yamashita Japanese media underlying of Sina and SK except San-Kei are also unhappy with Japanese textbooks.

Japanese mass media (マスゴミ) are all favorable to china and korea, power of money of Pachinko from Chinese and Zainichi Korean. Not to mention the Zaimucho and Gaimusho is also too.

I agree that SK should be looking North and not East. They should be fostering ties with Japan rather than picking this argument just now.

Well the question I have to SK is what is their demand on Tsushima?

Tsushima from the dawn of written history has been administered by Japan without omission and yet SK claims it belongs to them since ancient time. Tell me which history books are distorted?

I also demand the Buddha statue to be returned to it's rightful owner in Tsushima as well. It's been in their possession for the last 600 years. Don't tell me the owners need to come up with paper work to claim rightful ownership. Talk about whitewashed history.

oh dear, what can Japan do short of wiping itself off the face of the Earth?

SamuraiBlue, what do those text books say about the Japanese claims on Takeshima? Do they tell the story of how it came to Japanese territory when Japan annexed South Korea in 1905? They certainly don't. The text books say Takeshima was declared Japanese when Korea voluntarily joined Japan's East Asian Co-prosperity coalition of the willing under the wise guise of the Empire of Japan in 1905. If Germany today, changed their history books and say the Nazi German rule was a legitimate good rule, everyone here will have a fit.

South Korea should understand that there must be reasons for Japan to be the top four lie nation of the world.

It is not a big deal to tramp on the other nation's hearts.

Unhappy!

Japan is unhappy with S Korean textbooks too.

How prolific are these factually incorrect textbooks? They are not in my daughters' junior high school. They were not in use at other schools we visited.

DaveAllTogether..

Only a very small percentage of Schools use these Books. The J-Goverment has approved different Textbooks and it is up to each school which one to use.

I think it is less than 2% that use those controversial Textbooks.

Thats why China, south Korea were retalliating with certain measures to make Japan understood their 'unhappiness'!

Definitely lost in translation.. Someone get a box of Scottie's will ya ! Too many unhappy countries pointing fingers. It's easier to point out someone else's flaws than to face your own.

Sure the Japanese understood their dark pages of atrocities has committed to other countries during the Imperial-era, but they just choose to ignore it with a willful memory lost! Their ideologies was foundation over the myth of Japan's domination of east asia but shattered by the defeat of World war II. In order to continue their myths, they choose to believe nothing wrong has happened if that chapter was a dark chapter and thats why Japanese people should be proud of themselves as Japan PM Mr Abe has boasted! Once you ignored your 'dark sides' and there should be nothing to regret and that there made you proud of yourself!

How do you know the Korean government isn't targeting the North Korean Army (for whatever reason, you don't say) more than they are targeting Japanese text books??

I do not know. This just seems like an inopportune time to bring up this issue. The Norks are being the most belligerent they have been in a while, and there are those in SK that are concerned about textbooks that are in less than 2% of Japanese classrooms.

Here we go again....

textbooks that are in less than 2% of Japanese classrooms.

No. Every geography textbook that is used in Japanese high schools and junior high schools depicts Takeshima is Japanese territory that is illegally occupied by republic of Korea after San Francisco Peace Treaty was concluded. This is no news, because Japanese textbooks were so written ever since 1950's.

In 1998, both Japanese and Korean governments agreed that the sea area around Takeshima is called "Temporal Joint Fishing Area" which is open for fishing for both Koreans and Japanese. This Japan-Korea Fishing Agreement reflects the fact that both country claim the island and both country recognize the claim by the other party. http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%97%A5%E9%9F%93%E6%BC%81%E6%A5%AD%E5%8D%94%E5%AE%9A

This lodging a protest is a routine every year.

These texts need to be burnt and our younger generation to be taught the truth. We will never internationalise if we educate fiction.

Oh for pity's sake SK, shut up and grow up.

“no future for those who close their eyes to history,”

Its just ridiculous for the Koreans to make comments like this. South Korea would still be struggling to lift themselves out of poverty if they hadn't spent all those millions from the 1965 treaty (you know, the money that was supposed to go to comfort women and other victims of WWII) on infrastructure and industrial development using know-how that they "borrowed" from Japan. The way I see it the Korean people should be forever grateful to Japan and look up to them as the big brother who never forgot his poor village relatives after he made it big.

I used to think the Koreans were better than the communists in china .... articles like this make me rethink that stance.

hidingout, Japan can't continue to use the 1965 treaty excuse to justify their changing of their text books. The $800 million that Japan gave to Korea for the signing of the treaty, less than half of the money were actually grants. The rest were loans that Korea paid back a long ago. The money, while it certainly helped, was pittance if you take into consideration the damage that the Japanese colonialism caused Korea, and the subsequent Korean war that resulted from the effects of Japan's rule. Japan profited fabulously from the Korean War, receiving much aid and economic boost from America. But since Korea did sign the treaty on their own, we can't complain. But my point is this. Before you blame Koreans for their reactions, you should think why the Japanese government decided to do this at this time, unnecessarily, knowing full well what kind of reaction they will get from Japan's neighbors. Does Japanese government have no responsibility in their actions at all?

Chucky

Don't blame Japan for the civil war you guys brought on to yourself. Japan had nothing to do with the Korean war. In fact if Japan didn't intervene in 1905 Korea would had been part of Russia.

iT'sMe, if the current Japanese have it their way, they would change it so that 100% of the schools are taught the revisionist history. It's precisely because of Korean and Chinese protests and their scrutiny of Japan, that has prevented Japanese governments of the past from doing what they really wanted to do. Yes, now it's only 2% now, but Abe's goal is to make it 100%.

Only a very small percentage of Schools use these Books. The J-Goverment has approved different Textbooks and it is up to each school which one to use.

I think it is less than 2% that use those controversial Textbooks.

So, let's get this straight. The Koreans are currently occupying these islands taken by force under cover of the US support for South Korea during the Korean War and without independent official international ratification, to which the Japanese have objected, and the Koreans are upset at how the Japanese wish to portray these islands in their own Japanese textbooks? So the Koreans not only want to occupy the islands without ratification, but they want the Japanese to recognise that occupation in Japanese textbooks! Maybe the Koreans also want the Japanese to send them a crate of champagne every year on the anniversary of the occupation.....

No TigersTokyoDome. Japan annexed the island, when they annexed Korea in 1905. I dare you to find even one legitimate Japanese historian on this matter who agrees with their own government. I'm sure that comes as a surprise to you.

Japan can't continue to use the 1965 treaty excuse to justify their changing of their text books.

Why not? Korea is still using stuff that happened almost a hundred years ago to excuse their poor behavior. By comparison 1965 is fairly recent history.

The money, while it certainly helped, was pittance if you take into consideration the damage that the Japanese colonialism caused Korea, and the subsequent Korean war that resulted from the effects of Japan's rule. Japan profited fabulously from the Korean War, receiving much aid and economic boost from America.

Blah blah blah .... we have no gratitude .... blah blah blah ... and no intention of abiding by a treaty Japan signed in good faith .... blah blah blah ... and we'll continue to harp away at the slightest excuse forever. Now we are going to blame the Korean war on Japan too. Heaven help us.

But since Korea did sign the treaty on their own, we can't complain.

Doesn't seem to be stopping anyone in Korea now does it? If the terms of the agreement were so unacceptable then the Korean government had a duty to its citizens to demand more - at that time. Its too late now. And bellyaching about textbooks isn't going to change anything.

Before you blame Koreans for their reactions, you should think why the Japanese government decided to do this at this time, unnecessarily, knowing full well what kind of reaction they will get from Japan's neighbors. Does Japanese government have no responsibility in their actions at all?

What has the Japanese government done now chucky? Nothing new in these textbooks. Its not like they just edited them up fresh with as many references to Takeshima as they could squeeze in. The textbooks reflect the Japanese stance on a disputed island. Why would you expect any different? I imagine you can't find one textbook in Korea that acknowledges Japan's claims to the island.

Do they tell the story of how it came to Japanese territory when Japan annexed South Korea in 1905? They certainly don't. The text books say Takeshima was declared Japanese when Korea voluntarily joined Japan's East Asian Co-prosperity coalition of the willing under the wise guise of the Empire of Japan in 1905. If Germany today, changed their history books and say the Nazi German rule was a legitimate good rule, everyone here will have a fit.

Well. The reasons why they don't tell the above is that Korea was annexed in 1910 instead of 1905 and that East Asian Co-Properity occurred in 1940 all of which had nothing to do with Korea's illegal occupation of Takeshima in around 1953 which resulted in innocent capture and deaths of Japanese fishermen. This unilateral declaration by the Rhee regime was denounced by U.S.

After the normalization agreement, Korea received hundreds of millions in grants, soft loans, and technical grants which at that time surpassed the national budget of Korea which resulted in a transformation of Korea to what it is today. Of course, Korean textbook does not mention this but calls it "Miracle of Han River".

The problem with Korea's education is that despite being a so-called "democratic" state, their textbooks have just single government issued textbook which distorts the historical events to their own liking to cover their pitifiul status of being a tributory/slave state for centuries. Once Hanja(Chinese characters) were pretty much abolished, it gave the government carte blanche to re-write whatever they want, hence their fantasy version of "we were great all along but our progress was hampered by Japan" BS.

@Chin4Sailor

You hit nail right on the head "...what they did, 60 and 100 tears ago..."

"They" - You got any Names? Who is they? The entire Imperial Army of Japan?

Dam, We wiped most of them out in that little skirmish called THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC!

But let's look at the BIG PICTURE here - Unless any of us posting here are 95 plus Years Old to 270 Years Old, then this piece of regrettable history really doesn't apply to the Geopolitics in our Current World.

This "He said - She said Childish Rhetoric" needs to come to a close and the Asian Countires surrounding Japan need to start maturing themselves and start acting more like Japan.

Takeshima is not Korean territory and was decided in the San Francisco Peace Treaty. Act to ignore it is to ignore the agreement in the form of the 45 countries in the world. Japan has ordered a ban on WASH activities of ultra-nationalistic ideology by government agencies. Silent until now have not only a result of that.

I cry Korea and stop me and say to appeal to the United Nations. However, South Korea has landed in an army Takeshima. Korea cryptic behavior.

Why do not we make it noisy trial at the UN! Japan has been the more people who think so.

As Ossan stated, the Koreans don't get to play the "we were victims of WWII" when they were willing participants during which time the number of applicants for military services far exceeded the quota. Of course, this inconvenient truth is never stated on their distorted version of the textbook.

Nigelboy, the Eulsa treaty was signed in 1905. That was the first official step toward colonization, along with incorporation of Takeshima island.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan%E2%80%93Korea_Treaty_of_1905

Japanese version of history:

As Ossan stated, the Koreans don't get to play the "we were victims of WWII" when they were willing participants during which time the number of applicants for military services far exceeded the quota. Of course, this inconvenient truth is never stated on their distorted version of the textbook.

Dam, We wiped most of them out in that little skirmish called THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC!

Saketown, no you didn't wipe them out. They became the Japanese government and officials and continued to rule Japan for decades. Many of the people in the Japanese government had parents who were convicted war criminals, who became Japan's post war government. For instance, isn't PM Abe's father convicted war criminal too?

kee777 and nigelboy, your country was allied with the Nazi Germany, it is only natural that your country gets far more scrutiny on how history is portrayed in your text books.

I have not received education only really put out the history. This is a textbook of Korea in 1889. I hope you got an answer! http://uploader.sakura.ne.jp/src/up119056.jpg

Nigelboy, the Eulsa treaty was signed in 1905. That was the first official step toward colonization, along with incorporation of Takeshima island.

What does this have to do with Takeshima? Nothing.

Ossan: "I can't think of better advice to give to South Koreans who whitewashed their own history and buried their participation against the allies in WWII."

So are you saying white-washing is a bad thing and both nations should avoid it, or as usual are you just saying it's okay when Japan does and blaming SK for everything under the sun? SK has a lot of work to do on its texts, absolutely, but that doesn't excuse the fact that Japan does as well.

In any case, it's no big deal about Japan doing this, and you really can't expect the textbooks to admit the fact that Dokdo is, in all respects, SK territory. The kids wouldn't know any different, but adults like Abe would have to feel 'sad' and 'depressed' and couldn't 'look forward' through white-washing granddad's bad deeds!

Answer to what?

Answer to the inconvenient fact yet again that the boundaries defined by the Korean government DOES NOT include Takeshima. Is this too hard for you chucky?

So are you saying white-washing is a bad thing and both nations should avoid it, or as usual are you just saying it's okay when Japan does and blaming SK for everything under the sun?

No. It means that every nation has their own version of history but other countries will always see that version as being "whitewashed". Hence, there is no point in nations dictating what other states should place on their textbooks.

S Korea Government should more worry about fatty over weight idiot young North Korea leader Kim Jong Un. He seems to be itchy to press Red Button for S. Korea. Not too long ago, S. Korean Government has announced for to teach it children about Takeshima as their own in school. What a fuss about Japanese School teaching Takeshima as their own to it children?

Well, no surprises here. I wonder if there will ever be a textbook that SK likes?

Not too long ago, S. Korean Government has announced for to teach it children about Takeshima as their own in school. What a fuss about Japanese School teaching Takeshima as their own to it children?

Koreans have been teaching Takeshima for decades now. The recent proposal has been to increase the teaching time to at least 10 hours. Pathetic country.

It's none of S.Korea's business what is in Japanese textbooks. Maybe the Japanese government should tell S.Korea how to write their textbooks, since most of it is a bunch of revisionist crap.

He added there is “no future for those who close their eyes to history,” the Chosun Ilbo reported.<

There is no future for those who close their eyes to N.Korea either....

smithinjapanMar. 29, 2013 - 12:21AM JST "Ossan: "I can't think of better advice to give to South Koreans who whitewashed their own history and buried their participation against the allies in WWII."

So are you saying white-washing is a bad thing and both nations should avoid it, or as usual are you just saying it's >okay when Japan does and blaming SK for everything under the sun? SK has a lot of work to do on its texts, >absolutely, but that doesn't excuse the fact that Japan does as well.

Yes, but you never read about complaining about South Korean textbooks do you? And as far as I am aware. Japan hasn't "whitewashed" anything as regards these Liancourt Rocks while South Korea has and continues to do so. That should answer your question.

"Japan complaining about..."

"Japan complaining about..."

The South Korea-Japan island disputes aren’t all that unusual. In fact, the latest dispute is merely pattern of increases in disagreements over interpretations of history. There are important issues at stake, the interpretations of modern history that affect perceptions of national identity, pride, justice, and trustworthiness. For many in South Korea, Japanese claims to the islands are seen as lack of reflection about the Japan’s colonial past. It’s true that right now, neo-nationalist organizations in Japan seem to have gained momentum with these groups often spewing towards South Korea and Korean residents in Japan. However, the two countries remain mutually key sources of trade and sources of investment. Travelers from Japan top the list of tourists entering South Korea, while South Korean tourists are one of the largest visitors to Japan. There are countless other bilateral cultural, educational, economic, political, and even military exchanges. Both countries can't move, and they needs to work out the differences. However, your talking about inflexable Japan that has hard time moving beyond WWII.

Pointless to even try and have good relations with the Southern Faction of Korea.

Let Korea and China deal with their own problems at hand. No one here gives two sweets about what's written in their books or any other country for that matter so drop the Japan did this and that 65-90 years ago ...it's pointless and will go no where while only repressing themselves in the worlds eyes .

Should say live not love ( obvious you don't )

Books are for learning, books are not for forgetting.

sfjp330

There are important issues at stake, the interpretations of modern history that affect perceptions of national identity, pride, justice, and trustworthiness.

Forget about "national identity, pride, justice, and trustworthiness". What is importnant in learning history is facts and truth. Whenever Koreans put "national identity, pride, justice, and trustworthiness" into history textbook, facts are whitewashed.

However, your talking about inflexable Japan that has hard time moving beyond WWII.

After having lived in Japan for more than 10 years and witnessed the constant complaints of the SK government this statement really made me laugh. Japan has moved on and this is one of th ereasons for its being more successful than any of its never-forgetting neighbours.

OssanAmerica: "but you never read about complaining about South Korean textbooks do you?"

Wrong. On this threat alone most people are admitting SK textbooks do not address history properly, but you not deciding to read before launching into your usual diatribes is no surprise.

"And as far as I am aware. Japan hasn't "whitewashed" anything as regards these Liancourt Rocks while South Korea has and continues to do so. That should answer your question."

Well, then, thank you for admitting you're just not very aware. Answers my rhetorical question quite well, thanks.

@Saketown, the saying goes "Better an enemy you know than one in disguise..."

Kinda hard to believe Japan's side when there are also japanese scholars saying that Dokdo is korean territory. Either way, Japan is never getting their hands on that land... unless they go in with military force. We all know military force is something Japan doesn't surpass Korea on.

EastAsiaForeigner

I hope someday you develop your ability to judge by yourself based on the evidence rather than judge based on who is saying what.

"I hope someday you develop your ability to judge by yourself based on the evidence rather than judge based on who is saying what."

Evidence was provided. Apparently maps from Japan were found detailing their own territory. Dokdo was not included. Give it a rest. Japan is not fooling anyone.

EastAsiaForeignerMar. 29, 2013 - 07:53PM JST "I hope someday you develop your ability to judge by yourself based on the evidence rather than judge based on who is saying what."

Evidence was provided. Apparently maps from Japan were found detailing their own territory. Dokdo was not included. >Give it a rest. Japan is not fooling anyone

No it hasn't. Japan has requested THREE TIMES to South Korea to settle this dispute at the ICJ and South Korea continues to refuse. It's obvious that South Korea is afraid of submitting evidence because it doesn't have any.

"No it hasn't. Japan has requested THREE TIMES to South Korea to settle this dispute at the ICJ and South Korea continues to refuse. It's obvious that South Korea is afraid of submitting evidence because it doesn't have any."

Yes it has. Those maps are from Japan themselves with japanese scholars supporting their authenticity. Japan just wants to take them to the ICJ to because they have japanese members who can pull strings. Korea doesn't need to go to the ICJ when it already controls the liancourt rocks. Who are you trying to fool? The Diaoyu islands are also Taiwan's. Not China's nor Japan's. Okinawa is not originally a part of Japan either. Japan's history of taking stuff that does not belong to them is rampant. Don't assume the West doesn't know this. lolol.

EastAsiaForeigner

And there are as many maps that shows that Takeshima is Japan's sovereign territory. Just because a few Japanese scholars support it does not mean it is accepted fact by all. It's just another opinion with other Japanese scholars who do not support them. If you show enough money there will always some who will bend their thoughts.

"And there are as many maps that shows that Takeshima is Japan's sovereign territory. Just because a few Japanese scholars support it does not mean it is accepted fact by all. It's just another opinion with other Japanese scholars who do not support them. If you show enough money there will always some who will bend their thoughts."

Good point. What does Japan say about the hundreds of thousands of cultural artifacts pillaged from Korea and China. Or about Japan's occupation of Okinawa/Ryukyu. How do you explain Japan's corrupt involvement with Manchukou? Japan also took Diaoyu from Taiwan and never gave it back either. No, i think Japan is trying to grab something that was never their's.

Good point. What does Japan say about the hundreds of thousands of cultural artifacts pillaged from Korea and China. Or about Japan's occupation of Okinawa/Ryukyu. How do you explain Japan's corrupt involvement with Manchukou? Japan also took Diaoyu from Taiwan and never gave it back either. No, i think Japan is trying to grab something that was never their's

What does this have to do with Takeshima? Absolutely nothing.

^my point was Japan's track record also makes it suspicious if their claims are even legit.

my point was Japan's track record also makes it suspicious if their claims are even legit.

Then could explain to me why there are no Korean maps indicating Takeshima prior to Japan's incorporation. Or could you care to explain why Korean government in 1899 (prior to the incorporation) indicated the eastern boundaries(East 130 degrees 35 min) which does not include Takeshima(131 degrees 52 min)?

EastAsiaForeignerMar. 29, 2013 - 10:01PM JST "No it hasn't. Japan has requested THREE TIMES to South Korea to settle this dispute at the ICJ and South Korea continues to refuse. It's obvious that South Korea is afraid of submitting evidence because it doesn't have any." Yes it has. Those maps are from Japan themselves with japanese scholars supporting their authenticity. Japan just >wants to take them to the ICJ to because they have japanese members who can pull strings. Korea doesn't need to go >to the ICJ when it already controls the liancourt rocks. Who are you trying to fool?

It has? Please tell me when the ICJ case was heard. No the question is who are YOU trying to fool? South Korea has no substantial evidence and are afraid of losing at the ICJ. In order to avoid admitting that fact they use lame excuses questioning the objectivity of the ICJ. South Korea ILLEGALLY and unilaterally occupied the Liancourt Rocks. It is the thief that is afraid of talking it to court.t know this. lolol.

JaneMMar. 29, 2013 - 01:05PM JST After having lived in Japan for more than 10 years and witnessed the constant complaints of the SK government this statement really made me laugh. Japan has moved on and this is one of th ereasons for its being more successful than any of its never-forgetting neighbours.

Germany took a different path after WWII. Do you see any of their Chancellors visiting Hitler's Nazi grave site? If you been in Japan for ten years, you knew that PM Koizumi and members of goverment regularly went to Yasukuni for many decades. Do you know what Yasukuni represents to the neighboring countries like Korea and China? Even current PM Abe knows this, yet just before he became a PM, he visited the Yasukuni shrine and prayed to 2.5 million veterans of Japanese Imperial Military that detroyed neighboring countries from 1931-1945. Like every summer, when you have over 60 J-goverment officials visiting and praying for 14 class A war criminals, it does not help to improve relationship with neighboring countries These J-goverment reps that attend Yasukuni has the knowledge of what they are doing is angering other countries. Is it really to the benefit of Japan that they are pushing Japan farther and farther away from others and continue to look at themselves as victims? That this affects other nations suggests that the Japanese ought to take into consideration their actions on others too? Japan should've follow Germany's path after the war. This is not simply a domestic matter.

Even J-goverment mixes 3/11 natural disaster with politics after South Korea donated close to $50 million after the disaster. You cannot blame other nations of relations problems with Japan. Why did Japan sent three Japanese lawmakers to South Korea in the summer of 2011 and tried to visit near Dokdo (Ulleungdo island) to intentionally create conflict claimed by South Korea and Japan? These lawmakers made confrontation with a big scene, being arrogant, and refused for hours to board a return flight home. At the time, South Koreans were collecting donations and sending rescue teams in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami that inundated the northeast coast of Japan. South Korea should not put significant importance in improving relations with Japan. Japan cannot change from WWII so leave them alone. Why didn't these lawmakers go through proper channels for discussion?

Japan can go on claiming Dokdo forever, but that claim is not going anywhere. For South Korea, Dokdo remains a useful tool in politics and diplomacy. The Japanese goverment is weak with revolving door of a PM and they are under constant attack from rightist extremists who have managed to stir up passionate memories of Japan’s imperial power.

The Japanese logic here would be, if we concede Dokdo, then that might weaken our hold on the Senkakus, and surrounding waters, against Chinese claims. One concession could lead to another and create the image of mighty Japan caving in everywhere while the Japanese economy suffers and the whole country is weakening.

Excellent Posts sfjp330!! Well Said!!

I have Japanese and Korean friends but none of them are politicians. We all get on just fine.

sfjp330Mar. 30, 2013 - 04:00AM JST "JaneMMar. 29, 2013 - 01:05PM JST After having lived in Japan for more than 10 years and witnessed the constant complaints of the SK government this statement really made me laugh. Japan has moved on and this is one of th ereasons for its being more successful than any of its never-forgetting neighbours."

Germany took a different path after WWII. Do you see any of their Chancellors visiting Hitler's Nazi grave site?

Of course Germany took a different path, the circumstances are completely different. Do you think that "Hitler's Grave" is equivalent to a shrine that honors some 2,000,000 falled soldiers going back to the late 1800s? What kind of comparison is that?

The biggest difference between Germany and Japan is that Germany don't have a national memorial for their dead soldiers like the US or Japan. They are scattered around Germany in cities and states. If there isn't one there is no way a politician to make a controversial visit.

By the way Hitler or his SS would be in that memorial even if there was since neither were national guards . They were all part of the Nazi regime. I believe there were some Nazi party members who were also part of the military but there were no mandate for it and all German criminal of war were associated to the Nazi party not the military.

Sorry Hitler or his SS would NOT be in that memorial...

@Chucky

This back and forth tit for tat crap needs to stop. I will say this, both Japan and Korea tell lies about each other in textbooks, I have read both and a lot of exaggeration, over-inflated and very often left out historical facts. Why these two countries can't put these bickering aside astounds me. Imagine if Japan and SK could become strong allies. If England and France can do it, Japan and SK can as well. But this stubborn foolish pride that no one wants to give in, unbelievable! They hate each other, but need each other. Seriously, what are they going to do? Destroy each other. No one wants to lose face, so the better thing to do is talk smack and spread lies around, pathetic.

@Samurai

There is NO monument or anything commemorating where Hitler died, NO stone or anything, in fact, where he killed himself, the whole is now one huge apartment complex.

@bass4funk

Have you really compared the history books of Japan and Korea?

According to the report by the Stanford University on history books of USA, China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan, Japanese textbook is evaluated most highly, as calm and fair. "Divided Memories and Reconciliation"

Korean and Chinese claims against Japan are always without firm evidences. The number of perjury crimes in Korea was 671 times more than that in Japan (2000).

bass4funk

There is no monument or anything dedicated to the so called "A class war criminals" in Japan either. The difference between Germany and Japan is that the war criminals of Germany were all part of the Nazi party while the war criminals of Japan were mostly all part of the Military that cannot be distinguished with other military personnel that are enshrined at Yasukuni other then being war criminals. (Foreign Minister Mtasuoka who was the one that signed the Tripartite Pact also trialed as a war criminal is not enshrined at Yasukuni shrine since he did not belong to the military)

The whole Yasukuni debacle played by SK and PRC is just another victim card they play.

If any of you can even READ Japanese, you will know that the history is written in a fair and calm way, unlike the blatant lies and unproven revisionist history written by S.Korea and China. In China, it is taught that America was discovered by the Chinese in 2200 B.C. and is CLAIMED as Chinese territory and that America is rightfully theirs. It is only through Chinese generosity and love and respect of the American people that Americans are allowed to live there. That is the kind of history written by the Chinese.

koreans should look at what they have written first, such as Hwandan Gogi or Budoji. The scary thing is, books have been based on Hwandan Gogi, which is made-up history (claiming korea as one the the 4 major civilizations of the world - wtf?) and one such "textbook" (history of the great korean empire) is used in military school!

Are you losing your marble Korea? Japan is NOT governed by Korean Government. Why we need to produce any text book based on Korean's request. My patience will be no longer there, if we keep receiving this kind of complain. Our children should be able to be educated by us. It is called an interference. Religion, education,,,, belongs to each country.I am sure that Japan has tons of thing we would like to say for your educations but we keep quiet not saying anything Korea and China`s anti Japanese education. I saw some books are used in Korea which amazed me. But try to maintain the mutual respect. Japan has not said anything Korean text books.