Textbooks are not media to spread the government's viewpoint. They are materials for nurturing the intellect of students so they can think and decide on their own.

Why not start with the truth when writing textbooks. Bryant would be good.

Absolutely agree. The Japanese government should demonstrate its moral superiority over the Chinese government, and its greater maturity vs the S Korean government, by exiting this process altogether. So many of these Abe-LDP-rightist type moves are ostensibly aimed at strengthening Japan but actually do exactly the opposite, making Japan look weak, defensive and immature. Any screening that needs to be done should be by genuinely independent experts, and done on the basis of factual matters only. Better still, have joint committees of scholars from Japan, S Korea, China, Taiwan and, if you can find any, N Korea. Sit them in a room with lots of tea but no cigarettes and don't let them out until they have come up with joint textbooks to be used in all countries and which actually tell the truth instead of government propaganda of any kind.

@theeastisred,

They dont and have no intention to do so. Thats why they are all very similar.

They argue that the approval of textbooks should not be influenced by views of the government of the time. (NHK)

Absolutely. But, since NHK programming/positions is clearly "influenced by views of the government of the time", this may be an uphill fight.

NHK is so influenced by the govt., that even the weather reports are tainted with optimism.

sillygirlMay. 14, 2015 - 07:56AM JST Why not start with the truth when writing textbooks. Bryant would be good.

A U.S. textbook filled with U.S. propaganda? ... erm. No.