Japan PM says textbook will go ahead

The WWII history books sparked widespread protests in Asia

TOKYO, Japan -- Japan's new prime minister has restated that the government will not reverse its approval of a controversial history textbook that sparked waves of criticism from neighboring countries.

"Turning over the decision to approve the textbook is unthinkable," Junichiro Koizumi told parliament on Friday.

Japan's Education Department in April approved eight controversial textbooks that drew strong protests from North and South Koreas, China and other Asian countries that suffered Japanese invasion.

China, South Korea and North Korea have strongly protested the books on World War Two, arguing they whitewash Japan's wartime atrocities.

Koizumi added that Tokyo must "take seriously" Seoul's concerns, saying the Education Ministry will look into the issue.

"We must think of a way to solve the issue in a smooth way as not to damage the friendly ties with South Korea," Koizumi said.

South Korea says the junior high textbook justifies Japan's invasion of much of Asia in the early 20th century and fails to explain the plight of over 100,000 "comfort women," mostly Koreans, who were forced into sex slavery for Japanese troops during World War Two.

In April, Seoul recalled its ambassador from Tokyo in protest while South Koreans, including school children, took to the streets condemning Japan's decision.

On Thursday, four South Korean lawmakers turned up the heat, applying for a court injunction to halt the sale of the textbooks, due for circulation next year.

In the measure filed with the Tokyo District Court, the lawmakers demanded a ban on one of the books that they said was particularly distorted. The group vows to seek bans on the other books and sue all eight companies for damages if the court concedes to their first demand.

Seoul said this week it would postpone joint military exercises with Tokyo in protest.

Japan's Education Ministry insisted on revisions before approving the textbooks, written by nationalist Japanese historians.

Koizumi added that Tokyo must "take seriously" Seoul's concerns, saying the Education Ministry will look into the issue.

"We must think of a way to solve the issue in a smooth way as not to damage the friendly ties with South Korea," Koizumi said.

Japanese Education Minister Atsuko Toyama suggested on Tuesday that Tokyo could make further revisions.

But she added she would listen to opinions from experts before making any formal decision. Seoul cited another 25 passages that it said were clearly inaccurate, as well as 10 sections in seven other textbooks.

Tokyo has said the textbook does not represent Tokyo's official view of history. Japan colonized Korea in 1910, forcing Koreans to use the Japanese language until the occupation was ended by Japan's defeat in World War Two.

The feud is a blow to ties that had steadily been improving, most recently in joint efforts to help North Korea out of diplomatic isolation and in the organization of the World Cup.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

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Japanese Prime Minister
South Korean Foreign Ministry

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