Textbook in question has 51 errors of descriptions

Five well-known historians on April 25 pointed out that there are many errors in the "Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform" textbook which the Ministry of Education and Science has approved for use in junior high schools.

The historians at a news conference said they will inform the education and science minister and the publisher (Fusosha) of the 51 errors in the text.

Sumiya Mikio, professor emeritus of Tokyo University, quoting the textbook's description that "the Japanese government declared.... its war objectives were for self-existence and self-defense and to liberate Asian nations from Western control," pointed out that there is no such a phrase "to liberate Asian nations from Western control" in official government documents.

Quoting the textbook as stating that "Japan's victory of the Russo-Japanese War gave boundless hope for independence to the oppressed people in the world," Sumiya said that Japan's victory would have meant the Korean people losing their chance for independence. (end)