Regarding the Resolution of Japanese Distortion of History
2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the end of the Pacific war as well as the independence of Korea and other Asia-Pacific countries from Japanese occupation. During this symbolic year, the people of the region are trying to work together to begin a new era dedicated to overcoming the suffering of the past and healing the historical wounds of the region. However, the recent conflict over historically distorted textbooks in Japan has created unnecessary tension in Northeast Asia. It is well known that peace cannot be achieved by one side alone. It can only be possible when neighboring countries cooperate with each other. Making peace in Northeast Asia is a difficult but not impossible task and this is why we are greatly concerned over the history textbook issue.

In 2001, the work among civic organizations of Japanese, Korean and other Asian countries brought positive results when the historically distorted textbook created by the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform (JSHTR) was only adopted by few schools as the official history textbook despite persistent promotional efforts by JSHTR and other revisionist groups. However, these positive results are now being threatened by JSHTR’s attempts to have the revised version of their textbook approved in the 2005 textbook selection process. In their textbook JSHTR intentionally omits the negative aspects of Japan’s colonization of Korea (1910-1945), especially issues related to "comfort women" and forced labor. Furthermore, the textbook glorifies and justifies the colonial war as liberating Asia from Western powers.

It is well known that the distortion of history by Japanese revisionist groups is directly connected to the deployment of Japanese troops overseas and to the attempts to abolish of Japan's pacifist constitution. The unqualified glorification of a brutal history cannot bring honor to Japan without a sincere confession and apology for past wrongs. If Japan ignores the damage it caused to neighboring countries it is only burying its head in the sand.

We, the member of a Northeast Asian regional civic organization, are working for peace and human rights in this region and hope that Japan can be reborn as a country of peace. It is our hope that the current textbook conflict does not create deeper confrontation and tension in the region. 0n the 60th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War, it is our strong request that the Japanese government work to resolve the history textbook issue and the broader distortion of history issue as quickly as possible based on the Neighboring Countries’ Clause adopted by the Japanese Ministry of Education in 1982.

1. We strongly oppose the approval of the distorted JSHTR textbook in the textbook selection process.  
2. We oppose the use of the JSHTR textbook in any Japanese schools, whether public or private.
3. We oppose the admittance of Japan as a permanent or semi-permanent member to the UN Security Council without prior resolution of its historical wrong doings.
4. We request that the Japanese government humbly confess its past wrong doings and ensure accurate portrayal of historic facts.
5. We request that the Japanese government advocate peace and human rights education that is acceptable to the international community.
6. We support the maintenance of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution as a conflict prevention measure in Northeast Asia.
7. We support the realization of historical justice through the cooperation of civic organizations in Northeast Asia.

2005. 4. 4
GPPAC Northeast Asia Secretariat
Peace Boat

• GPPAC Northeast Asia Regional Steering Group
• Women Making Peace (Seoul)
• Asia Peace Alliance (Hong Kong)
• Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union (Hong Kong)
• Peacetime Foundation of Taiwan (Taipei)
• Maritime State University (Vladivostok)
• China Association for NGO Cooperation: CANGO (Beijing)
• Nanjing Massacre Museum (Nanjing)
• Fudan University Center for American Studies (Shanghai)
• Nonviolent Peaceforce Japan (Tokyo)
• International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism: IMADR (Tokyo)
• GPPAC Southeast Asia Secretariat
• Initiatives for International Dialogue (Davao)