Korea Angered Over Japanese Teaching Manual On Territorial Issues

[Mulboyne]

Asahi: Takeshima reference dropped in senior high school manual
References to the disputed Takeshima islets have been excluded from a new manual for senior high school curriculum guidelines in an apparent attempt by the government to avoid aggravating South Korea. But the move is unlikely to appease Seoul, which has already expressed its displeasure at the inclusion of an indirect reference to the islets, known as Tokto in South Korea. The manual, which will be used from fiscal 2013, urges teachers to "deepen the understanding (of students) about territorial issues." It says this should be "based on what they studied in junior high school." In a statement released Friday, a spokesperson for South Korea's Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry expressed regret about the latter phrase. It is likely to be viewed as an allusion to a controversial new manual for junior high school teachers, released last year, that directly discusses the rocky outcrops off Shimane Prefecture. On its release, Seoul temporarily recalled its ambassador to Japan in protest...more...

The Korea Times says: "The specter of Japanese imperialism and colonialism has hit South Korea once again...Undoubtedly, the manual is part of Japan's continued efforts to express its territorial ambitions, totally ignoring the fact that Dokdo has been and is Korean territory...It is disappointing to see that Japan still has a long way to go before truly repenting for its aggression toward neighboring countries, brutal colonial rule and wartime atrocities...In this situation, how can Korea and Japan build a future-oriented and mature partnership?"

[Mulboyne]

Chosun Ilbo: Tokyo Approves Textbooks That Make Dokdo Japanese

Japan's Education and Science Ministry on Tuesday approved five elementary school textbooks that represent Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo as Japanese territory. Three of them already made the attribution, but the other two added it only recently. That means all elementary schoolchildren will now be taught that Dokdo belongs to Japan.

The two new textbooks do not go into details but contain maps where they are labeled "Takeshima," the Japanese name. The new texts also show a boundary line between Dokdo and Ulleung Island, making it look as though Dokdo is part of Japan.

Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Tuesday summoned Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie to lodge an official complaint. "Our government strongly protests against the passage of elementary school textbooks that contain Japan's wrongful claim to Dokdo, which historically, geographically and by international law is our territory, and urges it to take fundamental steps to correct the error," Yu said.