Japan officials sued over whitewashing book
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-12-21 13:37

About 1,000 people, including Chinese and South Koreans, sued Japanese regional officials yesterday, seeking to block use of a controversial history textbook that they say whitewashes Japanese wartime aggression.

The Japanese citizens and foreign nationals sued Governor Moriyuki Kato of southern Ehime Prefecture and the prefecture's board of education.

The plaintiffs argue that the book glorified Japan's military invasion of Asian countries. They said the governor had unlawfully interfered in the selection process to choose the textbook for prefectural-run schools, Kyodo News reported.

The plaintiffs seek 120,000 yen (US$1,028) in compensation.

The widely criticized textbook was compiled by a right-wing group, the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform, and published by Fusosha Publishing Inc.

It has been denounced domestically and abroad for glossing over Japan's aggression and colonial rule.

It was adopted by less than 1 percent of Japanese middle schools four years ago. Only three prefectures have adopted it, but editors aim for 10 percent this year.