Interpreting History in Sino-Japanese Relations: A Case-Study in Political Decision Making

by Caroline Rose

Overview

The first book-length study to examine the re-writing of school textbooks by the Japanese Education Ministry in an attempt to play down atrocities in China during World War II. The famous textbook crisis in 1982 was at the centre of a diplomatic storm extending through the 1980s as Sino-Japanese relations were beset by a series of political controversies. This fascinating account of the period reveals that Chinese and Japanese policy-makers were more concerned with changes taking place in international and domestic politics than with adopting a correct view of history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138863040
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	12/02/2014
Series:	Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 The Textbook Issue; Chapter 3 Postwar Sino-Japanese Relations; Chapter 4 Background to the Textbook Issue; Chapter 5 The Textbook Issue; Chapter 6 The Textbook Issue; Chapter 7 The Textbook Issue; Chapter 8 Conclusion;

Editorial Reviews

'..the author has thoroughly succeeded in providing a new perspective to research on Sino-Japanese relations, with a distinct critical mind and concrete framework.' - The China Quarterly,

'Caroline Rose's Interpreting History in SIno-Japanese Relations provides as interesting and intriguing case study..' - Richard W. Hu, Journal of Oriental Studies

'Rose does a remarkable job in analysing Japanese decision-making on the Textbook Issue...' - Richard W. Hu, Journal of Oriental Studies

From the Publisher

Rose (Japan studies, U. of Leeds, England) analyzes the international dispute that erupted in the early 1980s between Japan and China concerning alleged revision of Japanese school textbooks through the regular screening process practiced by the Ministry of Education. China and South Korea criticized downplaying the barbarity of Japanese military actions in China during the 1930s: the changing of the term from invasion to advance. She is not so concerned with the fact that the Chinese were mistaken about what the books said, as with how the incident focused international attention on the political implications of textbook production and the Ministry's control over content. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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