일본 고등학교 교과서 <역사총합>의 침략전쟁(1931~1945) 관련 기술 검토

Abstract

This study reviewed the contents of four types of “General History” that were verified by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology(MEXT) in n April 2021. Descriptions of Japan’s war of aggression from 1931 to 1945, to be specific the Manchurian Incident and the establishment of Manchukuo, the Sino-Japanese War, and the Asia-Pacific War were intensively analyzed. This course was written as a new attempt to integrate modern and contemporary history with Japanese history and world history. In addition, in terms of its learning method, it is also a subject that aims to shift from traditional complete history learning to topic learning and problem-solving learning. In this respect, there are many aspects that can be evaluated positively. However, it currently has many limitations in terms of history, that is to say content in narrowing the gap in historical awareness with neighboring countries in East Asia. First, some textbooks contain posters or photos that may distort the nature of Manchukuo or the Sino-Japanese War. Second, the atrocities committed by the Japanese military during the Sino-Japanese War and the Asia-Pacific War, as well as the reality of wartime mobilization in Japan's colonies and occupied territories, are not properly described. Third, Japan's perception of war as a victim rather than a perpetrator of war is also reflected in textbook descriptions. Lastly, modern and contemporary history is understood through three specific concepts: ‘modernization,’ ‘popularization,’ and globalization.’ By bundling the period when unprecedented large-scale wars such as World Wars I and II occurred under the keyword ‘popularization’, it is difficult to properly reflect on the war of aggression brought about by Japan.