Overview

The Japanese history textbook debate is one that keeps making the news, particularly with reference to claims that Japan has never 'apologised properly' for its actions between 1931 and 1945, and that it is one of the few liberal, democratic countries in which textbooks are controlled and authorised by the central government. There are frequent protests, both from within Japan and from overseas, that a biased, nationalistic history is taught in Japanese schools. While critics of Japanese history textbooks have picked out certain examples to support specific positions, this is the first time that all the authorised textbooks currently in use have been analysed to produce a comprehensive view of the range of historical debate that actually exists within these textbooks. Previous studies have been conducted from a political, sociological, or educational perspective. This book adopts a critical discourse that is anchored firmly in the theory of 'language within society', elucidating the meanings and associated ideologies created by the language of the textbooks. The book examines the meaning-making potential of language, questions why certain choices from within the totality of this potential are made, and links these choices to the ideological construction of meaning within Japanese history textbooks. The ideological construction of meaning is then linked to debates within Japanese society regarding war responsibility and the textbook authorisation system. This approach throws new light on issues which are frequently debated, often without reference to the actual language data.

Full Product Details

Author:   Christopher Barnard
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 2.10cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.430kg
ISBN:  

9780415297974

ISBN 10:   0415297974
Pages:   204
Publication Date:   14 August 2003
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The Rape of Nanking: Processes and Participants Chapter 3: The Attacks by Germany and Japan: The Ideology of Irresponsibility Chapter 4: The Surrenders of Germany and Japan: The Ideology of Face-Protection Chapter 5: Conclusion Locating the Findings in a Wider Context

Reviews

<p>'[An] extensively researched and important study ... a unique insight into one vital aspect of Japanese thinking.' - Contemporary Review<p>'[Barnard] is to be congratulated on opening up a new dimension of understanding, and he has certainly justified his claim that content-type analyses of textbooks need to be supplemented by close scrutiny of the style of language in which they are written.' - Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

'[An] extensively researched and important study ... a unique insight into one vital aspect of Japanese thinking.' - Contemporary Review'[Barnard] is to be congratulated on opening up a new dimension of understanding, and he has certainly justified his claim that content-type analyses of textbooks need to be supplemented by close scrutiny of the style of language in which they are written.' - Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

Author Information

Christopher Barnard is Associate Professor in the Department of Anglo-American Language and Culture, Teikyo University, Tokyo.

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