Japan Cabinet Approves Patriotism for Schools Plan

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Japan Cabinet Approves Patriotism for Schools Plan
By REUTERS
Published: April 28, 2006
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's cabinet approved a bill on Friday to make nurturing ``love of country'' an aim of education, a change sought by conservatives who want patriotism in schools but opposed by those who see parallels with militarism.

The revisions -- which would be the first to the 1947 Fundamental Law of Education since it was enacted during the U.S.-led occupation -- are unlikely to be welcomed by China and South Korea, locked in disputes with Japan stemming from the legacy of Japanese military occupation and colonization.

The revisions would make it a goal of education policy to cultivate ``an attitude that respects tradition and culture, loves the nation and the homeland that have fostered them, respects other nations, and contributes to peace and development of international society.''

Education Minister Kenji Kosaka told reporters: ``We want to make efforts to enact this bill and to gain the people's understanding.''

Among those keen on the change is Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, the current front-runner in the race to succeed Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi when he steps down in September.

Conservatives have long been unhappy with the U.S.-drafted law, which they say eroded the pride of Japanese in their culture and history, and undermined legitimate patriotic sentiment.

``It's a very important symbol of a strengthening of nationalism in the political class and the will of the political class to educate people toward stronger nationalism,'' said Sven Saaler, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo.

Feuds have already erupted with Beijing and Seoul over textbooks that critics say whitewash Tokyo's past aggression.

Japan's relations with its two neighbors are also frigid because of Koizumi's visits to the Yasukuni shrine for war dead, where some convicted war criminals are honored.

Critics of the proposed new education law fear for freedom of speech and thought.

``This revision would turn back the clock to the pre-war era,'' Communist Party lawmaker Ikuko Ishii told a gathering of opponents to the changes this week.

``It is a serious violation of freedom of thought.''

Some conservatives, though, are disappointed that the changes do not go further to include cultivating a ``patriotic spirit'' as well a ``religious attitude.''

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Buddhist-backed junior coalition partner, New Komeito, had been wary of revisions and worked to water down more strongly worded proposals.

Many members of the lay Buddhist group that supports the New Komeito had suffered under the wartime state Shinto religion and were wary of anything hinting at a revival of similar ideology.

Whether the bill will be enacted in the current session of parliament ending June 18 is unclear, although the ruling camp has a majority in both houses.