Japanese publishing workers at the forefront: combating historical denialism with social movement unionism.

This article explores the critical role of the Japan Federation of Publishing Workers’ Unions (JFPWU) in countering historical denialism in Japan through social movement unionism (SMU). As historical denialism – including the Holocaust, Nanking Massacre, and existence of ‘comfort women’ – grew globally, the JFPWU uniquely mobilized against right-wing narratives, particularly those advanced by the Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform (Tsukuru-kai). Since the 1950s, the JFPWU’s involvement in the textbook movement has evolved from defending the freedom of speech and opposing state censorship to directly challenging historical revisionism in education. Analyzing publicly available reports and JFPWU members’ writings, this paper traces the JFPWU’s strategic shifts across the following three periods: its foundational role in postwar textbook controversies, its engagement in the Ienaga trials against government-imposed textbook screenings, and its active opposition to the Tsukuru-kai’s nationalist textbooks since the late 1990s. This paper elucidates how SMU has allowed the JFPWU to transcend traditional union activities, and form alliances with scholars and civic organizations to advocate historical accuracy and democratic principles. By examining the JFPWU’s sustained commitment to SMU, labor unions’ crucial role in driving social movements is exemplified alongside the challenges of revitalizing labor movements within Japan’s contemporary landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]