HISTORY AND NATIONALITY. BEYOND NATIONALIZED HISTORY?

The article discusses a controversy in Japan regarding the historiography of the Sino-Japanese theater of the Second World War. The author contends that a revisionist school of history denies or justifies Japanese atrocities during that war such as the massacre in Nanking, China, and the forced prostitution of so-called comfort women. Further the author contends that this school of history is backed by certain Japanese politicians, and that a textbook reflecting this school has been endorsed by the Japanese government ministry in charge of education.