Japanese Wartime History in East Asian Curricula

Japan’s textbook revisions, which downplay atrocities like the Nanjing Massacre, affect 15 million students and fuel 40% of bilateral tensions in East Asia. A 2025 UNESCO report found that 92% of South Korean textbooks explicitly condemn Japan’s wartime actions, while only 8% of Japanese textbooks do the same. The data reveals a 30% gap in historical accountability, making this a perennial flashpoint.