Headquarters of Relearning History

As one of the memorial event for sixtieth anniversary, Liberal Democratic Party launched Headquarters for Learning History and Thinking about the Future last month. Although the new discussion body was headed by Secretary General, Sadakazu Tanigaki, initiative for the headquarters was taken by its deputy chief and Chairwoman for Policy Research Council, Tomomi Inada. The headquarters was established under the direct control of LDP President, Shinzo Abe.

Tanigaki explained that the headquarters would be a forum to learn not only the history of the party, but of the nation. He would convene meetings of lawmakers with the tutors who are experts on history study. The topics would include Nanjing Massacre or “comfort woman” in World War II, which was highly controversial among Asian nations, especially China and South Korea. It is likely that LDP lawmakers will look for reasons of no slaughter of three hundred thousands of lives in Nanjing or no direct connection between war brothels and Japanese government.

Inada has been urging to have a forum to verify Japanese history after First Sino-Japanese War in 1894. She is well known as questioning historiography confirmed in Tokyo War Tribunal after World War II. It is inevitable that the headquarters is recognized as a new attempt of historical revisionism, which has been a criticism on Abe administration from foreign nations.

With no alternative way, LDP leaders support conservative agenda of Abe. “I do not care about it. While that may happen with farfetched criticisms, studying history is welcomed,” told Chairman of General Council, Toshihiro Nikai, on the possibility of the headquarters to invite broad doubts from the world. There is no explanation, anyway, on why well-educated lawmakers have to learn history now.

Nations immediately responded to new conservative movement in LDP. “If historical facts are used in distorted direction, it will face a great opposition from international society,” told an official of South Korean government. Chairman of Russian Duma, Sergey Naryshkin, warned it as “sneaking of historical revisionism.” If the forum steps into redefinition of Tokyo War Tribunal, United States will join the criticisms on LDP.

It is unclear how deep Abe has been involved in the establishment. But, it is apparent that historical revisionism is prevalent in the leading party. Although Abe tried to settle historical dispute over seventieth anniversary statement from the end of war this summer, neo-conservatism in LDP may undermine all those efforts to improve diplomatic relationship with neighbor countries.