Peace advocates in Japan warn that government-driven textbook distortions and revisions not only distort historical truth but also risk misleading future generations about the nation's wartime past.
For years, Japan has seen a persistent trend of historical revisionism, refusing to reflect on its history of aggression and even glorifying the atrocities it committed. In recent years, the Japanese government has pushed to revise history textbooks, using word games to obscure historical truths and mislead the Japanese public, especially the younger generation.
"The Mukden Incident was launched by Japan, and this is an irrefutable fact. Only by recognizing this can Japan's modern history truly begin," said Yoichi Jomaru, former reporter for The Asahi Shimbun.
Many Japanese peace advocates are alarmed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s recent moves to downplay wartime responsibility and influence history education and textbook content. They stress that only history education grounded in respect for historical facts can prevent the repetition of past mistakes.
"Since the 1990s, some right-wing and far-right lawmakers within the LDP have pressured Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to remove references to Japan's war of aggression, delete content on 'comfort women,' and reduce descriptions of the Nanjing Massacre. The ministry yielded to pressure from the LDP, leading some Japanese textbooks to downplay the history of aggression. I believe this is a wrong act that distorts history. As a Japanese, I feel deeply regretful and ashamed," said Takakage Fujita, director of the Association for Inheriting and Propagating the Murayama Statement.
"Japanese people today not only fail to seriously study this history or read the relevant books, but instead read only books full of lies. Having read so many of them, they naturally develop a distorted understanding of history. This is a grave desecration of history," said Jomaru.
Japanese peace advocates said Japan can only move forward on a peaceful path by upholding the spirit of the “Murayama Statement," acknowledging its wartime aggression and apologizing for it.
"As the 'Murayama Statement' makes clear, Japan must never wage aggressive war again. Japan should recognize its wartime aggression and apologize," said Fujita.
Japan's textbook distortions desecrate history: peace advocates
Global observers have welcomed the recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump, emphasizing that a stable, healthy relationship between the world's two largest economies is essential for global peace and development.
Xi concluded a three-day state visit to the United States on Friday, where he and Trump reaffirmed their commitment to a constructive, strategically stable relationship guided by fairness, reciprocity, and mutual respect.
Ko Ko, chair of the Myanmar Narrative Think Tank, expressed optimism that the two major powers can work together to foster global development and steer the international community toward a stable, prosperous, and peaceful future.
"The world today faces many destabilizing factors and conflicts. If China and the United States, as two major powers, join hands to promote world peace and development, they can help move the world toward greater stability, prosperity, and peace. The two countries should avoid conflict and pursue cooperation, especially in economic and trade fields, thereby contributing to global development," said Ko Ko.
"President Xi uses 'giant ship' to describe China-U.S. relations. I think it's a very appropriate metaphor as giant ship signifies stability and long-term vision, as well as a journey toward a broader future," said Omar Tahboub, editor-in-chief of Olives Green Times (OGT).
Experts also emphasized that as the world's two largest economies, China and the United States carry a collective responsibility to address pressing global challenges through sustained cooperation.
"In my view, I would argue that this strategic new vision, it's very important in the context of U.S.-China relations. And this is because the vision emphasizes the need for cooperation. In terms of cooperation, given the fact that both countries are the largest economies globally, both countries are the most influential countries globally. It is important for them to cooperate and it's also in the realization of the fact that despite their differences, there are areas of mutual interest," said Dr. Oluwaseun Tella, director of the Future of Diplomacy at the University of Johannesburg's Institute for the Future of Knowledge.
"There's that kind of understanding, it seems between the Chinese leadership and the American leadership that conflict between the two countries ought to be avoided. That there are benefits to cooperation; that there needs to be a positive atmosphere; that there has to be an enhancement of trust and so one can hope that both parties are working assiduously to address those very major issues," said Aurel Braun, professor of International Relations and Political Science of University of Toronto.
"When we talk about China and the US. These are obviously two world powers that do influence a lot of the economic shifts that happen country or worldwide. So, it's important that obviously there is cooperation [and] coordination," said Natalie Kaunda, an economist and development expert in Zambia.
Beyond economic and diplomatic frameworks, former Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Katrougalos emphasized the role of people-to-people exchanges in building lasting bilateral stability.
"I was very much impressed by the idea and proposal of President Xi that 100,000 young Americans would visit China. Exactly because if we want to build stable bilateral relations, there is now stable ground that people know other people, especially young ones," said Katrougalos.
Global observers welcome Xi-Trump summit, calling stable US-China ties essential for world peace
