A Japanese education ministry panel is adding more references about the country's territory in new textbooks to be used in junior high schools. The panel wants to reflect the government's view of sovereignty over the Senkaku and Takeshima islands.
The panel on Monday finished screening more than 100 textbooks to be used next April. The process was based on instruction manuals released last year. They say textbooks must clearly state that the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and the Takeshima Islands in the Sea of Japan are the country's inherent territory.
As a result, all 20 social studies texts to be used next year mention the two sets of islands as instructed. The materials refer to Japan's territory more than twice as much as current textbooks. Local boards of education plan to decide by the end of August which to use at schools.
◆panel 審議会
◆references 言及すること
◆sovereignty 主権
◆screening 検定、検査
◆boards of education 教育委員会
