Beyond the Memory of Patriotism: Seeking a Way to Reconcile Patriotism-Memory in Japanese History Textbook Disputes

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the reconciliation of patriotism and war time memory in Japanese historytext book disputes, challenging the perceiveddichoto my between these concepts. It focuses on the ideologicalclash betweenSaburoIenaga’sadvocacy for educationalfreedom and the nationalistic stance of the JapaneseSociety for HistoryTextbook Reform (Tsukurukai). The author argues for a democratic andrationalizedinterpretation of patriotism thatcoexists with historical memory.The authoroutlines the importance ofhistorytextbooks in shaping national identity and memory, tracing Japan’s post-WWII textbookapproval systemand debates on wartimehistoryportrayal. Ienaga’slawsuitsemphasized the necessity of educationreflectingsocietalvalues and acknowledging national errors for truepatriotism. Conversely,TsukurukaiadvocatedminimizingJapan’swartimeatrocities, promoting “healthynationalism.”Despite their sharedcritique of postwar democracy, Ienaga and Tsukurukai diverge significantly in addressing Japan’s dark past anddefining patriotism. The author concludes that genuine patriotism involves openly admitting past mistakes andlearning from history. This approach challenges Tsukurukai’s tendency to overlook Japan’s negative history,advocating for a balanced, truthful educational representation of the past, essential for a globally responsible andpeaceful future.

Keywords–Patriotism, Historical memory, Japanese history textbooks, educational freedom, National identity