Controversial Japan history textbook hits stores

South Korean protestors in April promised a boycott of Japanese goods if publication went ahead

TOKYO, Japan -- The history textbook that outraged Asia for what is considered a whitewash of Japanese atrocities early in the 20th century has hit Japanese bookstores.

In a rare move, the book was released early by the publisher in a bid to gain public support.

"We decided it would be best to release the book and let readers decide," Toshiaki Shirasawa of publisher Fusosha said Monday. "We feel we've been criticized unfairly."

The book, "New History Textbook," authored by a group of Japanese nationalists, is among eight approved by the education ministry for use in junior high schools when the academic year begins in April.

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South Korea, China and other Asian countries have sharply criticized the Japanese government for approving the book, which critics say distorts history and glosses over atrocities committed by the Japanese military in the years leading up to World War II.

Textbooks rarely go on sale before school staff have the opportunity to examine them and decide which ones they want to use. Textbook publishers customarily give schools up to 10,000 free sample copies.

Decision to go early 'regrettable'

No mention is made of the 150,000-plus killed in Nanjing

The controversial text that went on sale Monday costs 933 yen ($7.70).

The vice minister of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, Motoyuki Ono, said it was regrettable that Fusosha went ahead with the sale despite the ministry's suggestion that it wait until schools have had a chance to examine the texts available.

Last month, the South Korean government demanded 25 specific revisions to the book, along with 10 specific changes to the other seven approved texts. Beijing also demanded revisions in the new book.

No plans to alter book

Japan says it has no plans to alter the books unless factual errors are found.

Only one of the eight books mentions the Japanese Imperial army's enslaving tens of thousands of women in soldiers' brothels, and none mention the scale of the Nanjing, China, massacre.

Historians generally agree that the Japanese army slaughtered at least 150,000 civilians during the 1937-38 occupation of the Chinese city then known as Nanking.

Also Monday, three activist groups announced a plan to hold an international conference next week in an attempt to force the Japanese government to retract approval of the new textbook.

About 40 people, including three "comfort women" from South Korea and the Philippines, and historians and educators from five other Asian countries, will attend the meeting set for Sunday and Monday, organizers said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.