竹島，釣魚島是“日本固有領土”......教科書検定

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

竹島・尖閣は「日本固有の領土」…教科書検定

2015年04月06日 19時11分

　文部科学省は６日、２０１６年度から中学校で使う教科書の検定結果を公表した。

　社会科では、初めて全教科書で竹島（島根県）と尖閣諸島（沖縄県）が取り上げられ、「日本固有の領土」などと明記された。歴史的経緯も詳しく説明しており、領土教育の充実が図られそうだ。

　中学教科書は今回、国語、社会、数学、理科、英語など９教科で１０４点の検定申請があり、１０２点が修正を経て合格。社会科の２点が、「学ぶ内容を示した学習指導要領に沿っていない」などの理由でいったん不合格になったが、修正後に再申請して合格した。

　うち社会科では、地理、歴史、公民、地図の２０点全てで北方領土に加え竹島と尖閣諸島の記述が登場した。文科省教科書課は「全体に領土の記述量が倍増した」としている。特に中学歴史ではこれまで、竹島と尖閣諸島についてほとんど記述がなかったが、今回８点全てで日本の領土になった経緯が説明された。

　背景には、文科省が昨年１月、教科書作りの指針となる学習指導要領解説書（社会）を改定し、竹島と尖閣諸島について固有の領土であると明確に理解させるよう求めたことや、領土への関心が高まっていることがある。

(試譯文)

    On the 6^th (April) the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology published its official vetting results on textbooks that were to be used in junior high schools from fiscal year 2016.

   Takeshima (Shimane prefecture) and Senkaku Islands (Okinawa prefecture) were taken up and written clearly as "territories peculiar to Japan" etc. for the first time in all textbooks in social studies. Their historical backgrounds were also described in details, and the aim was to enhance the territory education.

   Regarding junior high school textbooks this time, the 9 subjects that sought official approval were: Japanese, public opinion, mathematics, science and English with 104 points in total, and 102 points passed through the modification. Two points on social studies were disqualified for reasons that "they are not following the curriculum guidelines which spell out the teaching contents". After correction they were re-applied and passed.

   On social studies, 20 points appeared under topography, history, civics and mapping. Those came to light were all about descriptions on Takeshima in the Northern Territories as well as on the Senkaku Islands. For the textbook department of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, it was supposed that "the description amount on the territory was doubled overall". Up to now in junior high school history in particular, there was almost no description about Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands, but this time 8 points all fully explained the process on how they become Japanese territories.

   The background was that in January last year the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology revised its curriculum guideline manuals which became the guideline on textbook making (social studies). There were requests that Takeshima and Senkaku Islands must be clearly understood as a peculiar territory, and that an interest over the territory be increased.

It seems that Japan is paying more attention to the educational materials regarding Takeshima and the Senkaku Islands