The textbook selection committee under the city government in Tochigi Prefecture on Tuesday adopted a middle school history textbook of right-wing publisher Fusosha. The textbook, edited by a nationalist group of academics, has been the source of intense controversy among its neighboring countries namely Korea and China.

Seoul and Beijing criticize that it glosses over Japan's past wrongdoings.

Following the committee decision, the education board in the city of Otawara is expected to formally adopt the history textbook, which will be used at seven municipal middle schools from next year starting in April.

With Otawara becoming the first municipal government to adopt the controversial history textbook, concerns are mounting here in Seoul that the adoption might influence the selection process in other areas.

The Fusosha textbook carrying nationalistic contents is also controversial in Japan and was only used by 0.04 percent of all middle schools nationwide after approval in 2001.

Arirang News