TOKYO, April 29 (UPI) -- Japan will examine history textbooks in China, South Korea and elsewhere for their depictions of World War II, following controversy over Japan's textbooks.
The Foreign Ministry and the Education, Science and Technology Ministry are also considering translating Japanese history textbooks into Chinese and Korean, and distributing them if requested.
The decision came following recent criticism of the government's textbook screening system by China and South Korea.
"Few can point out which parts (in the textbooks) correspond to these accusations. Most of the criticism is based on prejudice and misunderstanding," an official of the Foreign Ministry was quoted by Yomiuri Shimbun Friday as saying.
Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said at a meeting Tuesday of the House of Councilors' Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, "We'll explain Japan's textbook screening system on the Japanese Embassies' Web sites in China and South Korea in their languages."
