It's not the first time Japanese textbooks have been criticised for revising history. China has frequently accused Japan of glossing over wartime atrocities. But now education ministry officials are coming under fire from their own countrymen.

The dispute is over the events of the Battle of Okinawa in 1945. In March the ministry decided to tone down references to Japanese soldiers forcing civilians on the island to commit suicide, rather than surrender to American forces. It argued that the suicides were voluntary.



The local assembly in Okinawa has now issued a statement saying that's not so. Eye-witnesses at the time described fanatical soldiers handing out grenades with which people killed themselves. The assembly said it was an undeniable fact that the Japanese military were involved in the mass suicides, and that the truth should remain in print as a warning, to prevent a repeat of such tragic events. Some two-hundred thousand people died when American marines stormed Okinawa in 1945.



Keith Adams, BBC

glossing over

underplaying, not fully explaining the details of, somewhat ignoring



atrocities

terrible and cruel acts (against people)



coming under fire

receiving criticism



tone down

reduce, adjust to make less forceful



civilians

ordinary people who are not part of the military



Eye-witnesses

people who saw the event in question



fanatical

extremely enthusiastic (with a negative connotation/meaning)



handing out

giving



undeniable

certain, unquestionable



in print

written down as a record

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