[rcheshire (Rowland)]

When I was living and working in Japan between 2003 - 8, rewriting of Japanese history in school text books, particularly in relation to China, was a hot topic.

I worked with Japanese people at very close quarters and it is fair to say that most perceive the war years and perhaps the years of colonialism, and the cruelties associated with these times, as the misguided ambitions and arrogance of post modernisation.

My experience was of a deeply exclusive and predjudiced nation who tolerate and take the best of what they can of foreign interests. Having said that I met some of the finest peope I have ever encountered and some of the most doubtful.

A survey, during my stay there, found that the large majority of Japanese did not want a return to the ways of the former years. There is however, a strong nationalist movement.

A captive of their system for 5 years, perhaps I suffer from Stockholm syndrome, but it is the philosophical bent that seems to add a harsh edge to being Japanese or indeed wise to the dangers of Japanese society - these people did not fair well in the workplace and were often overlooked, if not actively suppressed.

I suspect that Japan may present itself to outsiders according to its preferences.

There is significant danger in forgetting, let alone denying, history.