Publishers of school textbooks may one day no longer have to give so-called special consideration to neighboring parts of Asia when describing historical events.
The education ministry will start discussing revising this guideline, which publishers of textbooks used from elementary to high school must follow, sources close to the ministry said.
Stricter vetting of social studies textbooks began in 1982 after China and South Korea objected strongly to Japanese high school history textbooks the previous year that began referring to Japan's past "invasions" in Asia as "advancements."