Newly appointed education minister Hirokazu Matsuno says he stands by the government's official take on history, including over so-called "comfort women," women and girls forced to work at Imperial Japanese wartime military brothels.

South Korean media outlets call Matsuno a hawk. He has in the past put his name to at least one document that appears revisionist compared with the government's official line.

"I'm a member of the Cabinet. So it's only natural that I maintain the government's official views on basic historical recognition," Matsuno told reporters Monday.