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  Japan officials sued over whitewashing book   (Xinhua)  Updated: 2005-12-21 13:37  About 1,000 people, including 
Chinese and South Koreans, sued Japanese regional officials yesterday, seeking 
to block use of a controversial history textbook that they say whitewashes 
Japanese wartime aggression. 
 The Japanese citizens and foreign nationals sued Governor Moriyuki Kato of 
southern Ehime Prefecture and the prefecture's board of education. 
 The plaintiffs argue that the book glorified Japan's military invasion of 
Asian countries. They said the governor had unlawfully interfered in the 
selection process to choose the textbook for prefectural-run schools, Kyodo News 
reported. 
 The plaintiffs seek 120,000 yen (US$1,028) in compensation. 
 The widely criticized textbook was compiled by a right-wing group, the 
Japanese Society for History Textbook Reform, and published by Fusosha 
Publishing Inc. 
 It has been denounced domestically and abroad for glossing over Japan's 
aggression and colonial rule. 
 It was adopted by less than 1 percent of Japanese middle schools four years 
ago. Only three prefectures have adopted it, but editors aim for 10 percent this 
year. 
   
  
  
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