Japan Education

South Korean President Kim Dae Jung refused to meet a high-level Japanese delegation in a show of anger over Tokyo's refusal to revise controversial history textbooks. In April, Japan approved a middle school book written by nationalist scholars who deny that Japan committed historically documented atrocities during World War II. Seoul formally asked Tokyo to revise 35 passages that it believes gloss over atrocities committed by Japan from 1910 to 1945.

Jean Carzou, 93, a French painter who illustrated the novels of Ernest Hemingway and Albert Camus. Known for their figurative style and diversity, Carzou's illustrations have appeared in books by some of France's best-known 20th century writers, including Ionesco and Arthur Rimbaud. The artist's work includes painted porcelain and engravings, as well as stage designs for the Comedie Francaise and the top ballet and opera houses of Paris.

Japan's Emperor Akihito is scheduled to begin a visit to China today, the first such in the 2,000-year history of the monarchy. The journey aims at improving relations between two neighbors, but the atmospherics surrounding it threaten to produce an opposite effect. The problem--a persistent one--is, from China's perspective, Japan's refusal to face up to the brutal war it waged and the atrocities it inflicted on the Chinese from 1937 to 1945.

After finding ingredients that could be used for chemical and biological warfare, police are focusing their investigation on a group of elite scientists in the religious cult that is suspected in last week's deadly nerve gas attack on subways here. Authorities have seized computer disks, labeled with the name of Aum Supreme Truth's "Science and Technology Ministry," and supplies of chemicals and solvents allegedly used to make nerve gas.

A new study of global entrepreneurship shows that rates of entrepreneurship vary markedly between nations, with the most entrepreneurial posting high rates of economic growth. That might seem like common sense, but the relationship is a critical one to governments interested in boosting growth and development in their nations.

Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba traveled to China this week in a high-level response to the recent poisoning of dozens of Chinese by mustard gas left behind by the Japanese army after World War II. How sharply that visit contrasts with Japan's refusal to own up to its germ warfare experiments on Chinese civilians more than half a century ago.

When it comes to a healthy California economy and the preservation of manufacturing jobs, our politicians are a day late and a dollar short. Typical is the sobbing and whimpering of Assemblyman Richard Katz over the closure of the General Motors Van Nuys plant, scheduled in 1992. Where was Katz in 1989, when GM was looking for help and direction as it planned its facility usage in a changing market? County Supervisor Mike Antonovich made contacts with GM's Detroit leaders, and received tentative commitments to look at electric car production as a possibility.

Satoru Shiina is upset at Japan's decision to end Saturday classes at public schools and put the kids on a five-day week. "I could fall behind students who are in cram school or at other schools that go six days a week," Shiina says. "I have to go to college and find a job, but I don't know I will be able to." Shiina is 12 years old.

With exam season starting, Rina Sassa has a lot to remember--apples are red, three comes after two, and always push in your chair when getting up from the table. Rina, 3, is one of dozens of pint-sized students at Tomu Young Children's School preparing for their first taste of Japan's education rat race: private kindergarten and elementary school entrance tests. "The basics are numbers and shapes and language skills," said Mariko Kato, Rina's teacher.

South Korea ratcheted up its dispute with Japan over a controversial textbook Monday by announcing the recall of its ambassador over what it sees as a historical whitewash. South Korea, China and several nations in Southeast Asia say the junior high teaching materials gloss over the brutality of Japan's wartime past. On Monday, protesters in Seoul burned Japanese products and an effigy of a Japanese. Civic groups called on Korean consumers to boycott Japanese products.