The Japanese government has announced it intends to pay for the dozens of North Korean schools operating in Japan; critics contend such “schools” are little more than brainwashing centres run by the North Korean government, teaching academically worthless anti-Japanese curricula and slavish obedience to the Dear Leader.
Prime Minister Hatoyama has made statements supporting the inclusion of the schools in the planned abolition of high school tuition fees. Previously they had been excluded from this and similar legislation for being beyond the pale even for Japan.
The schools (Chousen Gakkou / 朝鮮学校) are operated directly by the “Chongryon,” Japan’s North Korean residents’ group, itself directly operated and funded by the North Korean government. Members are part of the “Dear Leader” Stalinist personality cult centred on the Kim dynasty in North Korea.
“There’s nothing special about our school.”
Portraits of the Kims oversee the students at every turn, and anti-Japanese teachings are routine. Korean is the language of instruction and Japanese is taught only as a foreign language.
Over a third of the curriculum centres on “cultural studies,” which involves teaching the infallibility of the Dear Leader and the Juche ideology – critics contend that the standard of education is remedial by Japanese standards as a result, with graduates emerging unable to function in Japanese society.
Teachers possess no teaching qualifications save those given out by North Korean operated institutions, and students mostly find employment with Korean companies or further education at the North Korean operated “Korea University” in Kyushu.
The numbers attending these schools have plummeted over the years, from some 50,000 in the 1970s to a mere 10,000 today, though they still retain the same ideological fervour and outright hostility to Japan and America.
The Chongryon itself opposes Korean integration as Japanese citizens or otherwise, and is generally regarded as a political and economic tool of the North Korean state – in addition to propaganda organisations, it operates a variety of businesses, most notably many of the nation’s pachinko parlours. Critics say a key function is as a foreign currency earner for the Kims.
The schools at issue are exclusively North Korean and should not be confused as being involved with Korea proper – there are a few South Korean “international” schools in Japan, which are not associated with extreme teachings.
Most Koreans resident in Japan associate themselves with the south and maintain completely separate organisations from the North Korean affiliated residents – relations between the two sides are as icy as those on the peninsular.
The Democratic Party of Japan are generally reviled by right-wingers for being in the thrall of foreigners (specifically the Chinese and, especially, Japan’s large population of Koreans), a reputation which it does not seem will be leaving them any time soon.
Some arithmetic from a Japanese “Korean school” textbook:
“There were 10 Japanese but 5 were killed. How many wicked Japanese are currently fleeing?”
Soon to be courtesy of the Japanese government.
ㅆㅂ 뭐야?
WTF? YAH, help your enemies and train their future comrades?!
WHAT STUPIDITY!
The Democratic Party of Japan is really driving Japan to the ground. First with China, now NK. It ain’t even funny, it’s so stupid, I could cry.
Things like this, I’m very disappointed in Japan for dragging down what used to be the envy of the world. Japan have such an amazing culture with rich history and traditions and customs. Even in the modern age, Japan spearheaded itself to be among the best nations in the world is so admirable.
But recently, Japan been hit with all kinds of problems:
1) An aging population
2) less-determined and -driven youths, like the past when All of Japan wished and worked for a prosperous future, Lifting Japan from poverty and ruined during the post-WW2 period.
3) passive, not aggressive enough, especially when dealing with the Bullies of East Asia, China, North and South Korea, in certain disputes.
I always had such an admiration for Japan. Not just the great gadgets, electronics, the automobiles, and video games/anime/manga culture, like that of Sony, Sharp, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Dragon-ball, Slam Dunk, bleach, Naruto,etc. but Been a huge fan of it’s rich, cultivated history and culture: the samurais and ninja warriors, the martial arts, the bushido code, the buddhist temples and shinto shrines, the cuisine, the ikebana, the performing arts, the traditional clothing,etc. (you get my point).
Also, I’d always been fond of the Japanese way of life and Japanese society.
though I had heard otherwise, negative comments about it, but generally I still very much like it so.
other than the technological aspects, Japan been a major player in almost all fields it partake. Especially it’s high quality products and craft.
– Beginning in the early 1960’s(?), japan started manufacturing guitars, within a decade or so, it well known for it’s high quality @ cheap prices compared to American guitar manufacturers, even today.
I.E. Ibanez, Takamine, ESP, Fernandes,etc.
– Not just that, but in all fields in manufacturing, Japanese companies hold a spot, in some cases several, in the world best list.
-in the rarer and less mentioned, Japan also manufactured well known, high quality firearms and weaponry. companies like Howa, Mitsuibishi, and sumitomo heavy industries, as well as Miroku and Minebea.
until the 1978 weapons-export ban, Howa version of the AR-18, Miroku’s Browning replicas are well known for their high quality and reliability.
Even during WW2, the Mitsubishi Zero fighter plane are feared and the Arisaka rifles are quite reliable.
To sum it up, I loved Japan and Japanese ingenuity, it’s way of adapting and perfecting any imported ideas that came it’s way.
Sad to see Japan in such a situation.
And the way Japan been bullied by the world, US, Australia, China and The Koreas, kinda make u think if Imperial Japan still exist, would they keep quiet? If only samurai still exist…
Imperial Japan is one of the classic models of incompetent government, so I think they would have fared even worse.
Just that with Imperial Japan, there would not be a North Korea, but a Japanese-controlled Korea.
Er, no. Imperial Japan would lose its control over its own military, which would then also start wars with China, South Korea and the US, fuelled by nationalism and xenophobia promoted by the government itself and lack of realism due in part to not having a proper government in control any more.
I could understand hostility towards America, but Japan?
You know nothing about the history of either Japan or Korea, do you? Fucking moron.
Maybe a Japanese schoolboy might run into one of those NK schoolgirls and have his way with her…
Remember when Korean schoolgirls over there used to wear hanbok uniforms before angry Japanese guys cut them up and they changed to OL-style clothes?
They were cuter then!