JE Kaleidoscope, a Japan Echo website, is a source of in-depth information for people seeking a deeper understanding of Japan. The main feature on the website now is a collection of translations of middle school textbooks. These are the Japanese history textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology for use beginning in April 2006. Here we present the sections on Japan’s early modern and modern history.

Foreign interest in Japan’s school textbooks is extremely high. The textbook translations have been commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the aim of accurately presenting this information to people around the world. The translated material comes from all eight of the Japanese history books approved in the spring of 2005 for use from the following school year on.

The translated content covers mainly the early modern and modern eras, beginning with the waning years of the Edo period (1603–1867) and spanning the modern age following the 1868 Meiji Restoration up through the contemporary history covered in the books. We began in fiscal 2005 by translating the textbooks’ tables of contents and parts of the content itself into English, Chinese, and Korean. The translations of the early modern and modern sections are now complete. All translations are provided by Japan Echo Inc., and questions regarding the translated material should be directed to us.

It is our hope that this website will play a valuable role in deepening mutual understanding of diverse historical views in China, Korea, and all of the nations of Asia. Thank you for visiting us.