On the 3rd, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) announced the results of the textbooks approved for use for the 2002 school year. In the midst the storm of debate raised both in and outside of Japan regarding history/civics textbooks, RENGO endorsed its policy on the matter at its 21st Central Executive Committee Meeting held on the 12th. RENGO stated that the textbooks must be "able to weather criticism from both inside and out."

History/Civics textbooks must be based on modern historical research and ought to be able to withstand criticism both within and outside of Japan. RENGO makes public its stance on the History/Civics textbook issue based on the following prehistory of its actions to date.
1. We should follow former Prime Minister Murayama's statement on History/Civics textbooks: "to avoid repeating past mistakes, it is vital to teach younger generations of the tragedy of war, as well as build relationships with nations of Asian Pacific Region based on profound understanding and trust." We also should follow the government's views of successive cabinets after PM Murayama. Therefore, official examinations of school textbook adoptions should naturally be based on the governments' views.
2. Since RENGO's FY1997 "Demands and Proposals," RENGO has endorsed a policy of "each school choosing in principle" regarding textbook selection. Further in 1997 the government decided at a cabinet meeting to "promote prefectural efforts to make current adoption districts smaller and improve adoption procedures to better reflect teachers views on their study for selecting textbooks."

Textbook selection should in principle be carried out at each school thereby reflecting the views of the actual teachers who will be using them as well as the views of the parents and local residents.