abusesaffiliationarrow-downarrow-leftarrow-rightarrow-upattack-typeburgerchevron-downchevron-leftchevron-rightchevron-upClock iconclosedeletedevelopment-povertydiscriminationdollardownloademailenvironmentexternal-linkfacebookfiltergenderglobegroupshealthC4067174-3DD9-4B9E-AD64-284FDAAE6338@1xinformation-outlineinformationinstagraminvestment-trade-globalisationissueslabourlanguagesShapeCombined Shapeline, chart, up, arrow, graphLinkedInlocationmap-pinminusnewsorganisationotheroverviewpluspreviewArtboard 185profilerefreshIconnewssearchsecurityPathStock downStock steadyStock uptagticktooltiptwitteruniversalityweb
Story

3 Sep 2015

Japan: Employee sues publishing house for racist memos

A Korean woman employed by Ikuhousha, a controversial publishing house, has sued the company, alleging that memoranda and other material with racially discriminatory comments were circulated on a near-daily basis within the company. According to the employee, the memoranda contained comments such as "all Koreans are self centred" and "Koreans have difficulty telling the truth". She also alleges that employees were required to approach their local school councils, and lobby them to use Ikuhousha's textbooks. The company has declined to comment, stating they have not yet seen the allegations.

Ikuhousha was created in 2007, with the main purpose of creating textbooks that promote a "revisionist" view of Japanese history. Though their share of the textbook market remains small, several key local councils have announced adoption of their textbooks in 2014.

[Summary of Japanese articles, by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]