Katō Kōko's Meiji Industrial Revolution – Forgetting forced labor to celebrate Japan's World Heritage Sites – Part 2

A critical analysis reveals that Katō Kōko, a pivotal figure in Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution World Heritage inscription process, has engaged in historical revisionism by omitting the history of Korean and other forced labor while promoting a celebratory narrative. Her selective interpretation of historical evidence, facilitated by her leadership roles in heritage-related bodies, has legitimized neo-nationalism and radical historical revisionism. The study demonstrates that Katō's cooperation with UNESCO is dishonest, calling for her removal from heritage roles to uphold Japan's commitment to acknowledge wartime forced labor history.

Johnsen, N. (2021). Katō Kōko’s Meiji Industrial Revolution – Forgetting forced labor to celebrate Japan’s World Heritage Sites – Part 2. Asia-Pacific Journal, 19(7). https://doi.org/10.1017/s1557466021031594