Saburo Ienaga

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Saburo Ienaga

Role / Field:

Pioneering Japanese historian known for challenging state censorship in textbook publishing.

Born:

1913-09-03

Died:

2002-11-29

Century / Era:

1913s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Saburō Ienaga (家永 三郎, Ienaga Saburō; September 3, 1913 – November 29, 2002) was a Japanese historian. In 1953, the Japanese Ministry of Education published a textbook by Ienaga, but censored what they said were factual errors and matters of opinion, regarding Japanese war crimes. Ienaga undertook a series of lawsuits against the Ministry for violation of his freedom of speech. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 and 2001 by Noam Chomsky among others. He also recorded the history of the Japanese resistance in World War II in his book The Pacific War, 1931–1945.

Career & Major Achievements

Ienaga was born in Nagoya. He entered Tokyo's Kudan High School in 1926, and graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1937. Following his graduation, he served as a professor at Tokyo University of Education (東京教育大, today's University of Tsukuba) from 1949 to 1977, and at Chuo University from 1977 to 1984. In 1984, he was awarded the Japan Academy Prize and became professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Education. In April 1947, Ienaga published New Japanese History (新日本史) as a general history book.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Upon request from Sanseidō, Ienaga wrote a draft of a Japanese history textbook for high school based on his New Japanese History. The draft was, however, rejected by the Ministry of Education at the school textbook authorization of 1952. The reasons for rejection included such grounds as the claim that the description of the High Treason Incident (大逆事件) was not appropriate, and that the draft did not clarify the fact that the Russo-Japanese War was supported by the Japanese people. Ienaga reapplied for authorization without any alterations, and the draft somehow passed authorization and was published as a textbook for the school year of 1953, under the same title, "New Japanese History". After wholly revising the first edition of the textbook, Ienaga applied again for authorization of the textbook in 1955.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1913 (1913-09-03): Birth of Saburo Ienaga — Pioneering Japanese historian known for challenging state censorship in textbook publishing.
2. 1926: 1926 Milestone — He entered Tokyo's Kudan High School in 1926, and graduated from the University of Tokyo in 1937.
3. 1931: 1931 Milestone — He also recorded the history of the Japanese resistance in World War II in his book The Pacific War, 1931–1945.
4. 1947: 1947 Milestone — In April 1947, Ienaga published New Japanese History (新日本史) as a general history book.
5. 1949: 1949 Milestone — Following his graduation, he served as a professor at Tokyo University of Education (東京教育大, today's University of Tsukuba) from 1949 to 1977, and at Chuo University from 1977 to 1984.
6. 1952: 1952 Milestone — The draft was, however, rejected by the Ministry of Education at the school textbook authorization of 1952.
7. 1953: 1953 Milestone — In 1953, the Japanese Ministry of Education published a textbook by Ienaga, but censored what they said were factual errors and matters of opinion, regarding Japanese war crimes.
8. 1955: 1955 Milestone — After wholly revising the first edition of the textbook, Ienaga applied again for authorization of the textbook in 1955.
9. 1984: 1984 Milestone — In 1984, he was awarded the Japan Academy Prize and became professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Education.
10. 1999: 1999 Milestone — He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 and 2001 by Noam Chomsky among others.
11. 2002 (2002-11-29): Passing & Historical Legacy — Saburo Ienaga passed away on 2002-11-29, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Saburo Ienaga

True or False: “Saburō Ienaga's initial lawsuit against the Ministry of Education was successful in overturning the censorship ruling immediately.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The first trial ruled that the system could not be deemed censorship under Article 21 because it was allowed on grounds of public welfare.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Saburo Ienaga