History Not Found in Schoolbooks

I never learned about the history of the Korean Peninsula, divided between North and South, in school. Looking back now, I wonder what exactly the history I learned in Japanese elementary, middle, and high school was all about.

As for Japan’s participation in World War II, we were taught nothing beyond Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That’s why I’m so deeply moved when I read about the tragedy of the Korean War as depicted by Korean-American poets.

It seems we were completely unaware—and were never told—so we simply closed our eyes and ears to it all.