Japan now is filled with very depressing news. We are disgusted with a series of scandals happening in Japanese government, in major banks and security companies. Beside these, we are still suffering from agonizing incidents of mass murder committed by the fanatical Om Shinrikyo cult. And in addition, we are shocked by the brutal murder of a boy which occurred recently. Japan seems to be plunged into a situation with little hope.

Yet Japan possesses a tradition from which its cultural roots were created and of which Japan can be proud. Today, it seems that our minds have become too desolated and distracted to appreciate these core values. What made Japanese people so forgetful of our heritage ? I would like to say that one major thing has been our educational system after WWII.

Japanese education after WWII has rejected Japan's cultural roots and traditions. The Japanese Teachers Association -- called "Nikkyoso" -- was founded by the Japanese Diet in March, 1945. In June, 1945, JTA was established upon their objectives to struggle and organize against the Ministry of Education. Patriotism and Japan's royal family were hated, the history of Japan's founding was dispised, respect to parent and dedication to family were all denied. This cold war agenda and its ideology have stayed at the core of Japanese education ever since.

This explains why our students are confused about their cultural heritage. They are taught history that makes them call themselves thieves, and ignore the national flag and national anthem. This has resulted in some extreme cases where students would prefer not to have been born as Japanese.

We just heard that at the entrance ceremony of a public junior high school in Tokyo, teachers, students and parents attending the ceremony completely ignored and did not sing the national anthem, though it was scheduled on the opening agenda.

The Japanese flag is called the rising sun. Its design is so simple that only a red circle lies against a white aquare sheet: that red implies the sun, white signifies the state of mind which is purity, brightness, righteousness and straightforwardness as well as sincerity and loyalty to the nation. It shows nothing but appreciation to the sun as a source of life. This is the true meaning of the rising sun.

The Japanese national anthem praises peace and co-existence and co-prosperity in the nation and pays respect to the Emperor. Comparing it to national anthems of other countries, there exist no such words or implications about victory or war in it. We should be proud of our national anthem.

The Japanese educational system has become one of the last struggles of the cold war. The agenda of a nationless rule of the worker has presented itself to our young student as our true national history. In the history textbook for Junior High school this year there are descriptions about " Jugun Ianfu" -- meaning prostitutes joining the army during WWII--and " Kyosei Renko" --meaning women being taken and forced become Jugun Ianfu.

Moreover, these textbooks describe Japan as a nation of aggression since Meiji Era. How can this mixture of ideology with schooling give young people the clarification they need to discover our basic goodness and cultural distinctiveness? What kind of outcome do you expect from an education in which students are first taught to deny their heritage?

To discover their cultural heritage, they need to lean of the beauties of Japanese arts such as Wabi (simplicity) and Sabi (elegance). These should not be overlooked in education. The Kojiki --the Japanese classic compiled in 712 AD --also should not be underestimated since it explains the basics of Japanese people and Shinto. Young people should learn about the rice cultivation ceremony that has been practiced by the Japanese Emperor for 2675 years and by 100,000 Shinto shrines; and this is our most important ritual because it leads us to other key concepts such as co-prosperity and co-existence and living harmoniously with the great nature ( Kannagara). Our core values arise from Shinto's way of cooperation and peace --harmony with life and with each other.

I believe that through proper understanding of our own history and culture, we may regain our pride of begin Japanese. In this year of 1997, the year of the ox, I sincerely hope to see the reform of the Fundamentals of Education Act and the administrative structure that will carry it out and to restore our lifestyle. Let us learn true history!