Book Changes Commonly  Accepted View of  Japanese History

Current Topics | 日本の歴史観を変える一冊!?

Book Changes Commonly Accepted View of Japanese History

The history book “Nihonkokuki” (A Complete History of Japan), written by HYAKUTA Naoki and published at the end of last year, has become a bestseller. This is a book that describes the history of Japan from its beginnings to the present. The author takes the stance that conventional history books lack pride in what it means to be Japanese. On the other hand, some people point out that this is an entertaining book, and it lacks evidence to back up the theories put forward. People can view history from different perspectives, these include commonly accepted views, popular beliefs, paradoxes, and new theories. Interpretations differ greatly depending on the views of authors and readers, and as a result, the debate continues.

昨年末さくねんまつ
sakunenn matsu
last year (the) end (of)
ni
at
発売はつばいされた
hatsubai sareta
published
歴史れきしぼん
rekishibonn
(the) history book
日本国にほんこく
“nihonn’kokuki”
(a) complete history of Japan
百田ひゃくた尚樹なおきちょ)が
(hyakuta naoki cho) ga
Hyakuta Naoki written by and
ベストセラーべすとせらー
besutosera- to
(a) bestseller
なっています。
natte i masu
has become
これは、
kore ha,
this
naritachi
(its) beginnings
から
kara
from
現代げんだい
genndai
(the) present
までを
made wo
to
えがいた
egaita
(that) describes
日本史にほんし
nihonnshi no
(the) history of Japan
ぼん
honn
(a) book
です。
desu.
is
著者ちょしゃ
chosha ha
(the) author
これまでの
koremade no
conventional
通史つうしには
tsuushi niha
history books
日本人にほんじんである
nihonnjinn de aru
what it means to be Japanese
ほこりが
hokori ga
pride
けている
kakete iru
lack (in)
との
to no
that
観点かんてん
kanntenn ni
(the) stance
っています。
tatte i masu.
takes
一方いっぽうで、
ippou de,
on the other hand
主張しゅちょう裏づけるうら
shuchou wo uradukeru
(the) theories to back up put forward
資料しりょう
shiryou ga
evidence
すくなく、
sukunaku,
(it) lacks and
これは
kore ha
this
エンターテイメントえんたーていめんとぼん
enta-teimennto’bonn
(an) entertaining book
da
is
という
to iu
that
こえ
koe mo
point out
あります。
ari masu.
some people
歴史れきし
rekishi ha
history
さまざまな見方みかた
samazamana mikata ga
different perspectives
でき、
deki,
(people) can view (from)
通説つうせつ
tsuusetsu,
(the) commonly accepted views
俗説ぞくせつ
zokusetsu,
popular beliefs
逆説ぎゃくせつ
gyakusetsu,
paradoxes
新説しんせつ
shinnsetsu ga
(and) new theories
混在こんざいしています。
konnzai shite i masu.
(these) include
解釈かいしゃく
kaishaku ha
interpretations
著者ちょしゃ
chosha,
authors
読者どくしゃ
dokusha
(and) readers
no
of
主観しゅかん
syukann
(the) views
によって
ni yotte
depending on
おおきく
ookiku
greatly
ことなり、
kotonari,
differ and
そのため
sonotame
as a result
議論ぎろん
gironn ha
(the) debate
きません。
tsuki masenn.
continues

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