More than 800 Japanese citizens on Wednesday held a rally in Tokyo and presented a protest letter with signatures of more than 11,000 people, voicing their objection to a controversial history textbook.  

Participants, most from Tokyo's Suginami District, gathered in rain at the district administration building, calling for a boycott of the textbook widely criticized at home and abroad for glorifying Japan's colonial rule and war-time ravage in Asia.

They strongly protested the adoption of the textbook that glosses over Japan's invasive war, urging the district authorities to eliminate the textbook from classroom.

Shieko Ogasawara, the rally organizer, said that the purpose of studying history is to eschew past mistake, warning the problematic textbook would send Japan's younger generation back to battlefield.

"The inappropriate description of history in the book deprives our children not only of their thinking ability, but also their future to peacefully get along with neighboring countries," she said.

The textbook compiled by a group of right-wing editors cleared Japan's Education Department in April. The educational committee of the Suginami District eyes approving the textbook for use in middle schools.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2005)