Japan revises school curriculum to include ownership of disputed territories

Japan is revising teaching matter for schools that sets out the islands disputed by China and South Korea actually belongs to Tokyo.

Education Minister Hakubun Shimomura said Japan wanted to teach its children 'about integral parts of its territory'.

According to the BBC, the disputed territory includes islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan but also claimed by China, and islands controlled by South Korea.

The disputes have caused tension between Japan and the two countries.

The revised curriculum approved by the Education Ministry will be seen in history and geography classes in junior and senior high schools.

As per the new syllabus, islands in the East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, and the South Korea-controlled Dokdo islands, known as Takeshima in Japan, are 'integral parts of Japanese territory'.

Shimomura said that 'with the co-operation of Japan's Foreign Ministry, they will explain the country's position to their neighbours.

South Korea has protested the move, with officials calling the meaning of the revision a 'very serious' matter.