Dr. Agnes Ahn
One of founders of Parents for Correct Asian History Education


-What do you think about the Dover-Sherborn School Committee? If you do not agree with, Please tell me why?
The Dover Sherborn School Committee has a difficult task at hand. I can not comment on the results yet because the school is still deciding how to handle the matter this spring. I do feel that So Far From the Bamboo Grove will not be taught in the same manner as it has been in the past 13 years. The School has said that they will teach the historical context of the Japanese occupation of Korea in 1945.
The author will no longer be allowed to visit with the children.

-I heard the Dover-Sherborn School decide to do not invite Yoko Kawashima  Watkins and several private school decide to exclude the book from curriculum. How do you think about it.
I think that the school has an obligation to teach history accurately. I also feel that the schools have an obligation to teach all children in a safe and nurturing environment that is free from bullying.
I do not know what made the other schools remove the book. Perhaps it was because to teach the historical context of that time period was too time consuming or because the school felt that the Korean children would be placed into a unfriendly environment.

-As far as I know, you are trying to drive grass root movement against <So Far from The Bamboo Grove>, Can you tell me how is it going?
Our efforts to bring public awareness about the controversial issues on So Far From The Bamboo Grove has not been easy. The majority of the parents are not Korean and the book has been popular in the public school system for over 15 years. Most Americans are unaware of the Japanese war atrocities like unit 731, massacre in Nanking and invasion/occupation of Korea. The American press has portrayed us as angry Korean parents without giving proper background on the Korean history with the inaccuracies of the book So Far From the Bamboo Grove. In order to make a change with this book it will take a coalition of many people. If the Korean parents do not get involved, how can they expect others to care and help us change the way the book is taught. This book has been taught for over 13 years, many Korean children do remember reading this in class and being embarrassed by it. As a mother, I wanted to make a change in the school's requirement of reading this book for my son. I have reached out to others for help because I feel that it is important to work hard now to protest this book so that other children do not have to have the problems that my son will face when his class reads this book.
As Koreans we are always stressing education to our children. We must set an example and show the children that although it is a difficult task the parents are trying to make sure that the Korean history is being taught accurately. I know that the Korean parents are too busy and often uncomfortable with making a protest in the school. I am willing to help any parent that calls me. The schools are often just trying to "manage us" and still keep the book. But if we keep showing how the book is not historical accurate we will make a difference.
Some issues include.
Korean Communist Army was not established in 1945.
There were no American bombings in that area.
How did Yoko's brother and sister speak perfect Korean with a northern accent when Korean children couldn't speak Korean. I do not think they had Saturday Korean School for Japanese children in 1945.
Many people tell me bamboo is difficult to grow in Nanam due to the harsh climate.
Yoko states she won an essay contest in March 1946, I could find no record in the Japanese newspaper during that time period.


-Pleas tell anything if you want to talk Korean American parents who do not know how to take part in this movement
In this movement to improve the understanding of Asian history, everyone counts! This is because in Massachusetts the Korean population is very small. We must help each other. Check your children's required reading list from school. The book is taught in 5th, 6th and 7th grades. Check and see if the book is taught with historical background. If the book is taught alone and the parents feel that their children are not being taught history correctly contact the school and file a written complaint. The school will have a special complaint form. After this form is filled out it should lead to a committee review. If you need help at this time please contact us, we will try to help and do a presentation.
If a child has been embarrassed or placed into an unfriendly environment because of this book please contact me, I am keeping a log of all these cases.

-How was the press conference of Mrs. Yoko Kawashima Watkins?  What is the next step we take?
Many people may say that Yoko was apologetic for her book. What surprised me is although Yoko says she says to the students she is sorry for the bad things Japan did to Korea...she does not say she is sorry for portraying the Korean men as rapists in her book.
How could Yoko say on page 48 that 3 Korean Communist soldiers said to her sister Ko "How old are you?" "The right size to have fun with tonight," said the
first soldier... when there was no Korean Communist army at that time.
It is now important to bring public awareness on this issue to Americans and Koreans.

-I heard you and the organization prepare to file a suit against the <So Far from The Bamboo Grove>. Please explain that.
It is too early to make an announcement on this. But after reviewing the evidence, a large firm in New York City has agreed to take this case pro bono (for free).

-There are some people who concern the movement goes too far, Can you explain why you and the organization try to prove the ‘fiction?is really fiction.
I am aware that there are Koreans that do not agree with me. There may be many reasons for this.
the newspaper JoongAng Ilbo has spoken very favorably of Yoko. The paper states that her book is not anti-Korean but anti-war.
Peace is a very honorable goal for everyone. After World War II, Germany has made many apologies, war reparations and accurate history lessons in their schools. Japan has done nothing. The comfort women are currently trying to get the US Congress to hear their story. Please learn about the comfort women's current efforts. In order to have peace you must first have many things including acknowledgement of war atrocities, public awareness and continued accurate education about the time period. The Japanese textbooks do not reflect the invasions of China or Korea. The Japanese government officials still visit the war criminal shrines yearly. The comfort women are still asking for an apology from the Japanese government.
Yoko is for peace but she explains the time period of her book on page 9. "The Koreans were part of the Japanese empire but they hated the Japanese and were not happy about the war." This is how she explains over 35 years of Japanese occupation in Korea to our children.
Another reason that Koreans may not understand the issue is because the Korean version of "Yoko's Story" is different from the American version of "So Far From the Bamboo Grove". The covers are very different. There are no Korean Communist Army soldiers on the cover of the Korean version. I am told that the Yoko's Story does not say that her father worked in Manchuria or that her father went to prison camp in Siberia.
I can understand that some Koreans do not feel that this book is bad because they already know Korean history. But in America if you "require" this book to be read by 11 year old children who are not taught World War II history until high school, they may feel that the Japanese were the victims of World War II.
This is why we asked our school for the following
1 do not make the book required reading at age 11
2 teach the book, but move it up to an older grade where world war II history is taught first
3 do not allow the author to visit because she states that her book is a true story of her life
4 keep the book in the library

The book is listed in many ways. These include autobiography, historical fiction and fiction.
If this book was solely represented as fiction I would never have become involved with any controversy.
However Yoko does say in many places that this is a story of her life. As a historical fiction the book has too many inaccuracies.

-Some Koreans are too emotional on this matter, What is your advice to solve this problem wisely?
As my mother says let's take a negative event and turn it into a positive one. Let's bring awareness to the Korean voice of this time period. Locally, Koreans are often not part of a large Korean organization. Talk about this controversy with others and let's spread the word.
For the sake of all children let's try to portray history correctly. Then we can work towards peace for everyone.