Can Money Buy Historical Memory?

The Indonesian government revised the national history textbook by changing the term for Japanese rule during World War II from "military occupation" to "colonization". This change sparked academic and public debate, considering Japan has long been known as a major economic partner and the largest provider of official development assistance (ODA) to Indonesia. Amid these discussions, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi visited Jakarta and gave President Prabowo Subianto a miniature of the battleship Mikasa. The Mikasa ship is a symbol of the Imperial Japanese military power in the early 20th century, so this gift drew criticism on social media for being seen as tone-deaf to the history of Japan's military expansion in Asia. Indonesian historian Hilmar Farid previously pointed out that the narrative of Japan's historical reconciliation in Asia can't be separated from diplomacy, development aid, and shaping public perception. Japan's ODA, according to him, doesn't just function as an economic tool but also influences the historical relationship between the two countries. https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2026/09/04/bisakah-uang-membeli-ingatan-sejarah/