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In a speech, Okada is reported to have said, "Ideally in the future, we need to have a common history textbook for Japan, China and Korea". As a first step, the three countries will implement a joint study of history, he said. Seoul welcomed the suggestion, but said it will take some time.

Indeed, such a situation would be "ideal" as Okada noted. However, if the efforts of a Korea-Japan research group on history formed in 2002 are any indication, the road to a jointly authored history textbook and even a joint study that precedes it will be fraught with difficulties.

The Korea-Japan committee finished its first round of studies - covering ancient, medieval, and modern and contemporary history - in 2005. A 2,000-page report presenting differing views on events involving their nations was published in June 2005.

The second phase of the joint history studies was begun in 2007, charged with an additional task of looking into the history textbook issue.

This second round, set to be completed this year, is stalled over differences on the textbook issue. Japanese history textbooks have been charged with whitewashing Japan's actions during World War II, such as military sexual slavery. Another thorny issue hampering progress in the joint studies is the dispute over the Dokdo islets.

The joint history studies since 2002 have confirmed numerous outstanding differences in how each country views history. Hence, three-way history studies involving Korea, China and Japan will be a Herculean task. Korea and China are in dispute over the history of Goguryeo, while the Japan-China joint studies are stalled over the different historical perspectives, particularly over modern and contemporary history.

As ideal as a joint history textbook may be, it may take a very long time to arrive at one.

However, there are precedents of former foes sitting down to write history textbooks together. Germany has done so with France as well as Poland. But it took more than 70 and 30 years, respectively, for the countries to complete them.

We cannot move forward unless there is proper recognition and acknowledgement of our past. This is why a clear and accurate view of history is vital to the future of each of the three countries, as well as the future of the three as a collective.

This is why a joint study of history is a valid proposition.