Takeshima

A group of islands that are known today as Takeshima used to be called "Matsushima" until around the start of the Meiji era (1868-1912). The island that was called at that time as "Takeshima" or "Isotakeshima" is now called Utsuryo Island. In any case, it is clear from many written references, maps and others that Japan has long recognized "Takeshima" or "Matsushima."

(For example, on many maps, including the Kaisei Nippon Yochi Rotei Zenzu (Revised Complete Map of Japanese Lands and Roads) (1779) by Sekisui Nagakubo, which is the most prominent published cartographic projection of Japan, the locations of Utsuryo Island and Takeshima are accurately recorded at their current positions between the Korean Peninsula and the Oki Islands).

We firmly believe that Japan has established the sovereignty of Takeshima by the beginning of the Edo Period (1603-1867) in the mid 17th century at the very latest. The trade families of Ohya and Murakawa of Yonago in the Tottori clan in the region of Houki-no-kuni traveled, with the permission of the Shogunate, to Utsuryo Island alternately family by family once every year to engage in fishing, felling of the bamboo groves and other activities, and sent the abalone that they caught to the Shogunate as a tribute. Takeshima was en route to Utsuryo Island and was used as a stopover port and for fishing.

The development of Utsuryo Island by the Ohya and Murakawa families continued peacefully in this manner for approximately 70 years. However, in 1692 when the members of the Murakawa traveled to the island, and again in 1693 when the members of the Ohya traveled there, they encountered many Koreans who were engaged in fishing around the island. This prompted the initiation of negotiations between the governments of Japan and Korea concerning the sovereignty of Utsuryo Island. Ultimately, in January 1696, the Shogunate issued a ban on the passage of ships to Utsuryo Island (the so-called "Takeshima Ikken (The Affair of Takeshima)"). However, there was no prohibition placed on travel to Takeshima.

In September 1904, Yozaburo Nakai, who was a resident of Shimane Prefecture, submitted a request to three government ministers (Home Minister, Foreign Minister, Agriculture and Commerce Minister) for the "Incorporation of the territories of the Lyanko Islands and their lease." (The "Lyanko Islands" was a Japanese colloquial term for Takeshima derived from "Liancourt Islands," the Western name given to Takeshima). Nakai, who was engaged in sea lion hunting on Takeshima submitted this request to the government with a view to preventing overexploitation of sea lion stocks, for which there was excessive competition, and avoiding trouble with other countries by clarifying the sovereignty of Takeshima. Receiving this request, the government, hearing opinions of Shimane Prefectural government, issued, on January 28, 1905, a Cabinet Decision that the government reaffirmed its intention to claim sovereignty over Takeshima and made it clear for the island to be under the jurisdiction of the Okinoshima branch of the Shimane Prefectural Government. Subsequently, the hunting of sea lions on Takeshima started to be subject to approval, which continued until the outbreak of the Second World War in 1941.

According to Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers Instruction Note (SCAPIN)-677 issued by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (SCAP) in January 1946, entitled, "Governmental and Administrative Separation of Certain Outlying Areas from Japan," Takeshima was classified as one of the specified areas for an interim cessation by Japan of the exercise of governmental or administrative authority. In addition, in June of the same year, SCAPIN-1033 was issued, entitled "Area Authorized for Japanese Fishing and Whaling," which established the so-called "MacArthur Line." This line specified Takeshima to be outside the areas authorized for Japanese fishing and whaling operations. However, these SCAPIN documents clearly stipulated that their contents do not represent an ultimate determination concerning the attribution of Japanese sovereign territory, and it is clear that Takeshima is not excluded from Japanese sovereign territory.

In the drafting process of the ≪Treaty of Peace with Japan≫ (the so-called ≪San Francisco Peace Treaty≫) that entered into force in April 1952, the Republic of Korea (ROK) requested to the United States that Takeshima be added as one of the regions for which Japan would renounce all right, title, and claim. The United States responded that in the past, Takeshima had never been treated as part of Korea, nor had the island appeared ever before to have been claimed by Korea, and did not accept the request.

In April 1952 SCAP abolished the "MacArthur Line," and immediately after that the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into effect. However, prior to this in January of the same year, the President of the ROK Syngman Rhee, issued a Declaration concerning maritime sovereignty, with which he installed the so-called "Syngman Rhee Line." Installation of this "line" encompassing the islands of Takeshima was a unilateral act in contravention of international law.

This measure taken by the ROK constituted illegal drawing of lines on the high seas, and conflicted with Japan's position on the sovereignty of Takeshima. Since that time, Japan has taken every opportunity to protest repeatedly against the government of the ROK, while demonstrating the grounds and evidence showing that Takeshima is an inherent part of the territory of Japan.

In July 1952, the Japan-U.S. Joint Committee that was established for the purpose of implementing the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty designated Takeshima as one of the maritime exercise and training areas for U.S. Forces stationed in Japan, based on Japan-U.S. Administrative Agreement of that time. The fact that the Joint Committee's mandate was stipulated as to serve as a means for consultation in determining "facilities and areas in Japan" clearly shows that Takeshima was treated as a facility or area "within Japan."

In March 1953 the Joint Committee decided to release Takeshima from the designation of an exercise and training area for the U.S. Forces. It prompted resumption of fishing by Japanese on and around Takeshima, where it was confirmed at the same time that there were also Koreans engaged in fishing. In July of the same year an incident occurred in which a patrol vessel of the Maritime Safety Agency (now the Japan Coast Guard) that demanded Koreans engaged in illegal fishing to leave Takeshima was fired upon by Korean authorities that were supporting and protecting the Korean fishermen.

In June 1954 the Ministry of Home Affairs of the ROK announced that the ROK Coast Guard had urgently dispatched a permanent battalion on Takeshima, in order to protect it from Japanese invasion. In August the same year a vessel of the Maritime Safety Agency on patrol in the vicinity of Takeshima was fired on from Takeshima, by which it was confirmed that the ROK security personnel had been stationed on Takeshima. It was also confirmed that the ROK side had built a lighthouse on Takeshima.

Since the installation of the "Syngman Rhee Line" by the ROK, Japan has repeatedly protested against the ROK's actions such as claims of sovereignty over Takeshima, fishing activities around Takeshima, fires against patrol vessels, and the construction of structures on the island. In order to resolve the issue in a peaceful manner, Japan proposed in September 1954 to the ROK that the dispute be submitted to the International Court of Justice. However, in October of the same year the ROK rejected this proposal. In addition, on the occasion of Foreign Ministerial Talks between Japan and the ROK in March 1962, Japan again made a similar proposal, but once more no positive response was forthcoming from the ROK side.

The ROK has been continuously stationing security personnel on Takeshima as well as constructed lodgings, a monitoring facility, a lighthouse, and port and docking facilities. These actions constitute an illegal occupation without any legal basis, and are not acceptable in any way, given Japan's position on the sovereignty of Takeshima. Japan is committed to keep on making strong protests against each and every measure taken by the ROK, and demanding the withdrawal of the measure.