By Kim Tae-gyu
A Japanese academic group refuted its right-leaning government’s claim to Dokdo, called Takeshima by Tokyo, during a press conference held in Busan, Tuesday.
The group headed by historian Norio Kuboi from the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records made clear their opposition to their country’s self-declared Takeshima Day on Feb. 22.
“We do not regard the Dokdo dispute as a territorial standoff but a historical issue. We all agree that Shimane Prefecture’s designation of Takeshima Day should be reconsidered,” Kuboi said.
“If the topic is regarded from a territorial perspective, Seoul and Tokyo are forced into a hostile relationship ... Takeshima Day came into existence due to such a territorial viewpoint.”
In 2006, the prefecture in western Japan drew up ordinances claiming administrative sovereignty over the rocky islets and named Feb. 22, Takeshima Day.
Thereafter, it held a variety of promotional events on the day that angered South Koreans. The situation became worse under incumbent Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who took power last December.
The staunch nationalist, who has mustered support through rightist moves, sent a high-ranking government official to the annual event this February, aggravating the already-tense relations between the two nations.
“The two countries are required to beef up mutual friendship based on peace, not confrontation. When we look at Dokdo from a historic viewpoint, we will be able to do so,” Kuboi said.
“We have to address the Japanese people’s incorrect perceptions of history, especially our children. Toward that end, we will let people know that the government is wrong.”
The group members, composed of historians and scholars in other academic disciplines, also disclosed two maps showing the volcanic outcrops do not belong to Japan.
One was made in 1775 by a Japanese citizen who marked Dokdo as his country’s territory. Updating this map a century later, the Japanese government itself recanted the claim and designated the island as Korean territory.
They explain that the two maps show Tokyo acknowledged Dokdo belongs to Korea before it forcibly annexed the island in the war against Russia in 1904-05.
The members are expected to become the first Japanese citizens to visit Dokdo as they plan to do so today.
Situated about 90 kilometers east of Korea’s Ulleung Island and 160 kilometers northwest of Japan’s Oki Island, Dokdo is two rocky islets whose ownership Japan disputes.
Dokdo is currently under the strict control of Korea with armed maritime police officers stationed there.