Obvious Purpose of Japan's 'Takeshima Day' to Make Dokdo a Disputed Area

Ordinance for Takeshima Day on February 22 in Shimane Prefecture, Japan
Government: "Japan Repeats Unjust Territorial Claims"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Japan's event claiming Dokdo as their territory, called 'Takeshima Day' (竹島, the name Japan uses for Dokdo), has been held for the 18th consecutive year. Japan continues to assert that sovereignty over Dokdo belongs to them and that South Korea is 'illegally occupying' Dokdo.

On the 22nd, Shimane Prefecture and others held the 'Takeshima Day' event in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture. 'Takeshima Day' marks its 18th year this year. Shimane Prefecture established the 'Takeshima Day' ordinance on February 22, 2005, the 100th anniversary of the incorporation notice, to assert sovereignty over Dokdo.

The Japanese government has dispatched a vice-ministerial level political official to the Takeshima Day event for 11 consecutive years up to this year. By sending high-ranking government officials to a local government-led event, it is interpreted as a repetition of the existing baseless claim that 'Dokdo is Japanese territory.'

Members of the Dokdo Hometown Association held a rally condemning Japan's Takeshima Day in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 22nd. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Currently, the Japanese government defines South Korea's effective control over Dokdo as 'illegal occupation.' According to Japan, Dokdo was incorporated into Shimane Prefecture on February 22, 1905, and Japan has effectively governed it, asserting that sovereignty also belongs to Japan.

Many analyses suggest that the establishment of Takeshima Day aims to turn Dokdo into a disputed territory. Japan believes that after making Dokdo a dispute, it would be advantageous to resolve the issue through a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In the booklet containing Japan's sovereignty claims titled '10 Points on the Takeshima Issue,' it states, "Japan has proposed referring the Takeshima sovereignty issue to the International Court of Justice three times since 1954 to resolve the matter peacefully, but the Korean side has rejected all proposals." This implies that Japan presupposes Dokdo as a 'territorial dispute' and claims that the issue persists due to South Korea's refusal to engage.

Meanwhile, the South Korean government has stated its firm stance to respond decisively to Japan's sovereignty claims over Dokdo. It also summoned the Charg? d'Affaires of the Embassy of Japan in Korea to protest the dispatch of high-ranking officials.

On the 22nd, the government emphasized in a Foreign Ministry spokesperson's statement, "Japan is repeatedly making unjust sovereignty claims over Dokdo," and added, "Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law. The Japanese government must immediately cease its unjust claims over Dokdo and humbly face history."

The government also stated in the recently published 2022 Defense White Paper that it "will respond firmly and strictly to issues such as Japan's historical distortion and unjust sovereignty claims over Dokdo."