Takeshima/Tokto, Nationalism and Re

Takeshima/Tokto, Nationalism and Reconciliation: Who is smiling at the latest row?

Wakamiya Yoshibumi
Takeshima/Tokto, Nationalism and Reconciliation: Who is smiling at the latest row?

Wakamiya Yoshibumi

When the Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was concluded in 1965, the two countries shelved their territorial claims to the Takeshima islets, which are called Tokto in South Korea.

But they never got over their differences concerning the rocky outcrops in the Sea of Japan. In fact, the issue continues to bother both sides, as if a bone was stuck in their respective throats.

When negotiations over the treaty got bogged down over their mutual refusal to abandon their territorial claims, the following comment attributed to a high-ranking Japanese Foreign Ministry official appeared on the minutes of negotiations kept by the South Korean side: "We would be better off if we just blow up the islands."

Some people say it was South Korea 's president who made the remark.

The bone is once again tickling the throats of Japan and South Korea .

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology decided to incorporate the Takeshima issue in a manual accompanying government curriculum guidelines for teachers at junior high schools. In short, the government wants junior high school students to be taught about the Takeshima issue.

Target of criticism

How ironical that the dispute flared anew just as South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo had started to advance Japan-South Korea relations.

Seoul reacted with outrage at the ministry's decision. It temporarily recalled its ambassador to Japan. Angry protesters threw eggs into the compound of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. South Korean print media carried stories with words like "(Japan is) outwardly smiling while double-crossing ( South Korea ) behind its back" and "shameless distortion."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il must be gloating over the situation. Meanwhile, a rift between South Korea and the United States over U.S. beef imports triggered major street demonstrations.

The Lee administration's slogan of strengthening relations with Japan and the United States is falling apart. North Korea didn't even have to lift a finger.

On July 11, a North Korean soldier fatally shot a South Korean tourist who had apparently wandered into a restricted zone in the Kumgangsan mountain resort in North Korea.

Against this background, Japan is desperate to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and '80s. Negotiations over North Korea's nuclear program have reached a turning point.

None of these problems can be settled without Japan-South Korea cooperation and unity. What is Tokyo doing?

Three years ago, when Shimane Prefecture stirred controversy by designating Feb. 22 as "Takeshima Day," I wrote about a "dream" in this column. This is what I wrote: "Why not abandon our claim to the islets and hand over complete sovereignty to South Korea? In return, South Korea could name it 'Friendship Island.'" When the story ran, I was accused of being a "traitor." Still, at the risk of inviting more criticism, I wanted to say that if doing so allows two free nations in East Asia to strengthen ties, the gambit would pay off. It all depends on how we think.




Shimane Assembly rises on “Takeshima Day”


That said, I doubt such a thing would happen. But being fully aware of South Korea's passion toward this issue, why provoke it again? Even though the policy to reaffirm Japan 's claim to the islets was decided under the administration of Koizumi Junichiro, I cannot help but question the Fukuda government's insensitivity.




Seoul demonstration in response to “Takeshima Day”


But wait. After pondering this state of affairs, it hit me. It just depends on how we think.

To begin with, the Japanese government has consistently stood by the view that "Takeshima is an integral part of Japan and is being unlawfully occupied by South Korea." It would be unreasonable to tell schools not to teach the government's view.

Furthermore, after much thought, the government called on schools to touch on "a difference in assertions" between Japan and South Korea over the disputed islets when teaching about Takeshima. Instead of just asserting ourselves, it makes us listen to what the other side has to say.

Three years ago, the education ministry called for rewording in a junior high school textbook that carried a passage saying that Japan and South Korea are "at odds" over Takeshima. This was changed to " South Korea is unlawfully occupying" the islets when the textbook underwent official screening.

The change this time can be likened to a complete about-face. South Korea should take advantage of it, instead of just criticizing it.

Perhaps the change is far more significant than we think. If textbooks and lessons make reference to South Korea's claim, schools would have no choice but to teach children about Japan's past colonial rule and the feelings of the people who were subjected to colonization.

New way of thinking

As it is, Japanese children grow up having little chance to learn about modern history. If the Takeshima controversy serves as a gateway for them to learn about the "past," it would be meaningful. Japan has many good teachers. Depending on how they teach the subject, the possibilities are infinite. Can't we think like that?

Incidentally, whether Takeshima is indeed "an integral part of Japan " has long been disputed not only by South Korea but also Japanese scholars.

One of them is Naito Seichu, now professor emeritus at Shimane University. While the Meiji government regarded Takeshima as Korean territory, it incorporated it into Shimane Prefecture in 1905 for military and other reasons, Naito argues.

If so, Japan's incorporation of Takeshima was indeed a run-up to the annexation of the Korean Peninsula. If that is the case, it stands to reason that South Koreans have special feelings for Tokto, which they regard as having been "snatched" by Japan.

Since this outlook, which is not generally accepted in Japan, is also based on historical documents of the former Interior Ministry, we cannot slight it as ungrounded.

I also read and compared books on the subject in an attempt to find out more. But books that go a long way back even have different names referring to the islets. Historical and legal interpretations are also complicated and difficult to understand. Of course, that is also why researchers are divided.

But the one thing that even I could understand is that the ownership of the islets was very vague in the old days and wasn't a big deal. However, the situation changed in modern times.

These days, whenever territorial issues arise, such words as "uncompromising" and "firm resolve" tend to be used frequently. But what is important is to recall the vagueness of the olden days and develop a flexible attitude for the future.




South Korean coast guard patrols Tokto/Takeshima


I also wish to say the same thing to South Korea. The way South Koreans regard the islets as something special and identify them as a symbol of liberation from Japanese colonial rule is not completely incomprehensible. Still, if South Korea keeps denouncing different views, just like in a religious dispute, the two neighbors cannot move forward.

"I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it," is a maxim about the principle of liberalism attributed to the French thinker Voltaire (1694-1778). We should engage in debate bearing in mind this spirit of free speech.

I don't want to hear North Korea laugh at us and make fun of freedom of speech and cooperation between democracies.


Wakamiya Yoshibumi is an Asahi Shimbun columnist and former editor.

This article appeared in the IHT/Asahi on July 30, 2008 and is posted at Japan Focus on August 6, 2008.













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Comments






Steven J Barber
01/07/2011
A very insightful article. You can see more facts about the Dokdo Takeshima dispute here. http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/




Ariane S.-Tremblay
04/10/2012
Thank you for this insightful article with original solutions and nice reflection on the true essence of peace: empathy and understand.




Arvydas Kumpis
11/24/2012
Thank you for this article. It is extremely important to look at all disagreements from a neutral point. Alas, nationalistic feelings often overcome this necessity.



Add comment


Authors: For all articles by the author, click on author's name. Wakamiya Yoshibumi

結果 (日本語) 1:

竹島/独島、ナショナリズムと和解: 最新の行で誰が笑っているか。若宮祥文竹島/独島、ナショナリズムと和解: 最新の行で誰が笑っているか。若宮祥文日本と大韓民国 (韓国) との間の基本関係に関する条約は 1965 年に締結された、2 つの国は韓国で独島と呼ばれている竹島の領有権を主張を棚上げ。しかし、日本海の岩の露頭をに関する彼らの相違をやったことがなかった。実際には、問題が引き続き骨がそれぞれ喉で立ち往生した場合、両方の側面を気にします。日本外務省官に起因する次のコメントが韓国側によって交渉の議事録に登場条約交渉を得た彼らの領土権の主張を放棄する彼らの相互拒絶で泥沼にとき、:「我々 良くなる場合我々 は島を爆破します」。一部の人々 は、発言をした韓国の大統領だったと言います。骨はもう一度日本と韓国の喉をくすぐりです。今月初め、教育省、文化、スポーツ、科学および技術中学校教師の学習指導要領に伴うマニュアルで竹島問題を組み込むことを決めた。要するに、政府は、竹島問題について教えられる中学生を望んでいます。批判の対象どのように皮肉な紛争フレア新た同様韓国李明博大統領、福田康夫首相は、日本と韓国の関係を事前に始めていたこと。ソウルは、厚労省の決定に怒りと反応しました。これは一時的に日本への大使をリコールします。怒っている抗議者は、ソウルの日本大使館の化合物に卵を投げた。韓国マスコミが外へ向かニコニコとその後ろに裏切っている (韓国)"(Japan is) のような言葉で話を実行」と「恥知らずな歪み」北朝鮮の指導者金 Jong Il 状況満足そうようである必要があります。一方、韓国と米国産牛肉アメリカ合衆国との間の亀裂は、トリガーされた主要な街頭デモをインポートします。日本とアメリカ合衆国との関係強化の李明博政権のスローガンはバラバラです。北朝鮮は、指を持ち上げることもなかった。7 月 11 日、北朝鮮の兵士はいたどうやら北朝鮮の金剛山マウンテン リゾートの制限付きゾーンに迷い込んできた韓国人観光客を射殺しました。この背景には、日本は 1970 年代に北朝鮮の工作員によって拉致された日本人の問題を解決するために必死と ' 80 年代。北朝鮮の核開発を巡る交渉転換点に達しています。これらの問題のどれも日本と韓国の協力と団結なしで解決することができます。東京とは何ですか。3 年前、島根県は 2 月 22 日を「竹島の日」を指定することによって論争をかき混ぜたとき、私はこのコラムで「夢」について書いた。これは私が書いたものです:"小島に我々 の主張を放棄し、韓国に完全な主権を引き渡すみませんか?その見返りに、韓国が名前を 『 友情島 』」私は「反逆者」であることの訴えられた話が実行されたときそれでもより多くの批判を招いて、危険を冒して、できるよう下を強化する東アジアの 2 つの無料国策略でも支払うことになることを言っていましたの。私たちが考える方法によって異なります。「竹島の日」に島根アセンブリが昇るつまり、このようなことが起こるとは思えない。しかし、再びそれを引き起こすこの問題に対する韓国の情熱を自覚されて、なぜですか。にもかかわらず、小泉純一郎政権下で独島に日本の主張を再確認する方針が決まった、私は助けることはできませんが福田政府の無神経を質問します。「竹島の日」に対するソウル デモしかし、待ちます。事務のこの状態を熟考した後、それは私を襲った。それはちょうど私たちが考える方法に依存します。そもそも日本政府は一貫して「竹島日本の不可欠な部分は、韓国によって不法に占められている。」と表示して立っています。政府の見解を教えるための学校を指示するが妥当でしょう。Furthermore, after much thought, the government called on schools to touch on "a difference in assertions" between Japan and South Korea over the disputed islets when teaching about Takeshima. Instead of just asserting ourselves, it makes us listen to what the other side has to say.Three years ago, the education ministry called for rewording in a junior high school textbook that carried a passage saying that Japan and South Korea are "at odds" over Takeshima. This was changed to " South Korea is unlawfully occupying" the islets when the textbook underwent official screening.The change this time can be likened to a complete about-face. South Korea should take advantage of it, instead of just criticizing it.Perhaps the change is far more significant than we think. If textbooks and lessons make reference to South Korea's claim, schools would have no choice but to teach children about Japan's past colonial rule and the feelings of the people who were subjected to colonization.New way of thinkingAs it is, Japanese children grow up having little chance to learn about modern history. If the Takeshima controversy serves as a gateway for them to learn about the "past," it would be meaningful. Japan has many good teachers. Depending on how they teach the subject, the possibilities are infinite. Can't we think like that?Incidentally, whether Takeshima is indeed "an integral part of Japan " has long been disputed not only by South Korea but also Japanese scholars.One of them is Naito Seichu, now professor emeritus at Shimane University. While the Meiji government regarded Takeshima as Korean territory, it incorporated it into Shimane Prefecture in 1905 for military and other reasons, Naito argues.If so, Japan's incorporation of Takeshima was indeed a run-up to the annexation of the Korean Peninsula. If that is the case, it stands to reason that South Koreans have special feelings for Tokto, which they regard as having been "snatched" by Japan.Since this outlook, which is not generally accepted in Japan, is also based on historical documents of the former Interior Ministry, we cannot slight it as ungrounded.I also read and compared books on the subject in an attempt to find out more. But books that go a long way back even have different names referring to the islets. Historical and legal interpretations are also complicated and difficult to understand. Of course, that is also why researchers are divided.But the one thing that even I could understand is that the ownership of the islets was very vague in the old days and wasn't a big deal. However, the situation changed in modern times.These days, whenever territorial issues arise, such words as "uncompromising" and "firm resolve" tend to be used frequently. But what is important is to recall the vagueness of the olden days and develop a flexible attitude for the future.South Korean coast guard patrols Tokto/TakeshimaI also wish to say the same thing to South Korea. The way South Koreans regard the islets as something special and identify them as a symbol of liberation from Japanese colonial rule is not completely incomprehensible. Still, if South Korea keeps denouncing different views, just like in a religious dispute, the two neighbors cannot move forward."I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it," is a maxim about the principle of liberalism attributed to the French thinker Voltaire (1694-1778). We should engage in debate bearing in mind this spirit of free speech.I don't want to hear North Korea laugh at us and make fun of freedom of speech and cooperation between democracies.Wakamiya Yoshibumi is an Asahi Shimbun columnist and former editor. This article appeared in the IHT/Asahi on July 30, 2008 and is posted at Japan Focus on August 6, 2008. We welcome your comments on this and all other articles. More are available on our homepage. Please consider subscribing to our email newsletter or RSS feed, or following us via Twitter or Facebook. Comments Steven J Barber01/07/2011A very insightful article. You can see more facts about the Dokdo Takeshima dispute here. http://www.dokdo-takeshima.com/Ariane S.-Tremblay04/10/2012Thank you for this insightful article with original solutions and nice reflection on the true essence of peace: empathy and understand.Arvydas Kumpis11/24/2012Thank you for this article. It is extremely important to look at all disagreements from a neutral point. Alas, nationalistic feelings often overcome this necessity.Add commentAuthors: For all articles by the author, click on author's name. Wakamiya Yoshibumi