1. Sovereignty – Law and History
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Jul 05, 2023
During the 17th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate granted merchants from Yonago with the rights of passage to Utsuryo Island. During the voyage, Takeshima was discovered, as it is located along the route to Utsuryo. The merchants fished and hunted on and around Takeshima as well after receiving the Shogunate’s permission. In 1904, a Japanese resident of the Oki Islands requested the Japanese Government to incorporate Takeshima and then grant him a lease over the territory so that he may hunt sea lions. The Japanese Government incorporated Takeshima in accordance with international law in 1905. Over three sections, Takeshima Facts & Figures elucidates (1) historical facts regarding Japan’s relation to Takeshima, (2) the measure of incorporation and effective control over Takeshima and (3) events transpiring after World War Ⅱ and Takeshima’s legal status, all being documented.
*Click the links to go to the individual pages.
A. Historical relationship between Japan and Takeshima
The early half of the 17th century | Fishing at Utsuryo island begins under the permission of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Takeshima is also utilized as it is en route to Utsuryo | Read ≫ |
The mid-17th century | Hunting and fishing at Takeshima starts | Read ≫ |
The 1690s | Today’s Takeshima was never broached during disputes with Korea over Utsuryo Island. | Read ≫ |
1836 | Imazuya Hachiemon of Hamada voyages to Utsuryo under the pretext of traveling to Matsushima (present-day Takeshima) | Read ≫ |
1849 | Western powers name Takeshima the “Liancourt Rocks,” causing confusion regarding the names of the islands, including that of Utsuryo | Read ≫ |
September 29, 1904 | Nakai Yozaburo requests the Japanese Government to incorporate what is present-day Takeshima and lease it to him | Read ≫ |
November 15 and 30 of 1904 | The Director of Home Affairs of Shimane Prefecture filed an inquiry with the Oki Islands Magistrate about the name of the islands – the magistrate replies | Read ≫ |
B. Territorial incorporation under international law and subsequent effective control
January 28, 1905 | A Japanese Cabinet decision incorporates Takeshima into Japan, determining the islands’ name and jurisdiction | Read ≫ |
February 22, 1905 | The Governor of Shimane Prefecture publicly announces that the islands are named Takeshima and the jurisdiction under which they will be governed (Prefectural Notice No. 40) | Read ≫ |
April 14, 1905 | The Revised Fisheries Control Regulations deemed sea lion hunting as an activity that requires the governor’s approval. | Read ≫ |
May 17, 1905 | Takeshima is added to the Ledger of State-owned Land | Read ≫ |
June 5, 1905 | Nakai Yozaburo, among others, are permitted to hunt sea lions on Takeshima | Read ≫ |
August 19, 1905 | The Governor of Shimane Prefecture travels to Takeshima | Read ≫ |
March 1, 1906 | Amendment to the Regulations on the Assessment of Prefectural Taxes; sea lion hunting becomes taxable | Read ≫ |
March 27, 1906 | Shimane Prefecture conducts a survey of Takeshima | Read ≫ |
July of 1906 | Rates for leasing government land to sea lion hunters were set and paid annually — hunting licenses were issued in five-year terms | Read ≫ |
June 30, 1908 | The Fisheries Control Regulations are revised to prohibit any form of fishing other than sea lion hunting conducted on Takeshima and within 20 cho (approximately 2.182km) offshore | Read ≫ |
April 1, 1921 | Shimane Prefecture’s Fisheries Control Regulations are revised to permit sea lion hunters to gather edible seaweeds such as laver and wakame | Read ≫ |
June 6, 1939 | Rights to prospect for phosphate rock in Takeshima are established | Read ≫ |
C. Legal status after World War II
January 29, 1946 | General Headquarters, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ): “Governmental and Administrative Separation of Certain Outlying Areas from Japan” (SCAPIN-677) | Read ≫ |
June 22, 1946 | General Headquarters, the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers (GHQ): “Area Authorized for Japanese Fishing and Whaling” (SCAPIN-1033) | Read ≫ |
September 16, 1947 | GHQ designates the ‘Liancourt Rocks’ as a bombing range (SCAPIN-1778) | Read ≫ |
September 19, 1949 | GHQ, “Area Authorized for Japanese Fishing and Whaling” (SCAPIN-2046) | Read ≫ |
July 6, 1951 | GHQ re-designates the ‘Liancourt Rocks’ as a bombing range (SCAPIN-2160)/td> | Read ≫ |
July 19, 1951 | The Republic of Korea requests the United States to revise the draft of the San Francisco Peace Treaty | Read ≫ |
August 10, 1951 | The United States refuses South Korea’s request to revise the draft treaty, stating that Takeshima belongs to Japan | Read ≫ |
September 8, 1951 | The signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty | Read ≫ |
January 18, 28 of 1952 | The South Korean President declares sovereignty over adjacent seas (the Syngman Rhee Line – inside of which includes Takeshima) / The Japanese Government protests Korea’s maritime declaration as well as its assumption of sovereignty over Takeshima | Read ≫ |
April 25, 1952 | GHQ eliminates areas authorized for Japanese fishing | Read ≫ |
April 28, 1952 | The Treaty of San Francisco enters into force | Read ≫ |
July 26, 1952 | Japan provides Takeshima to the United States as a bombing range in accordance with the Security Treaty Between Japan and the United States of America, as well as the Japan – United States Administrative Agreement | Read ≫ |
March 19, 1953 | Takeshima was declassified as a bombing range | Read ≫ |
May 28, 1953 | Shimane Prefecture Fisheries Research Institute conducts a on-shore survey of Takeshima | Read ≫ |
June 10, 1953 | The Shimane Prefectural Government issues sea lion hunting licenses to three prospective hunters | Read ≫ |
June 17, 1953 | Japanese authorities decide to reinforce control over poaching on and around Takeshima, after “Shimane-Maru’s survey | Read ≫ |
June 18, 1953 | Shimane Prefecture grants the Oki Islands Federation of Fisheries Co-operative Association fishery rights to collect seaweed and shellfish | Read ≫ |
June 27, 1953 | The Japanese Coast Guard and Shimane Prefecture conduct a on-shore survey | Read ≫ |
July 12, 1953 | Patrol Ship ‘Hekura’ comes under fire at Takeshima (4th Special Control Campaign) | Read ≫ |
August 3, 1953 | 5th Special Control Campaign executed in the waters surrounding Takeshima | Read ≫ |
October 6, 1953 | 10th Special Control Campaign executed in the waters surrounding Takeshima | Read ≫ |
August 23, 1954 | Patrol Ship ‘Oki’ comes under fire (28th Special Control Campaign) | Read ≫ |
September 25, 1954 | The Japanese Government proposes to the Korean Government to refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice | Read ≫ |
October 28, 1954 | The Korean Government refuses Japan’s proposal of referring the dispute to the International Court of Justice | Read ≫ |
November 21, 1954 | Japanese Coast Guard Patrol ships Oki and Hekura come under bombardment (30th Special Control Campaign) | Read ≫ |
Info Library
Japan's Island Territories
Senkaku Islands Facts & Figures
Takeshima Facts & Figures
Northern Territories Facts & Figures