In March of 1906, Jinzai Yoshitaro, Director, the Third Department of Shimane Prefectural Government, under … Governor, led a team of Oki Islands Magistrate Higashi Bunsuke and 44 experts in fields such as fishing, agriculture, sanitation, and surveying to conduct a field study of Takeshima. The expedition departed Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture on March 22, stopping over at Saigo in the Oki Islands, which they departed on March 26. They finally arrived in Takeshima on March 27, then visited Utsuryo Island, which they departed on March 28 and returned to Matsue City on March 30. (Ref.1)

Okuhara Fukuichi (also known as Okuhara Hekiun), a member of this expedition, published a survey report called “Takeshima and Utsuryo.” This survey report cited results indicating figures such as Takeshima’s geography, climate, wildlife, and fisheries. The report also featured a photograph of Takeshima in its entirety. (Ref.2)

Ref. 1: “Takeshima Survey” (Report from Oki Islands Magistrate Higashi Bunsuke’s voyage to Takeshima)

Ref. 2: H. Okuhara (F. Okuhara), Takeshima Oyobi Utsuryo-to (Takeshima and Utsuryo Island), 1907

Related documents
S. Tamura, Shimane-ken Takeshima no Shinkenkyu (Study on Takeshima of Shimane Prefecture: New edition), Shimane Prefectural Government, 1965, pp.61-62

H. Okuhara, Takeshima Oyobi Utsuryo-to (Takeshima and Utsuryo Island), 1907 (Reprint)