The Vice Minister of Home Affairs Yamagata Isaburo, who received Nakai Yozaburo’s request, filed an inquiry with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chinda Sutemi on October 15 of 1904 concerning the islands. (Ref.1) Later, Director of Home Affairs in Shimane Prefecture Hori Shinji wrote to Oki Islands Magistrate Higashi Bunsuke on November 15 of 1904 to inform him that Nakai Yozaburo had submitted a request and it was currently under consideration. He also asked the magistrate if it were possible for the islands to be administered by the local government in the Oki Islands and if he had an opinion on what the islands should be named. (Ref.2)

The magistrate responded on November 30, 1904 that the Oki Islands were capable of administering the islands if they were to be incorporated by Japan. Moreover, he noted that Matsushima in fact corresponds to Utsuryo Island and that it would be appropriate to apply the misnomer for Utsuryo Island “Takeshima” to the Liancourt Rocks. (Ref.3)

Ref. 1: “Nakai Yozaburo Shutsugan no Ken” (Nakai Yozaburo’s Request), Teikoku Hanto Kankei Zakken (Miscellaneous Matters Relating to the Territory), Diplomatic Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan 1.4.1.7

Ref. 2: “General Affairs No. 1073” (1904), Takeshima, Shimane Prefectural Archives

Ref. 3: “(B) General Affairs No. 152,” (1904), Takeshima, Shimane Prefectural Archives