On January 10 of 1905, Home Affairs Minister Yoshikawa Akimasa filed a motion to request a cabinet decision on the “incorporation of [certain] uninhabited islands” with Prime Minister Katsura Taro. The request noted that the uninhabited islands are located at 37° 9’ 30” N and 131° 55’ E, 85 nautical miles (NM) northwest of the Oki Islands and exhibited no indications of being occupied by another power. It also noted that Nakai Yozaburo had established a hunting lodge on the islands and deployed workers to hunt sea lions. Moreover, Nakai had requested to lease the islands upon their incorporation to Japan and that there was a need to settle the name and jurisdiction of the islands. As such, the islands were named Takeshima, incorporated into Shimane Prefecture and administered by the Oki Island Magistrate.

The Cabinet convened on January 28, 1905 and decided to incorporate the islands in accordance with the motion filed by the Home Affairs Minister as appertaining to Shimane prefecture under the administration of the Oki Islands Magistrate. The decision was made after determining that Nakai Yozaburo had moved to the islands and engaged in fishing operations since 1903. This fact was corroborated with related documentation and thus, it was determined that Japan had legally occupied the islands in accordance with international law. (Ref. 1)

Ref. 1: “The uninhabited islands located 85 nautical miles northwest of Oki Islands, would be named Takeshima and it will come under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Oki Island Branch Office of the Shimane Prefectural Government.” Kobun Ruishu (Compilation of Cabinet decisions) No. 29, 1905, Vol. 1 Policies/ Imperial Diet/ Administrative Districts

Related documents
Shimane Prefectural Archives Government Documents 1, 2011, pp.153-155 (Takeshima Kankei Shiryoshu 2-shu) (Collection of Documents Pertaining to Takeshima Vol. 2), Shimane Prefecture