Sea of Japan - IHO Decision

Yes !  Sea of Japan remains Sea of Japan ! (For now)

The IHO (International Hydrographic Organization), during the conference at Monte-Carlo, Monaco, today decided to keep the single name "Sea of Japan". Korea has been raising the issue of putting the name "East Sea" along with "Sea of Japan".

Korean representatives see this as postponement of the conclusion, and plan to raise the issue at international events in the future.

IHO conference is held once in five years, and this year, it started on April 23. The issue of Sea of Japan was discussed continuously from Day 1.  (From Sankei News (only in Japanese) )

When I first read this, I thought this is a fair and natural decision, since the arguments that Koreans have been bringing up have no historical foundation. But I see one blogger analyzing the issue to point out that this is just postponing the revision of the map of 1953 that uses the single name Sea of Japan, and it will come up again in 2017. S/he further analyzes how the Korean argument on Japan Sea limit is invalid. This blogger explains the naming issue in detail based on historical evidence (both in English and Japanese).

US supports the single name Sea of Japan (relevant article here).
Vladimir Putin uses Sea of Japan in his speeches.

"Sea of Japan" or "East Sea" ? (2)

Mr. Yoshitaka Shindo, a member of the House of Representatives, wrote a report "A Study of Naming Issue of Japan Sea", which explains the issue based on historical evidence. The report was submitted to the US Embassy as well as to the Secretariat of the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) this month.

According to Mr. Shindo, South Korea’s assertion“East Sea existed for the past 2000 years” is based on the words “near the East Sea (東海之濱)” written in the chapter "History of the Koguryo (高句麗) Kingdom" in the Chinese book “History of the Three Kingdom (三国史記)”, which described the national foundation of Koguryo (37 BC). However, between the Sea of Japan and Koguryo, a tribal state of Okjeo (沃沮) prevailed, and Koguryo was not adjacent to the Sea of Japan when it was established. Moreover, Bohai Sea and Yellow Sea combined were called “East Sea”, which was different from Sea of Japan.

Mr. Shindo also analyzes other claims by Koreans on the issue, and concludes that they are based on wrong interpretation of the historical evidence.

The sudden objection to the name “Sea of Japan” was first raised by South and North Korea in 1992. Prior to this, there was no objection by these countries. If it was indeed the “East Sea” for the past 2000 years, why raise voice only in the 1990s? – Koreans should ask their government.

The short video here also explains the issue: "Sea of Japan, A Globally Established Name Part 1".

Takeshima or Dokdo ? (1)

(Following the previous post) Incidentally, Takeshima, the Japanese island called “Dokdo” and illegally occupied by Koreans, lies in the “Sea of Japan”. Takeshima officially became Japanese territory in February 1905, after the Government confirmed that it was not owned by anybody.   

In the final draft of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which was signed by Japan and 48 allied nations on Sept 8, 1951, the Allies omitted Takeshima (Dokdo) from the list of the islands Japan should renounce and determined that the island should remain under Japanese sovereignty.   

In 1951, when then South Korean Ambassador to the US requested that Dokdo should be added to the list, Dean Rusk, then US Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs rejected the request replying that the island had never been treated as part of Korea.

However, Syngman Rhee, the first President of South Korea ignored this international determination by the Allies, and laid a boundary line called “Syngman Rhee Line” without any international agreement and started occupying Dokdo illegally from 1952. Conveniently, South Korea has been teaching its young children to firmly make them believe that “Dokdo is Korea Land”.

There seems to be a link between the motivation to change the name “Sea of Japan” and Takeshima.

More Info:

• The video “Do you know the reason why Dokdo is Not Korea Land?” explains this issue based on the historical evidence.

“Sea of Japan” or “East Sea” ? (1)

The sudden objection to the name “Sea of Japan” was first raised by South and North Korea in 1992. Prior to this, there was no objection by these countries.

South Korea asserts that the name Sea of Japan became widespread as a result of Japanese “expansionism and colonial rule” in the latter half of the 19^th century; however, this is incorrect since the name “Sea of Japan” was already prevalent in the early 19^th century (the Edo Period) when Japan had an isolationist policy (i.e. no interaction with other countries). Western countries had already used the word “Sea of Japan” at that time, and for example, the British map in 1840 clearly indicated “Sea of Japan”.

South Korea also asserts that “For the past 2000 years, the name “East Sea” has been used in the Korean Peninsula”, but without providing evidence. Both the UN and the United States formally recognize the name “Sea of Japan”.

More info:

·        A Study of Naming Issue of Japan Sea, by Yoshitaka Shindo, Member of the House of Representatives, can be downloaded from here

·        Japan’s official stance on Sea of Japan, by Ministry of Foreign Affairs is here