Japan enforces 20th 'Takeshima Day'... Seo Kyung-duk says it must be abolished for Korea-Japan relations

"Takeshima Day"... An Event Claiming Dokdo as Japanese Territory

In Shimane Prefecture, Japan, the 'Takeshima Day' event (the name Japan uses for Dokdo) was held, prompting a backlash from Seo Kyung-duk, a 'Dokdo guardian' and professor at Sungshin Women's University.

On the 13th, Professor Seo raised his voice on his Facebook, saying, "Shimane Prefecture in Japan is once again pushing forward with the 'Takeshima Day' event asserting sovereignty over Dokdo this year," and added, "If Japan truly wants a genuine Korea-Japan relationship, it should first abolish the 'Takeshima Day' event."

Cinema Prefectural Office, Japan. Provided by Professor Seokyeong Deok

Professor Seo pointed out that Japan is strengthening its unjust territorial claims over Dokdo by holding the 'Takeshima Day' event. He said, "(Japan) has consistently held the 'Takeshima Day' event for the past 20 years, and the only tangible achievement has been including the statement 'Dokdo is Japan's inherent territory' in elementary, middle, and high school textbooks," and added, "They have continuously argued that Dokdo-related exhibition halls should be established not only in Shimane Prefecture but also in major cities, and ultimately, they were able to establish the 'National Territorial Sovereignty Exhibition Hall' (Dokdo Exhibition Hall) right in the heart of Tokyo."

In Shimane Prefecture, Japan, the 'Takeshima Day' event, which claims Dokdo as their territory, has been held for nearly 20 years. Shimane Prefecture enacted the 'Takeshima Day' ordinance on February 22, 2005, marking the 100th anniversary of the incorporation notice (official announcement) to assert sovereignty over Dokdo. The Japanese government has dispatched vice-ministerial level officials to this event for 12 consecutive years from 2013 to last year.

About 500 people, including Japanese government officials, invited guests, and 100 citizens, are expected to attend the '20th Takeshima Day Commemoration Ceremony' to be held in Shimane Prefecture on the 22nd. Especially this year, various events such as a special exhibition are planned to mark the 20th anniversary.

The South Korean government has strongly protested and urged the abolition of the event, but within Japan, there are also calls to elevate the event to a government-level ceremony. According to Kyodo News, on the 7th, Yoshitaka Shindo, a member of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party, stated that government officials attending the 'Takeshima Day' event should be elevated to ministerial level or that the event should be hosted by the government.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.