An Edo-period map of Takeshima (photo provided by Shimane Prefecture).
Shimane Prefecture announced on January 13 that it has acquired 71 maps and historical documents related to Takeshima, most of them dating to the Edo period (1600-1868).
The maps are believed to originate from the 1600s and may rank among the oldest known materials in Japan to depict Takeshima in detail. With these additions, the prefecture has newly released more than 600 Takeshima-related materials on its official website.
Takeshima is an inherent part of Japanese territory, a position Japan maintains is supported by historical maps, administrative records, and fishing documents from the early modern period.
Shimane Prefecture has worked to preserve and make such materials public to demonstrate Japan's long-standing recognition of the islands. South Korea has illegally occupied them since shortly before Japan regained its sovereignty after World War II.
Fishing Records and Edo Maps
According to the prefectural government, 69 of the newly acquired items are historical documents from the Murakawa family. The Murakawa family was a fishing family who received official permission from the Edo shogunate in the 17th century to operate in waters near Takeshima. A private individual donated these materials.
The prefecture also purchased two maps from another individual. One depicts Ulleungdo, while the other shows present-day Takeshima and had reportedly been missing since the late Showa period (late 1970s-1989).
The release of these materials carries particular significance in light of South Korea's competing claims, which have relied on interpretations of Joseon-era (1392-1897) references to an island known as "Usan-do." Japanese researchers say the original historical sources identify Usan-do as Ulleungdo, not Takeshima. Later reinterpretations, they argue, introduced discrepancies not supported by the original texts.
Masao Shimojo, professor emeritus at Takushoku University and special adviser to Shimane Prefecture on the Takeshima issue, commented that the newly acquired materials "demonstrate that Japan had an accurate understanding of Takeshima."
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(Read a related article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun, JAPAN Forward
