Takeshima Dokdo t Nakai Yosaburo

The Koreans knew about Liancourt Rocks at least by 1904, although I do not know if the Korean government was aware of it. According to this article,
http://www.sanin-chuo.co.jp/tokushu/modules/news/article.php?storyid=105200145
Shimojo claims that a Japanese named NAKAI Yousaburo (中井養三郎) set up a sea lion hunting business in the Liancourt Rocks. Subsequently, a man named Iwasaki (岩崎) from the Yamaguchi prefecture did the same using hired Korean hands in 1904, and NAKAI, fearing exploitation and also international confrontation since the ownership of the island was not clear in the modern sense, submits a request to the Japanese government to clarify the ownership of the Liancourt Rocks and to give NAKAI the rights to hunting. In response to this request, the Japanese government conducts research and confirms that the Liancourt Rocks was not the territory of any other country and citing Nakai’s hut as proof of occupation of terra nullis, declares it a part of Japan in 1905.

What I found interesting about the article is that Shimojo says that agriculture was the main industry for Koreans in Ulleungdo, contrary to popular belief, and that fishery had always been dominated by the Japanese. So I guess the Japanese continued to fish (poach) on Ulleungdo even after the Ahn incident. Forestry on Ulleungdo declines by 1903 through over-exploitation, and only then did fishery became the main industry of Ulleungdo with the discovery of fertile fishing grounds for cuttlefish near Ulleungdo, and the unemplyed Koreans were hired by the Japanese fishermen. That does explain why only 3 of the 23 produce of Ulleugdo listed in the Haedongjido (海東地圖) map were marine products.
http://www.occidentalism.org/?p=335

I do not think it is a coincidence that the word Dokto came into being around 1904, when Iwasaki brought Korean hired hands to the Liancourt Rocks. Does anybody know of any Koreans sources that prove that Koreans used the word Dokto prior to 1904, or whether Koreans cared about the Liancourt Rocks? two cents at occientalism

Management of the Dokdo Fishermen in the vicinity of Ulleungdo knew that sea lions abounded on Dokdo. As I thought the island was Korean territory attached to Ulleungdo , I went to the capital trying to submit a request to the Resident-General. But as suggested by Fishery Bureau Director Maki Bokushkin, I came to question Korea’s ownership of Takeshima. And at the end of my investigation I convinced myself that this island was ownerless through the conclusion of the then Hydrographic Director Admiral Kimotsuki. Accordingly I submitted an application through the Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Agriculture-Commerce Ministry for incorporation of this island into Japanese territory and for its lease to me. The Home Ministry had an opinion that the gains would be extremely small while the situation would become grave if the acquisition of a barren islet suspected of being Korean territory at this point of time would amplify the suspicions of various countries that Japan has an ambition to annex Korea. Thus my petition was rejected…..
Thinking I cannot turn back I rushed to the Foreign Affairs Office to discuss the matter with the then Political Affairs Bureau Director Yamaza Enjiro. He said the incorporation was urgent particularly under the present situation, and it is absolutely necessary and advisable to construct observation posts and install wireless or submarine cable and keep watch on the hostile warships. Particularly in terms of diplomacy he told me not to worry about the Home Ministry view. He asked me in high spirits to urge the Home Ministry to refer his application speedily to the Foreign Ministry: In this way Takeshima came under our country’s dominion.Toadface at occidentalism

リャンコ島領土編入並二貸下願
Petition asking to make Ryanko-to (Liancourt rocks) incorporated (into Japan) and to let it lend

隠岐列島ノ西八十五浬、朝鮮鬱陵島ノ東南五十五浬ノ絶海二俗二リャンコ島ト称スル無人島有之候、周囲各約十五町ヲ有スル甲乙二ヶノ岩島中央二対立シテ一ノ海峡ヲナシ大小数十ノ岩礁点々散布シテ之ヲ囲繞セリ
In the west of Oki 85-ri, and in the east-south of Chosun’s Ulleungdo 55-ri, there is an uninhibited island so-called “Ryanko-to” in the distant sea, and it comprises of two rock islets 甲乙 (*it means A & B) with each circumstance of about 15-cho. Two islets stand toward each other and there is a channel between it, and there are 40-50 reefs around them.

中央ノ二島ハ四面断岩絶壁ニシテ高く屹立セリ
其頂上ニハ僅二土壌ヲ冠リ雑草之二生ズルノミ
The central two islets have steep cliffs on four sides and are rising into the sky. There are a few soil over the top, with weeds on it.

全島一ノ樹木ナシ
There is no trees on whole islands.

海辺彎曲ノ処ハ砂礫ヲ以テ往々浜ヲナセドモ屋舎ヲ構エ得ベキ場所ハ甲嶼ノ海峡二面セル局部僅二一ヶ所アルノミ
On the seashore at the curvature of the islet there are gravels and looks like beach but there is only one place where one can build a house at the 甲 islet facing the channel.

甲嶼半腹凹所二潴水アリ
茶褐色ヲ帯ブ
On the middle of the 甲 islet there is a water pond, which looks brownish.

乙嶼ニハ微々タル塩分ヲ含ミタル清冽ノ水断岸渭滴仕候
船舶ハ海峡ヲ中心トシテ風位ニヨリ左右二避ケテ碇泊セバ安全ヲ保タレ候
On the 乙 islet, slightly salty water is dripping down the cliff.
Ships can be safe if they drop anchor at the channel, shifting toward left or right avoiding winds.

本島ハ本邦ヨリ隠岐列島及ビ鬱陵島ヲ経テ朝鮮江原、咸鏡地方二往復スル船舶ノ航路二当タレリ
This island is located at the route of ships which go back and forth from Japan mainland through Oki islands and Ulleungdo to Chosun 江原 and 咸鏡 districts.

若シ本島ヲ経営スルモノアリテ人之二常住スルニ至ラバ夫等船舶ガ寄泊シテ薪水食糧等万一ノ欠乏ヲ補ヒ得ル等、種々ノ便宜ヲ生ズヘケレバ今日暇駸々乎トシテ盛運二向ヒツ々アル処ノ本邦ノ江原、咸鏡地方二対スル漁業貿易ヲ補益スル所少ナカラズシテ本島経営ノ前途最モ必要二被存候
Ｉｆ　ｔｈｅｒｅ is a man who manages the island who lives here, it will be convenient ,for example he can afford firewood, water and foods to ships who lack them, it will add some benefits to Japan’s fishery and trade with 江原 and 咸鏡 districts, which is now on the increase, so the management of this island will be most necessary.

本島ハ如斯絶海二屹立スル最爾タル岩島二過ギザレバ従来人ノ顧ルモナク全ク放委シ有之候
This island is only a rock island rising into the sky in the distant sea, nobody didn’t take a look and they let it be untouched.

然ル処私儀鬱陵島往復ノ途次会本島二寄泊シ海驢ノ生息スルコト夥シキヲ見テ空シク放委シ置ノ如何ニモ遺憾二堪ヘザルヨリ爾来種々苦慮計画シ兪明治三十六年二至リ断然意ヲ決シテ資本ヲ投ジ漁舎ヲ構へ人夫ヲ移シ漁具ヲ備ヘテ先ヅ海驢猟二着手致候
However I landed at the island whenever I was going back and forth to Ulleungdo and saw lots of sea lions were living here and thought it was not good to let it be untouched, and have made various plans. In the 36th year of Meiji (1903) I decided, invested capital and built a fishery house, and then moved workers and prepared fishing gear and started sea lion hunting.

当時世人ハ無謀ナリトシテ大二嘲笑セシガ元ヨリ絶海不便ノ無人島二新規ノ事業ヲ企テ候事ナレバ計画齟齬シ設備当ヲ失スル所アルヲ免レズ
At that time they laughed at me saying it’s reckless, of course if somebody started new business on uninhibited island there will be a chance to fail and loose equipments etc,

剰へ猟法製法明カナラズ
and I didn’t know how to hunt sea lions,

用途販路亦確ナラズ
and its use and market were not sure.

空シク許多ノ資本ヲ失ヒテ徒二種々ノ辛酸ヲ嘗メ候結果本年二猟法製法其二発明スル所アリ
I spent lots of capital in vain and after many efforts I got hunting method,manufacturing method of products, and some inventions this year.

販路モ亦之ヲ開キ得タリ
And I could open up the market.

而シテ皮ヲ塩漬ニセバ牛皮代用トシテ頗ル常用多ク新鮮ナル脂肪ヨリ採取セル油ハ品質価格共二鯨油二劣ラズ
Their skin, after preserving in salt, will be used as subsitution for cowskin which is used in many ways, and oil from their fresh grease is equal to whale oil in quality and in price.

其粕ハ十分二搾レバ以テ膠ノ原料トナシ得ラルベク肉ハ粉製セバ骨ト共二貴重ノ肥料タルコト等ヲモ確メ得候
I could confirm that its well-squeezed dregs will be used for glue, meats will be made into powder and mingled with bone and will be used as fertilizer.

即チ本島海驢猟ノ見込略相立チ候
That means hunting sea lions at this island is promising.

而シテ海驢猟ノ外本島二於テ起スベキ事業陸産ハ到底望ナク海産二至リテハ未ダ調査ヲ経ザルヲ以テ今日確信シ難キモ日本海ノ要衝二当レバ本島附近二種々ノ水族来集棲息セザル筈ナケレバ本島ノ海驢漁業ニシテ永続スル事ヲ得バ因テ以テ試験探査ノ便宜ト機会トヲ得テ将来二有利有望ノ事業ヲ発見シ得ルナラント相期シ候
However there will be no business on the land of this island other than sea lion hunting, I haven’t researched for fishery so I am not sure. But as this is the centre of Sea of Japan, there should be various fish around the island. If sea lion hunting could be continued, and if I could be given a chance to research I think there will be a chanced to find out new promising business in the future.

要スルニ本島ノ経営ハ資本ヲ充実ニシ設備ヲ完全ニシテ海驢ヲ捕獲スル上二於テ前途頗ル有望二御座候
In short, if someone used lots of capital and completed equipments and started sea lion hunting, the management of this island will be very promising.

然レドモ本島ハ領土所属定マラズシテ他日外国ノ故障二遭遇スル等不測ノ事アルモ確乎タル保護ヲ受クルニ由ナキヲ以テ本島経営二資力ヲ傾注スルハ尤モ危険ノ事二御座候
However, this island’s belonging is not determined. The other day I met a foreign ship in trouble, such unexpected events can occur but without affirmation of protection, using lots of money into this island would be very dangerous.

又本島ノ海驢ハ常二棲息スルニハアラズ
Sea lions on the island are not always living here.

毎年生殖ノ為其季節即チ四五月（年ニヨリ遅速アリ）来襲シ生殖ヲ終リテ七八月頃離散スルモノニ候
Every year in reproductive months, April and May, came here and after reproduction they leave in July-August.

随テ其漁業ハ其季間二於テノミ行ヒ得ラレ候
So the hunting will be conducted during the season.

故二特二猟獲ヲ適度二制限シ繁殖ハ適当二保護スルニ非ンバ忽チ駆逐殄滅シ去ルヲ免レズ
Therefore, if there were not for moderate limiting of hunting and proper reproduction protection, they will soon be vanished.

而シテ制限保護等ノ事ハ競争ノ間ニハ到底実行シ得ラレザルモノニシテ人ノ利二趨クハ蟻ノ甘キニ附クガ如ク世人苟クモ本島海驢猟ノ有利ナルヲ窺イ知セバ当初私儀ヲ嘲笑シタルモノモ並ビ起ツテ大二競争シテ濫獲ヲ逞ウシ直チニ利源ヲ絶滅シ尽シテ結局共二倒ル々二至ルハ必然二御座候
However, limiting and protection won’t be conducted if there are competitions. Poeple gather at benefitial things like ants gather at aweets. If they knew sea lion hunting will be benefitial, people including one who laughed at me at first will come and compete, and they will exhaust all the sea lions by overhunting. In the end collapse of all the hunters is inevitable.

私儀は前陳の如く従来種々苦心の結果本島の海驢猟業略々見込相立ちたれば
As I’ve told, I tried various things and now prospects are good as to sea lion hunting at this island,

今ヤ進ンデ更二資本ヲ増シテ一面ニハ捕獲スベキ大サ数等ヲ制限スルコト雌及ビ乳児ヲバ特二保護ヲ厚クスルコト島内適当ノ箇処二禁猟場ヲ設クルコト害敵タル鯱、鱶ノ類ヲ捕獲駆逐スルコト等種々適切ノ保護ヲ加へ一面ニハ猟獲製造二備フル種々精巧ノ器械ヲ備へ装置ヲ設クル等設備ヲ完全ニシ傍ニハ漁具ヲ備へヘテ他ノ水族漁労ヲモ試ム等大二経営スル所アラント欲スルモ前陳ノ如キ危険アルガ為頓挫罷在候
I want to increase capitals and to put various machines to make various productions and to have fishery equipments to do fishery, while making a limitation about size and count to hunt, and protecting especially females and infants, and making preserves somewhere in the island, and expelling killer whales and sharks who are harmful animals, but as I told before I can’t because of the mentioned risk.

如斯ハ啻二私儀一己ノ災厄ノミナラズ又国家ノ不利益とトモ被存候
But this is not only my damage but a disadvantage to the nation.

就キテハ事業ノ安全利源ノ永久ヲ確保シ以テ本島ノ経営ヲシテ終ヲ完ウセシメラレンガ為二何卒速二本島ヲバ本邦ノ領土二編入相成之ト同時二向フ十ヶ年私儀へ御貸下相成度別紙図面相添此段奉願候也
Therefore, in order to assure the safety of business and to complete the management of the island, please incorporate this island swiftly to Japan’s territory and simultaneously lend it to me for next 10 years, I enclose a drawing hereby.

明治三十七年九月二十九日
29th September the 37th year of Meiji (1904)
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
島根県周吉郡西郷町大字西町字指向
Simane prefecture, 周吉gun, Saigo cho, Nishimachi　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
中井養三郎
Yozaburo Nakai

To:

内務大臣　　 子爵　芳川 顕正　殿
the Secretary of the Interior, Viscount Sir Norimasa Yoshikawa,

外務大臣 男爵　小村寿太郎　殿
the Minister of Foreign Affairs, baron Sir Jutaro Komura,

農商務大臣　男爵　清浦　 圭吾　殿
the Minister of Agricluture and Commerce, baron Sir keigo Kiyoura

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.Pacifist 106 at occiendalism

A brief translation by me. Correct me if I am wrong.
“96 years old former fisherman in Oki island was interviewed by Sankei Shinbun(06/01/2007 Osaka edition) and gave verbal evidence of Japan’s precedent occupation of Takeshima.
Takeshi Yoshiyama(96) recognized himself in the picture which was taken on the Takeshima island in June of 1934. He confirmed that (Japanese fishermen) hired Korean 海女s (woman divers) from Chejudo(済州島) and they were taken by the Choson boatman. He also said that Choson only came to recognize Takeshima as fishing grounds by Japanese.”original: 竹島「先占」を元漁師が証言　領土編入の根拠裏付け ～　昭和１０年前後「済州島の海女雇い、隠岐の仲間と出漁」

韓国が実効支配しているわが国固有の領土、竹島（韓国名・独島）で昭和初期、アシカ漁に従事した島根県隠岐の島町の漁師、吉山武さん（96）が産経新聞のインタビューに応じ、昭和９年６月に竹島で撮影された写真に自身が写っていることを確認、当時の様子を証言した。「雇った済州島の海女を、朝鮮（半島）の船頭が連れてきた。朝鮮は日本によって竹島を漁 場と認識するようになった」という。

吉山さんは当時、明治43（1910）年の日韓併合以前から竹島でアシカ漁をしていた隠岐の親方」に雇われ、昭和10年前後、毎年５～６月ごろに隠岐の漁師10人程度とともに出漁し
ていたという。日当は１円50銭で、１回出漁すると20日間ほど滞在。「畑仕事用の牛１頭が円だった」という当時では、破格の収入だった。

竹島はアワビやワカメなど海産物の宝庫だったが、隠岐からは船で12～13時間かかることから、収益を上げるために「一番良く働く」とされていた済州島の海女が雇われていたという。吉山さんが出漁したときは「だいたい４、５人が向こうの船頭に連れられてきた」。竹島では同じ漁師小屋に寝起きし、食事の支度は海女たちが担当したという。

隠岐郷土館（隠岐の島町）は、竹島で撮影された写真を関係者から寄贈され、数点展示しているが、写真を見せられた吉山さんは「昭和９年６月　東島の浜にて撮影」とされているものに当時23歳だった自身が写っていることを初めて確認した。この写真には女性４人が写っているが、いずれも「済州島の海女だ」と証言した。

竹島は島根県隠岐諸島の北西にあり、東西２つの島と数十の岩礁からなる約23ヘクタールの島。島根県は明治38年２月22日、閣議決定に基づき竹島編入を公示したが、その根拠となったのは、▽竹島に他国占領の形跡がなかった、▽隠岐の漁師が操業のため小屋を構えていた－－の２点。これらにより、政府は国際法上の「先占（せんせん）」の要件を満たすと判断、領土編入に踏み切っていた。

「竹島では、朝鮮の人は自分たちと一緒の時以外には漁をしていなかった」という吉山さんの証言は、隠岐の漁師だけが竹島を実効的に活用していた事実を証明するとともに、先占の要件を改めて裏付けるもので、写真を所蔵する隠岐郷土館の瀧本修二館長は「竹島と隠岐の歴史を裏付ける貴重な話だ。吉山さんから改めて話を聞き展示内容も補強したい」と話している。

産経新聞(大阪版)　2007年１月６日　３面kaneganesse at occidentalism