The Republic of Korea Navy conducts military drills in Takeshima (August 25, 2019; Source: Republic of Korea Navy / AP / Aflo)

(※)本稿はJBpressの記事「竹島問題、対話を拒否する韓国に国際社会の圧力を」https://jbpress.ismedia.jp/articles/-/64179を英語に翻訳した記事です。

(Hiroyuki Tsuruoka: JBpress)

The situation is worsening. Akiko Kamei, a member of the House of Representatives, says there is a strong sense of impending crisis concerning the "Takeshima issue" (also known as the "Liancourt Rocks dispute").

Today, on February 21, 2021, the "Takeshima Day" ceremony was held at Matsue city's Shimane Civic Center. The event is organized by Shimane Prefecture, the Shimane Prefectural Assembly, and the Shimane Citizen's Conference Supporting the Return of Takeshima and the Northern Territories. As a measure against COVID-19, the number of participants this year was reduced to 235, around half that of previous years.

Shimane Prefecture established Takeshima Day in 2005. The first Takeshima Day ceremony was held the following year, in 2006. This is the ceremony's sixteenth year. Has any progress been made on the Takeshima issue during this time? How should the Japanese government handle a situation where South Korea has effective control over Takeshima?

I spoke with Akiko Kamei (Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Shimane 1st district) about the issue. Since she was first elected to the House of Councillors in 2007, Mrs. Kamei has consistently grappled with the Takeshima issue. She first attended the Takeshima Day ceremony as a Diet member in 2008.

Akiko Kamei, member of the House of Representatives