Takeshima is center stage again

An education ministry decision to refer to the disputed Takeshima islets as Japanese territory in a manual for junior high school teachers triggered a diplomatic spat with South Korea on Monday.

Seoul, which claims the rocky outcrops in the Sea of Japan as its own, indicated it was planning to recall its ambassador to Japan, Kwon Chul Hyun, as a mark of protest.

Up until now, Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda had managed not to offend this country's neighbor, unlike some of his predecessors.

The inclusion of Takeshima in the manual was in part a response to strong criticism from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party that junior high school textbooks did not make adequate mention of the islets, which South Korea refers to as Tokto.

In an effort to dampen the diplomatic fallout, the manual released by the education ministry tried to differentiate the territorial dispute Japan has with South Korea from its longstanding row with Russia concerning the Northern Territories.

The manual was released in line with revisions to curriculum guidelines made in March. The manual has no legal binding power, but is used as a guide for teachers in preparing classes and for publishers in putting together textbooks.

Currently, only four of 14 junior high textbooks in geography and civics make any mention of the Takeshima islets.

The inclusion of Takeshima in the manual is expected to encourage more textbook publishers to mention the islets in revised editions expected in 2012 in line with the new curriculum guidelines.

In the past, the manual has included wording on the Northern Territories that said, "There is a need to accurately handle the fact that Japan has asked (Russia) for the return of the Northern Territories."

In the latest manual, the passage was rewritten to state, "While touching upon the differences in the arguments made by Japan and South Korea over the Takeshima islets, there is a need to deepen understanding about the territory of Japan in much the same manner as with the Northern Territories."

The manual clearly states that "the Northern Territories are an integral part of Japanese territory."

By stating that Takeshima should be handled in the same manner as the Northern Territories, the manual indirectly asks teachers to instruct students that Takeshima is also part of Japanese territory.

Another difference that shows consideration toward the South Korean sentiment is the clear mention that the Northern Territories are "illegally occupied" by Russia.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura revealed in a Monday news conference that consideration had been given to South Korea in the compilation of the manual.

"If there are problems in relations with South Korea, that will damage the aggressive moves made to date to open up a new age in bilateral ties. It will also have a negative effect on the resolution of the abduction issue and the six-party talks (on North Korea's nuclear weapons program)," Machimura said.

In a news conference Monday, Masami Zeniya, vice education minister, pointed to changes that have occurred since the last revision of curriculum guidelines in 1998 in explaining the education ministry's decision.

He was referring in part to a passage in the revised Fundamental Law of Education that now includes a provision to foster an attitude of love for the nation and the homeland.

Meanwhile, in Seoul, a presidential spokesman issued a statement by President Lee Myung Bak that expressed "deep disappointment" over the manual.

Yu Myung Hwan, minister of foreign affairs and trade, summoned Japanese Ambassador Toshinori Shigeie to lodge an official protest and call for deletion of the Takeshima mention.

South Korea's ambassador to Japan is expected to lodge a formal protest with Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura today before returning home.(IHT/Asahi: July 15,2008)