Outline of Takeshima Issue- Sovereignty of Takeshima

2. Sovereignty of Takeshima

1. In 1618 (note), Jinkichi Ohya and Ichibei Murakawa, who were merchants of Yonago in the Houki-no-kuni region in the Tottori clan, received permission for passage to Utsuryo Island (then "Takeshima") from the Shogunate via the feudal lord of Tottori. Following that, the two families took turns in traveling alternately traveled to Utsuryo Island once every year, and engaging in catching abalone, hunting sea lions and in felling trees, including bamboo. (Note) Some claim that it was in 1625.
2. Both families engaged in fishing around Utsuryo Island with ships with the hollyhock crest of the ruling Shogunate family on the sails, and usually presented the abalone caught as homage to the Shogunate and others. Thus, they monopolized in some way or other the management of the island with the approval of the Shogunate.
3. During this period, Takeshima that was on the route from Oki to Utsuryo Island naturally came to be used as a navigational port, docking point for ships and a rich fishing ground for sea lions and abalone.
4. Thus, Japan established the sovereignty over Takeshima by the mid 17th century in the early Edo Period at the latest.
5. If the Shogunate had recognized Utsuryo Island and Takeshima as foreign territories at that time, it would have banned passage to these islands in 1635 when it issued its directive to close Japan to the outside world and prohibit Japanese from traveling abroad. However no such measure was taken.

• Permission for passage [PDF]

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