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Commentary on themes by historical period

Classification by historical periods II
From around 1905 when Takeshima was incorporated into Shimane Prefecture until the end of WWII (Meiji era to -1945)

(2) Peaceful and continuous exercise of administrative powers over Takeshima

Fishery administration related to Takeshima

1. Jurisdiction

　Based on the Cabinet decision made on January 28, 1905, the uninhabited island was named “Takeshima” and incorporated into the jurisdiction of Shimane Prefecture, specifically under the Director of the Oki Islands branch office.

　Thereafter, the Oki Islands branch office conducted a survey on the area of Takeshima at the instruction of the Shimane Prefectural Government ^(*1), and submitted a report with an attached rough map ^(*2). The Shimane Prefectural Government recorded the contents of the report in the ledger of state-owned land (bottom figure), in which it was noted that the area of the island was 23 cho, 3 dan, and 3 sebu.

　Takeshima was placed under the jurisdiction of the Director of the Oki Islands branch office in accordance with the aforementioned Cabinet decision. This was also confirmed with the inclusion of Takeshima within the area of jurisdiction of the Oki Islands branch office by Imperial Edict No.54 of 1909, which designated islands where island branch offices were placedNo.19.

About the Oki Islands branch office (overseen by the Director of the Oki Islands branch office)

　Islands branch office was an organization that presided over the administrative matters of the islands which came under its jurisdiction, and one of the systems of local governance at the time. Pursuant to Cabinet Ordinance No.3 of 1888, the Director of the Oki Islands branch office was appointed in Shimane Prefecture, and the branch office of the Oki Islands was set up in accordance with Shimane Prefectural Ordinance No.51 of the same year. Thereafter, the establishment of the branch office was stipulated once again in accordance with Imperial Edict No.225 of 1890, an ordinance of a higher level than the Cabinet Ordinance.
　Furthermore, pursuant to Imperial Edict No.54 of 1909, the Oki Islands were officially designated as islands with a government branch office. (Takeshima was mentioned expressly in the area of jurisdiction of the Oki Islands branch office. Refer to p.30 for the background.)
　The Oki Islands branch office was abolished pursuant to the revision of the local bureaucratic system by Imperial Edict No.147 of 1926, and replaced by the Oki branch office of Shimane Prefecture.

“Ledger of State-owned Land / Takeshima,” Geographical Section, Shimane Prefecture 　May 17, 1905. — “Ledger of State-owned Land / Takeshima ,” Geographical Section, Shimane Prefecture
May 17, 1905
Repository：Shimane Prefecture Public Records Center

2. Registration

　Yozaburo NAKAI, together with Tadashige HASHIOKA and others, established the Takeshima Fishing and Hunting Limited Partnership Company with himself as its representativeNo.23, and commenced sea lion hunting on Takeshima. The commercial registration section of the Official Gazette dated June 15, 1905 mentioned that the Takeshima Fishing and Hunting Limited Partnership Company was registeredNo.20.

3. Taxation and other matters

　On March 1, 1906, the Shimane Prefectural Government amended the Regulations on the Assessment of Prefectural Taxes (1901 Shimane Prefectural Ordinance No. 11), established a taxation level for the sea lion hunting, and added it as a new taxation item ^(*3). Yozaburo NAKAI submitted a request for permission to use state-owned land and obtained the necessary permit. This permit request was submitted every five years (example in the bottom figure). Users of state-owned land paid a rental fee every year to the national treasury. The Shimane Prefecture Public Records Center holds a ledger with records of tax collection, which shows that payments (4 yen 70 sen) were made to the Bank of Japan ^(*4).

Request for the lease of state-owned land (copy) from the representative of the Takeshima Fishing and Hunting Limited Partnership Company (Yozaburo NAKAI) addressed to the Governor of Shimane Prefecture
(Duration: July 1911-June 1916)
Repository：Takeshima Reference Room in Shimane Prefecture

4. Control, permission and authorization of industries

　The Shimane Prefectural Government amended the Fisheries Control Regulations (1902 Shimane Prefectural Ordinance No. 130) on April 14, 1905, established the sea lion hunting on Takeshima as a licensed fishery activityNo.21, granted permission to Yozaburo NAKAI and three others to engage in sea lion hunting, and issued one licenseNo.22No.26. In July the same year, the Oki Islands branch office issued a warning to sea lion hunting operators who had a hygiene problemNo.24.
　Later, on April 1, 1912, the Shimane Prefectural Government authorized only sea lion hunting operators to harvest seaweed and shellfish in certain areas of TakeshimaNo.25.
　In May 1935, a request for rock phosphate prospecting around Takeshima was submitted to the Osaka Mining Inspection Bureau. On June 6, 1939, permission was granted to carry out phosphate ore prospecting around Takeshima. This was announced by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in the Official Gazette (No.3813) dated September 19 the same yearNo.27.

　As shown above, the series of actions representing the exercise of administrative powers over Takeshima was taken peacefully and continuously, without protest from any foreign country.

*1　“Shimane Prefecture Land No. 90” “Takeshima” (Repository: Shimane Prefecture Public Records Center)
*2　““Ko Land No. 4 (Report on the Area of Takeshima)” “Takeshima” (Repository: Shimane Prefecture Public Records Center)
*3　“Shimane Prefectural Ordinance No. 8 [Regulations on the Assessment of Prefectural Taxes]” (Published on the Takeshima Archives Portal, Reference No.: T1906030100101)
*4　“Rental Fees for State-owned Property (Land Use Fees)” (Published on the Takeshima Archives Portal, Reference No.: T1925051400101)