A 17th-century document detailing the self-inflicted death of two Japanese officials responsible for failing to prevent unauthorized fishing expeditions to disputed waters near Dokdo Island has been discovered, surfacing ahead of Japan’s annual “Takeshima Day” commemoration. The document, revealed by the Hanil Cultural Research Institute on Thursday, details the actions of Okada Yorimo, the tošiyori (chief administrator) of Hamada Domain, and Matsui Dosho, a deputy-level official, both of whom committed ritual suicide – seppuku – in 1696.
According to the research institute, the record was found within the “Matsui Family Genealogy,” a historical archive belonging to the Matsuda clan, a samurai family serving the Tokugawa shogunate. The document outlines that the Tokugawa shogunate issued a prohibition on fishing near Dokdo (then referred to as Tsukudo) and Ulleungdo, declaring the islands to be territory of Joseon Korea, on January 29, 1696. Despite the ban, fishermen from Hamada Domain continued to fish in the area illegally, and some were subsequently executed.
Okada Yorimo and Matsui Dosho were summoned to Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to answer for the failure to enforce the shogunate’s decree. Faced with the consequences of their oversight, both officials took their own lives, accepting responsibility for the unauthorized fishing and the resulting executions. The tošiyori position, equivalent to a modern-day mayor, was held by Okada, while Matsui oversaw financial matters. Both were directly appointed by the shogunate.
Kim Moon-gil, head of the Hanil Cultural Research Institute, stated that the document has been held in Japanese government archives for centuries, despite Japan’s continued claims to Dokdo and its annual commemoration of “Takeshima Day” on February 22nd. He noted the irony of Japan’s persistent territorial claims in light of historical evidence demonstrating past acknowledgement of Korean sovereignty.
The discovery comes as Japan prepares to mark “Takeshima Day” with a ceremony in Shimane Prefecture. According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Akama Jiro, the minister in charge of territorial issues, will send a deputy-level official from the Cabinet Office to represent the government at the event. This continues a practice established in 2013, where a deputy-level official attends the annual ceremony.
The decision to maintain this level of representation, rather than sending a minister as suggested by some within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, appears to be a calculated move to avoid escalating tensions with South Korea, which currently enjoys improved relations with Japan. Earlier, Sanae Takaichi, a candidate in the 2023 LDP leadership race, had advocated for a ministerial-level presence at the event, stating there was “no need to be mindful of [South Korea]” and that Japan needed to “clearly demonstrate that [Dokdo] is Japanese territory.”
