You can use a German map of the world of 1856, and Japan in a dispute with South Korea? Japan’s nationalists believe it, while the Federal office for Maritime shipping will be delighted by a gift for reproduction.
Can the Delivery of the copy of a valuable German world map from the year 1856, the Original of which is in 1938 in Japanese-owned Germany greater political importance? After all, the Presentation of the card or of the reproduction by the Japanese Consul General in Hamburg at the Federal Maritime and hydrographic Agency on Monday was according to the Japanese Ministry of foreign Affairs “a Demonstration of good bilateral relations.”
Apparently, there are circles in Japan, this humble official act of greater importance, according to which the latter supports the Japanese Position with regard to South Korea, which relates to the designation of the sea area between Japan and the Korean Peninsula. Japan wants to fend off the efforts of South Korea to establish for this area that appears on most world maps as “sea of Japan”, the name “East sea”. Allegedly, South Korea has stepped up its forays in the past few years.
The Name sea of Japan is so far, the usual
“Important message to Germany”
On the German map of 1856, which is in the possession of the Japanese coast guard, is clearly the name of the “Japan M”: A proof that the Name “sea of Japan” since the 19th century. Century was international in use and is. This meaning attaches in any case, the Japanese Ministry of foreign Affairs of the card, such as “Japan News”, the English-language edition of the newspaper “Yomiuri Shinbun” reported. Compared to the DW, the Ministry informed: “The Name ‘sea of Japan’ is the only internationally recognized Name for the concerned sea area.”
Some circles in Japan see in the map handover, a further meaning that goes beyond the designation of the Seegebietes. For example, Yoichi Shimada, a Professor of international relations at Fukui Prefectural University, says that Japan should Try its interests against Korea, “to propagate his point of view,” the colonial history under Japanese rule from 1905 to 1945, defend. It was “particularly important that Japan conveyed this message to Germany,” said Shimada, the DW. South Korea understand very well, to exploit Germany’s guilt during the national socialist era, to Japan’s rule in Korea in the same light as German crimes against humanity during the war.
Temporary harmony: The understanding of the “comfort women”issue between Abe and Park Geun Hye from the Winter 2015 did not last long
Relations Japan – South Korea to deep point
As South Korea seeks to do this exactly, and to what extent, it is – allegedly – a success, not the scientist closer. It is clear, however: His warning against the alleged machinations of South Korea reflects the state of Japanese-South Korean relations, which are, according to Stephen Nagy of the Tokyo International Christian University “as bad as never since the signing of the Treaty on the normalisation of bilateral relations in 1965.” For decades, both countries were arguing about the consequences of the Colonial and wartime past, but the divide is deeper than ever, says Nagy.
In South Korea feel that Japan has not done enough reigns, neither morally nor financially, to provide for the treatment of forced prostitutes in the Japanese army and Korean forced laborers during the war reparation. (In 1965, Japan paid $ 300 million as a Lump-sum-compensation to South Korea.) This feeling gets strong food by the of the strongly nationalist set for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (since 2012, in the office) was strengthened by the tendencies towards downplaying the Japanese war crimes.
The bone of contention in the sea of Japan: The Islands, Dokdo or Takeshima is administered by South Korea, but Japan claimed.
New language rules for forced laborers and “comfort women”
Some media, such as the prestigious “Japan Times” (JT) were now urged on the government line to swing: you do not speak of “forced labour”, but of “war workers”. What prostitutes are forced, or “comfort women” is concerned, this group is defined according to JT different from now: in the past, women had been referred to, which were forced to have Sex with Japanese soldiers before and after the beginning of the war. Now those women are including to understand, “during the war in brothels for Japanese soldiers, even those who did this against their will, worked, including.” Both of the new language regulations had been found, “to do the different historical and individual circumstances is sufficient.”
From the point of view of Tokyo, South Korea’s new Chairman Moon Jae has torpedoed the efforts to settle the dispute, the “comfort women” deliberately, to beat it into political capital. Under his predecessor, Park Geun Hye together with the Japan Foundation should settle the dispute to the Zang prostitutes permanently. Seoul dissolved the Foundation and the end of 2018, the agreement with Japan have not met expectations.
The flag of the “rising sun” is the official flag of the Japanese self-defense forces to the sea. She was also the flag of the Imperial Navy.
Maritime disputes and tensions
Came to the dispute over inadequate compensation and apology incidents in recent times, to the lake, such as the risky approach between a Japanese reconnaissance aircraft and a South Korean war ship, or the refusal of permission for a Japanese war vessel, flying the flag of the rising sun to land in a South Korean port. The Whole against the Background of a continuing dispute to the small island of Dokdo or Takeshima in the southern sea of Japan.
For Stephen Nagy of Tokyo and International Christian University, it is not surprising that Japan is the said map, by the German shipping office has received at his own request, a reproduction, attaches great importance: “Both South Korea and Japan have submitted in the past, cards that allow you to their respective territorial claims, and the names for geographical phenomena. The recognition of such designations by other countries in the past, draw on it in support of their claims.”