February 22nd is "Takeshima Day" stipulated by Shimane Prefecture.
As the influence of the new corona continued, Shimane Prefecture held a ceremony on a reduced scale for the first time without the participation of general participants, and Governor Maruyama asked the government to solve the problem through diplomatic negotiations.
Shimane Prefecture has designated February 22nd, which was under the jurisdiction of Takeshima in the Meiji era, as "Takeshima Day" and holds a ceremony in Matsue City every year.
At the 17th ceremony, "priority measures such as prevention of spread" were applied to the entire area of Shimane prefecture until the 20th, so for the first time to prevent infection, one-fifth of the average year was not included. It was held on a reduced scale.
At the ceremony, Governor Maruyama said, "Takeshima is a territory peculiar to Japan." Asked the government for a solution.
In response, Hiroo Kodera, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for the Cabinet Office dispatched by the government to the ceremony, said, "The illegal occupation of Takeshima by South Korea, which has no basis under international law, is by no means acceptable. Japan is peaceful in accordance with international law. I am thinking of resolving the dispute. I will continue to work on solving the problem with a resolute attitude and persistently convey the position of Japan. "
Send a video message to the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hosoda
Chairman of the House of Representatives Hosoda attended the ceremony every year as a member of the Diet elected locally, but this time he forgot to attend due to the overlapping schedules of the plenary session and sent a video message.
In this, Mr. Hosoda said, "The long-cherished wish of Shimane citizens after the war is to realize the return of Takeshima as a territory peculiar to Japan as soon as possible, and to allow the citizens of the prefecture to come and go freely."
He added, "It is a serious task for the government to peacefully realize the return of Takeshima under the agreement of the Japanese and Korean governments. To that end, I pledge to continue to work hard." ..
According to Shimane Prefecture, this is the first time that the Speaker of the House of Representatives has sent a message to the ceremony.
Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs "Strongly protest and promptly abolish"
The South Korean government, which calls Takeshima "Tokuto (Dokdo)" and claims sovereignty over the ceremony of "Takeshima Day" held in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, issued a statement by a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Did.
In a statement, he replied, "We strongly protest Japan's repeated boring provocations and urge us to abolish this event promptly."
He added, "The island is a territory peculiar to South Korea in terms of historical, geographical and international law, and the Japanese government should immediately stop making unjustified claims and face history in a humble manner."