2007/9/2 11：35
The "Sea of Japan" or "East Sea"? 分類なし
Naming of the body of water between the Japan archipelago and the Eurasia has been generating increasing controversy.
North and South Korea claim the Korean people have used the term of the "Sea of Korea" or "East Sea" for more than 2,000 years and that the "Sea of Japan" is a legacy of Japan's colonial rule."
On the other hand, Japan argues that the term of the "Sea of Japan" has been long established both historically and internationally.
Both Koreas, especially South Korea, is claiming in every and each opportunity that the term of the "Sea of Japan" must be replaced by "Sea of Korea" or "East Sea" from all international maps, or at least concurrent use of both should be accepted by the international community.
They again repeated this argument at the 9th U.N Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names, or UNCSGN, that was held on August 27th at the U.N HeadQuarter in NY, the U.S.
But in spite of their efforts to make the name change, the "Sea of Japan" will maintain its status, at least for the time being, as the term of reference for the body of water.
But there is no doubt that South Korea will continue its effort to delete the term of the "Sea of Japan" from all international maps hysterically and fanatically because "anti-Japan" is South Korea's absolute national ideology and policy.
First of all, it should be recognized well that the aims of the UNCSGN is not "change" but "standardization" of geographical names.
It means that the UNCSGN is the stage to deal with technical matters such as unification of spelling of the geographical names.
It is not a stage to "change" the names of specific places based on the arguments of certain countries. So both Koreas moves were ridiculous, unreasonable and off the point.
Second, we should confirm the facts of that the term of "Sea of Japan" has nothing to do with the Japan's merger, not colonization, of the Korean Peninsula in 1910.
According to the academic survey, the term was started to be used in the late 18th, and completely established in early 19th century.
During that period, Japan closed its border under the Tokugawa Shogunate administration so it couldn't emit influence toward foreign countries.
Namely, it is only natural that Mr. F.J. Ormeling, chair of UNCSGN, argued that the conference was not the appropriate venue for handling such matter.
And the term of the "Sea of Japan" has nothing to do with Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
Even so, why Koreans take such position of no flexibility, insisting that the single and exclusive name of the "Sea of Japan" is out of the problem?
It seems to me that there are two main reasons -- "Civilization and Savage Order thought" and "Confucianism."
Civilization and Savage Order, or "華夷秩序", is the traditional system in the East Asia under that the Chinese Empire reigned and was accompanied by barbarous tribes around that.
And Koreans was proud of itself as the top follower of the Chinese Empire -- the Little China.
So Koreans traditionally consider China as a parent, itself as a big brother and Japan as a little brother, or a savage tribe.
So Koreans can't bear the humiliation that the term of "Sea of Japan" is accepted by everybody. According to their understanding, Koreans and their arguments should be much respected by world than Japan.
In addition, Koreans maintain the Confucianism-tradition much stronger than Japan. Confucianism is a thought under that the seniority system is made much of.
Confucianism has an evil that even if what elders argue is wrong, youngsters should follow them. This is neither an academic nor histocial issue, but an ideological and national identity one.
According to their understanding, even if what Koreans as a big brother argue is wrong, Japanese as a little brother should accept that.
We Japanese should recognize well that Koreans are achieving some success. They are sending tidal waves of faxes and e-mails to change the description of the waters to every entity that runs international map.
Some get tired of and are made to shrink from such childish measures, and be forced to accept Koreans demands.
Good or worse, this is the reality of the Korean Peninsula so "Korea-Japan friendship" is nothing more that a daydream.
For your ref.>「日本海呼称問題
North and South Korea claim the Korean people have used the term of the "Sea of Korea" or "East Sea" for more than 2,000 years and that the "Sea of Japan" is a legacy of Japan's colonial rule."
On the other hand, Japan argues that the term of the "Sea of Japan" has been long established both historically and internationally.
Both Koreas, especially South Korea, is claiming in every and each opportunity that the term of the "Sea of Japan" must be replaced by "Sea of Korea" or "East Sea" from all international maps, or at least concurrent use of both should be accepted by the international community.
They again repeated this argument at the 9th U.N Conferences on the Standardization of Geographical Names, or UNCSGN, that was held on August 27th at the U.N HeadQuarter in NY, the U.S.
But in spite of their efforts to make the name change, the "Sea of Japan" will maintain its status, at least for the time being, as the term of reference for the body of water.
But there is no doubt that South Korea will continue its effort to delete the term of the "Sea of Japan" from all international maps hysterically and fanatically because "anti-Japan" is South Korea's absolute national ideology and policy.
First of all, it should be recognized well that the aims of the UNCSGN is not "change" but "standardization" of geographical names.
It means that the UNCSGN is the stage to deal with technical matters such as unification of spelling of the geographical names.
It is not a stage to "change" the names of specific places based on the arguments of certain countries. So both Koreas moves were ridiculous, unreasonable and off the point.
Second, we should confirm the facts of that the term of "Sea of Japan" has nothing to do with the Japan's merger, not colonization, of the Korean Peninsula in 1910.
According to the academic survey, the term was started to be used in the late 18th, and completely established in early 19th century.
During that period, Japan closed its border under the Tokugawa Shogunate administration so it couldn't emit influence toward foreign countries.
Namely, it is only natural that Mr. F.J. Ormeling, chair of UNCSGN, argued that the conference was not the appropriate venue for handling such matter.
And the term of the "Sea of Japan" has nothing to do with Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
Even so, why Koreans take such position of no flexibility, insisting that the single and exclusive name of the "Sea of Japan" is out of the problem?
It seems to me that there are two main reasons -- "Civilization and Savage Order thought" and "Confucianism."
Civilization and Savage Order, or "華夷秩序", is the traditional system in the East Asia under that the Chinese Empire reigned and was accompanied by barbarous tribes around that.
And Koreans was proud of itself as the top follower of the Chinese Empire -- the Little China.
So Koreans traditionally consider China as a parent, itself as a big brother and Japan as a little brother, or a savage tribe.
So Koreans can't bear the humiliation that the term of "Sea of Japan" is accepted by everybody. According to their understanding, Koreans and their arguments should be much respected by world than Japan.
In addition, Koreans maintain the Confucianism-tradition much stronger than Japan. Confucianism is a thought under that the seniority system is made much of.
Confucianism has an evil that even if what elders argue is wrong, youngsters should follow them. This is neither an academic nor histocial issue, but an ideological and national identity one.
According to their understanding, even if what Koreans as a big brother argue is wrong, Japanese as a little brother should accept that.
We Japanese should recognize well that Koreans are achieving some success. They are sending tidal waves of faxes and e-mails to change the description of the waters to every entity that runs international map.
Some get tired of and are made to shrink from such childish measures, and be forced to accept Koreans demands.
Good or worse, this is the reality of the Korean Peninsula so "Korea-Japan friendship" is nothing more that a daydream.
For your ref.>「日本海呼称問題
2007/9/2 22：33
投稿者：Nishitatsu1234
http://specialnotes.blog77.fc2.com/blog-entry-918.html
http://specialnotes.blog77.fc2.com/blog-entry-918.html
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/print/nn20070829a5.html