今年も何も変わらない…２１回目の「竹島の日」　“記録”と“記憶”が語る領土問題の現在（島根）

February 22nd marks the 21st anniversary of "Takeshima Day," established by Shimane Prefecture. While the generation of people from Oki who have direct knowledge of the activities of the people on Takeshima are almost gone, TSK was able to speak with a man who traveled to Takeshima in 1954, the year South Korea began its illegal occupation. Drawing on his testimony and newly discovered historical documents, we consider how to address this issue going forward. Takaichi Sanae, former Minister of Economy and Security (at the time): "Ideally, the Minister should be able to appear with dignity at the Takeshima Day (commemorative ceremony). There's no need to worry about what other people think." Prime Minister Takaichi's comments during the LDP presidential election campaign regarding the "Takeshima Day" ceremony, established by Shimane Prefecture in September 2025, attracted attention. Cabinet ministers have not attended the ceremony for the past 20 years, and it was only in 2013 that Parliamentary Vice-Ministers began attending. This was a bold statement, suggesting that a minister should attend the Takeshima Day ceremony, a ceremony the government had previously approached with a "coercive attitude." However, just one month later, after becoming prime minister... Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (then) House of Representatives member Imai Masato: "Has your belief that a cabinet minister should attend the Takeshima Day ceremony still remained unchanged?" Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae: "We will respond appropriately to the government's representative at the Takeshima Day ceremony." He toned down his remarks...A parliamentary vice-minister will attend the ceremony as the government representative in 2026 as well. Shimane Prefecture Governor Maruyama: "If establishing territorial rights over Takeshima is 100 points, then holding a government-sponsored ceremony is 10 points, in a sense, and the fact that a parliamentary vice-minister is in attendance is 2 points, so to speak." Governor Maruyama said he did not place much importance on the cabinet minister's attendance, but he expressed disappointment. It's been over 70 years since South Korea began its illegal occupation. I had the opportunity to speak with someone who traveled to Takeshima shortly afterward. Nozu Yutaka, a former crew member of a Shimane Prefecture patrol boat: "I wasn't told where we were going or what our purpose was. I just assumed it was a normal patrol, so we set sail." Nozu Yutaka (95), a resident of Matsue City, is a crew member of the Shimakaze, a Shimane Prefecture patrol boat that traveled to Takeshima in 1954 (Showa 29), carrying fishermen from the Oki Islands who were fishing for wakame and abalone to exercise their fishing rights. Officially, this was the last time Japanese people fished on Takeshima. At the time, South Korea had already claimed sovereignty over Takeshima. Amid the tense situation, only a select few people were aware of their departure for Takeshima. Nozu Yutaka, a former crew member of a Shimane Prefecture patrol boat: "I don't even know the name of the island. I just happened to be there, so I took a picture. (The trip to Takeshima itself is completely confidential)." Nozu took a photograph of "Takeshima." A photo on display at the Takeshima Archives in Matsue City also shows Nozu ashore... Nozu Yutaka, a former crew member of a Shimane Prefecture patrol boat: "I have no recollection of this at all. I have no idea what the conditions were like when the photo was taken." According to Shimane Prefecture, Nozu was not directly involved in fishing, so he has almost no recollection of the time. As direct memories begin to fade with the passage of time, efforts are being made to use these precious records to pass on memories to future generations. This is the National Museum of Territory and Sovereignty in Tokyo, a national exhibition facility located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. Reporter Abe Daichi: "The screen is about three meters high, taller than me, who is 180 cm tall. In addition to videos introducing Japan's territory, valuable documents related to Takeshima are also being shown." New footage documenting Takeshima is now on display in the Gateway Hall, which was completed in November 2025. It was discovered during the information gathering process for the facility's expansion. It shows a sea lion hunt filmed in 1934 (Showa 9). A fisherman brings a sea lion caught in a net onto the shore. And a panoramic view of Takeshima... This footage was filmed by the Osaka Asahi Shimbun (now the Asahi Shimbun) while accompanying fishermen from Oki Islands, and is believed to be the only footage to meticulously document the sea lion hunt on Takeshima. Kohei Saito, Cabinet Secretariat, Office for Planning and Coordination of Territorial and Sovereignty Policy: "When you actually watch the footage, you can see that the fishermen are skillfully performing various tasks for s...