A sea, by any other name
South Korea has sent a special delegation this week to Monaco to lobby the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) on the question of the use of the name “Sea of Japan”, which as you may know the Korean government wants changed to “East Sea”.
The goal of the delegation is to “make efforts to prevent the IHO from holding a vote on the issue. If the vote is held, we will pursue the goal of making member countries abstain,” according to a Korean Foreign Ministry official. Mainly because the “prevailing sentiment of the member countries is to recognize the current use of only Sea of Japan”. Yes, it seems it makes a difference to absolutely no one except Korea.
“Still, the government is not ruling out the possibility of the issue being put to a vote, as IHO regulations allow members to present urgent issues on an emergency basis as long as the other member nations consent,” the official said on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Urgent issue? Emergency basis? Sensitivity? Mountains, molehills, proportion? Maybe I’m wrong though. Maybe I’m just missing the extensive coverage of this ‘urgent issue’ in the rest of the world’s press.
Poor Mari….she’s my favorite. If I ever become a j-pop singer and part of the...
Shes definitely at the top of my hot list.
perfeckt 10:10
I can’t think of any other country where something so inconsequential is so controversial. This nonsense makes me want to learn Korean and still say “Takeshima” and “Sea of Japan” just to upset these idiots more. I was going to start taking Korean classes, but NIU isn’t offering it this coming school year.
May 15th, 2007 at 4:38 amexactly – what is in a name? a Cesspit by any other name would Stench just as Foully!!…(Methinks).
Take a gander a this.
http://www.is.zim.tottori-u.ac.jp/ciatu/international/info/news-e3.htm
and I have to live in that?
May 15th, 2007 at 7:23 amOh my god don’t tell the french, they will want to change the English Channel, possibly to Chanel (No.5) or maybe remora, Eau De Toilette
May 15th, 2007 at 8:36 amexcuse me?..I’m more Bay Rum,Old Spice or possibly Eau Sauvage (YSL).
May 15th, 2007 at 8:43 amoh,and also, Anything by Mandom.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:09 amand heres me thinkin you might have been a Hi-Karate kinda guy, but I guess from your comments you prefer a more PUNgent odor:mrgreen:
May 15th, 2007 at 9:28 amThe Koreans as a group are among the most self-centered and pugilistic people on the planet. And those are two really bad qualities to have together:shock:
They waste everyone’s time with meaningless complaints and then badger us diplomatically all until we are forced to say the diplomatic-ese equivalent of: “OK, well, I guess ‘meaningless’ was a bit harsh, you’re right, I’m sorry, I’ll take you more seriously from now on…”
It’s like talking to a 7-year old.
May 15th, 2007 at 9:34 amwell,what it’s called really isn’t the issue is it?.
As long as the place is cleaned up and things like this..
http://www.iht.com/articles/1993/12/31/edmark.php
are banned from being dumped in it.
May 15th, 2007 at 10:35 am(the Sea is not a Sewage Pit.)
Well, I don’t like to be the odd man out here, and was almost convinced by the English Channel example. Except no French would ever call it the “English Channel”–they call it “La Manche.” What the maps call it I guess depends on what country you’re in–although there’s probably an “international standard map”–maybe the Admiralty, maybe US Navy, maybe who knows what?
Anyways, similarly the Koreans and Japan share an area that they have good reason to resent being called “The Japan Sea” since it isn’t. Maybe worldwide opinion has always called it that–but we used to call Bejing Peking and Mumbai Bombay too? Doesn’t take long to make to change.
“Traditional” names for things are something that should should be changed. This is not the “Sea of Japan” so if they can get the votes I don’t think it should be called that.
On the other hand–this is a tempest in teapot and I’m sure the Koreans call it something else anyway. But– “The East Sea?” Come on–the Japanese would only vote for “The West Sea?” “Sea of Harmony” (awful as that choice is) is starting to sound better all the time!
Anyways, national pride and rivalries aside, this is in no way “The Sea of Japan”–in fact there is a border in the middle of it (like Lake Erie here!) and it would obviously be insulting to have the old name on all the maps that kids read in school.
I understand that it is so polluted already no one would want to lay claim to it. Well–should be cleaned up then I guess. But–”Sea of Japan?” Whether the Koreans are petty or arrogant or rabble-rousers or whatever, it is obviously NOT the Sea of Japan.
I was about to suggest they call each side of it whatever they want–but DOES seem to be a single body of water so they should agree on some neutral compromise. However–bet it ends up with whoever has the most votes on this committee who decides what is written on the school atlases.
I think in this case Korea is whiney but Japan is clearly wrong–tradition notwithstanding. We have a lot of lousy traditions you know–there is an undercurrent here and it involves the Yasukuni shrine and nationalism.
However–I think it’s just water and will not be personally affected by whatever outcome! I still sometimes tell cab drivers to go to a corner that hasn’t existed for 20 years–but (some) know where I mean anyways.
When considering this, consider what the “English Channel” should be called–it is not known as such in much of the world? And has a lot to do with the English why such a not-very English body of water should be called that? “North Sea” on the other hand, is a pretty good name?
May 15th, 2007 at 11:27 amBut Paul, all names are ‘just traditional names’. They have to originate somewhere.
And what gives the Korean claim (which isn’t recognised by much of the rest of the world) more weight than the Japanese (which is)?
And why is ‘clearly not the Sea of Japan’?
Let the Koreans call it the East Sea in their language, in their books, in their schools, on their maps. But what right can they reasonably assert to change what everyone else calls it? (Just as the French don’t use the word English when they refer to the Channel, yet don’t insist that we drop it.)
May 15th, 2007 at 11:56 amSo, is this some kind of Asian version of PC?
May 15th, 2007 at 11:58 amIt seems almost the opposite of PC to me, Marie.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:04 pmPC is usually hand-wringing members of the majority desperately trying to eradicate any possible offence to people who aren’t even offended anyway.
This is the loud minority insisting that the majority adapt to their demands in order to satisfy some petty need for recognition.
Good god you petty Koreans! Call it whatever you want!
Every language in the world has different names for different geological features, and countries even. Please don’t annoy everyone else by insisting they change their language. This reminds me of pompous asses returning to the West and insisting on pointing out that everyone’s pronunciation of Japanese cultural exports is wrong (karaoke, manga, anime, samurai, etc.)
If your sniveling insecure nationalism really needs it, wise the hell up and suggest a neutral name, not one just as culturally loaded as the previous. :roll: :roll: :roll:
May 15th, 2007 at 12:06 pmEdit: insisting on pointing out that everyone’s pronunciation of Japanese cultural exports is “wrong.”
May 15th, 2007 at 12:07 pm“PC is usually hand-wringing members of the majority desperately trying to eradicate any possible offence to people who aren’t even offended anyway.”
Well, but in my country, it was the minorities (and I’m a member of said group) who started the hand-wringing.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:09 pmHonestly, if someone were insisting that Koreans call it the Sea of Japan, I could understand their problem.
But no, I’m pretty sure they’re perfectly at liberty to call whatever they like (barring ‘Disney Sea’).
May 15th, 2007 at 12:18 pmAh, no offence meant.
May 15th, 2007 at 12:22 pmIn my country it seemed we leap-frogged that stage and didn’t wait for people to actually raise their voices. I sometimes wondered if the ‘P’ stood for preventative.
“Ah, no offence meant.”
It’s cool. I just wanted some attention!
May 15th, 2007 at 12:31 pmwhat’s wrong with Fanta-Sea – after all that’s where their mind’s seem to reside most of the time.
(Especially those god-awful cars they churn out – bleeauugh!)
May 15th, 2007 at 12:52 pmYes, I guess people are going to call it whatever they’ve always called it. Looking at the map closer–anyone know what the Chinese call it? They might not mind calling it the Japan Sea because it’s the one that goes to Japan–they have lots more. But can’t come up with a neutral name like “South,” “East,” or “North Sea” because would just be the same thing. Is Hong Kong in that map too? If it was called “HKS” (Hello Kitty Sea) then everyone would be happy and HK accommodated as a bonus? Surely Koreans like Hello Kitty as much (or little) as anyone else and would not object? There would also be great opportunities for Hello Kitty navigational aids, warning signs, maps, decorated ferries, and–when viewed from outer space–the whole body of water already sort of resembles a Hello Kitty face? Disneyland Tokyo could not compare with such a huge multinational theme sea?
May 15th, 2007 at 9:15 pmSeems to me like Japan is THE defining landmass for this body of water. Look at the map – the Japanese islands are what actually separates it from the rest of the Pacific so that would kind of translate well to keeping it the way it is methinks. I always thought the name derives from when it was a Japanese internal lake during the colonial era but it must have been called something before then, right? What was it?
Maybe they should think about renaming the Yellow Sea instead. It makes more sense from a geographical standpoint, and plus Yellow Sea just feels somewhat racist don’t you think?
May 16th, 2007 at 12:48 amDuo! Where have you been?
May 16th, 2007 at 1:06 amPaul, it’s called Sea of Japan on Chinese maps. Even the Chinese are not on board this silly campaign.
May 16th, 2007 at 7:22 amGah, I know Marie, I’ve only had time to lurk lately..
May 16th, 2007 at 8:24 amFor your dose of official MOFA propaganda on the issue, please refer to the MOFA website: http://www.mofa.go.jp
You will find therein an english language PDF entitled “A histroical overview of the name ‘Sea of Japan’”.
It contains answers to questions such as Duo’s; “I always thought the name derives from when it was a Japanese internal lake during the colonial era but it must have been called something before then, right? What was it?”
Answer: The name Sea of Japan first appeared in a map compiled by an Italian missionary priest at the beginning of the 17th century.
May 16th, 2007 at 10:23 amActually, Korean government conducted similar research. They searched historical maps before 1800 in the British Library and the US Library of Congress and concluded that East Sea/Korea Sea were more common than Sea of Japan that time.
I think that before 1800 East Sea/Korean Sea were more common and after 1800 Sea of Japan became common. I think it is because before 1800 Japan was closed country and in 1800’s Japan became opened and Korea was closed that time.
By the way, I think every one is kind of misunderstanding this issue; Korea government is aiming to make both names, Sea of Japan and East sea, global standard. In another word, they want to put both names on maps (well, probably they want only East Sea on maps, but they know it is difficult.)
May 16th, 2007 at 11:17 amWell, either way, Nao, an attempt to have two names as a global standard is also doomed to failure, I reckon. Many authorities object on the grounds of room for confusion. For example,
- the potential for confusion not only in one sea having multiple names, but also in many seas sharing the same name. Why add to the confusion?
Call it what you want, and in recognising that you’re free to do that, extend the same courtesy to everyone else.
May 16th, 2007 at 12:24 pmYear, I agree with you, overoften. I was just clarifying what Korean government is aiming for, but I think changing a name, whether it is a new name or a traditional name or whatever, is already confusing by itself (at least for me.)
However, according to Korean government, 23% of latest world maps are showing both names, and according to Japanese government, it is 18%. Somehow the world is moving in confusing way now.
May 17th, 2007 at 6:48 am[...] Of course, the Sea of Japan was labeled “East Sea.” [...]
July 18th, 2007 at 4:00 pm