Shimane Prefecture faces controversy over ‘Takeshima rice’ sales

Controversy has emerged in Japan's Shimane Prefecture following the sale of rice packaged with the label ‘Japan's Takeshima,’ a name used by Japan for the islets known as Dokdo in South Korea. The packaging includes claims that the area is an inherent part of Japanese territory.

Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women's University criticized the move on social media, stating that producing various goods to assert territorial claims is a futile effort. He noted that this follows previous instances in the prefecture, such as the sale of salt labeled ‘Takeshima’ at Yonago Airport and ‘Takeshima curry’ served at the Shimane Prefectural Office cafeteria to coincide with ‘Takeshima Day’ on February 22.

Shimane Prefecture has been actively pushing for the Japanese central government to officially designate February 22 as ‘Takeshima Day’ through a cabinet decision, though government officials have remained non-committal regarding the potential impact on Japan-South Korea relations.