Japan Issued Dok-do Customized Stamps Three Times This Year

The fact that Japan has issued customized stamps containing the pictures of Dok-do three times this year was belatedly disclosed.

According to Tokyo Shimbun on March 4, the Japanese Postal Service released stamps depicting the pictures of Dok-do three times on January 23, January 29, and February 19, under the request of a stamp and coin collector in Tokyo.

On these stamps, the picture of Dok-do taken by an airplane as a background and the character “TAKESHIMA”, the Japanese name of Dok-do, were inscribed. A total of 360 stamps at 80 and 90 yen prices were released. The Japanese Postal Service offers customized stamp services if ordered by an individual and a company.

As the Korean government issued Dok-do stamps back in January 16, an opinion which urges to publish Dok-do stamps has also surfaced in Japan. In order to avoid a diplomatic conflict with Korea, the Japanese government decided not to issue any Dok-do stamps under the name of the Japanese Postal Service. On February 6, a former Japanese professor asked for the issuance of Dok-do stamps, but his request was rejected.

As the fact of publishing Dok-do stamps was disclosed, the Japanese Postal Service elucidated, “It was a mistake of our official. He permitted it, regarding it as a common seascape picture.”

On the other hand, the Basic National Policy-Making Council, in which some of Japanese congressmen participate, has decided to ask the Japanese Postal Service to issue the Dok-do stamps again on March 5.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com