East Sea or Sea of Japan!!??

they are just simple transliterations that carries no specific meanings, and you can certainly use both of them, but i have no idea why most people use Japan instead of nipon, though Nipon is more closer to the original Japanese pronunciation.

Edited by Siege Tower - 02-Mar-2008 at 03:37

Originally posted by LuckyNomad By calling it the Eastern Sea, it would imply that the Sea is being named in orientation to Korea's geography. The Sea is West of Japan. Anyway, the name of the Sea is not really�an important issue. It's just part of Korea's national inferiority complex which has developed after spending all those centuries being overshadowed by powerful neighbors. Korea never got revenge for the Japanese Pirate raids, The Imjin War, or the Japanese Colonization Period, and Korea will never fully get out from China's shadow, so this is sort of nationalism is a key part of Korea's culture. � �

As a Korean-American who also grew up and was educated in Korea, I do have to agree with what you're saying. Korea has always been a "pawn", so to speak, in the power plays of larger and more powerful nations. I think this constant squabbling between Korean and Japan over the name of this sea and the Dokdo islands is pretty silly, but this rivalry between the two nations will never stop - certainly not in our lifetimes. In a geopolitical sense, Korea is in between a rock and a hard place. It's surrounded by China, Japan and Russia and the US has major stakes in the region as well. It's gotta be tough for the Korean government and diplomats to conduct foreign affairs dealing with such powerful nations with such big egos and nationalistic pride.

Getting back to the topic on hand, I think it should be called the East Sea - not because I'm Korean or anything. It's simply the furthermost eastern sea, even if it's still west of Japan. Technically, the Sea of Okhotsk and the Bering Sea are the furthest east, but you know what I'm getting at. The name "Sea of Japan" implies that it belongs to Japan or that geologically it is somehow a part of Japanese land mass and it isn't. It's just another sea like the Mediterranean or Caribbean or the Caspian or the Black Sea, etc. It really isn't anymore of sea of Japan than it isn't a sea of Korea.

Originally posted by kaizi6680 we korean created everything the sun ,the moon, the star, the earth, the ocean, the river, the chinese culture the japanese culture, the east asian culture, the Buddhism and the Confucianism.....all the thing   don't you believe it ???  i believe it, our history book has recorded it.   we have about 10000 years history, if you don't believe it ,you are fool   lol.........

someone get him out of here, where are the moderators when you need them


Edited by Siege Tower - 21-Mar-2008 at 19:46

East Sea? It'll be confused with East China Sea. In China it is also called East Sea. Maybe East Korean Sea is a proper name in international situation. It's can be called East Sea in Korean domestically.

By the way, to my Korean brother, I wish your nation go to unity in near future.

Originally posted by kaizi6680 we korean created everything the sun ,the moon, the star, the earth, the ocean, the river, the chinese culture the japanese culture, the east asian culture, the Buddhism and the Confucianism.....all the thing   don't you believe it ???  i believe it, our history book has recorded it.   we have about 10000 years history, if you don't believe it ,you are fool   lol.........

I don't think Kaizi6680 is actually a Korean.  I've noticed in one of his post calling Koreans 'you Koreans'.   Also I'm assuming his user name Kaizi came from ancient Chinese painter Go Kaizhi.  But then again, Go is the family name of the royal family of the mythical first Korea kingdom, Dangun Joseon or Gojoseon.  Which makes the royal family names of Gogureo and Baekje also Go family.  Maybe this person has a multiple personality(nationality) disorder.

Anyway I'm not saying I haven't seen some Koreans claiming the similar theories but I've also seen some Chinese and Japanese posing as Koreans to ridicule Koreans.   Of course I have no proof of this, so that would make me just another crazy Korean claiming crazy theories.  Well then;

                                  Nae Jaji, Wahng Jaji!!!!!!!
                                (My Penis, King Penis!!!!!!!)

As for the sea of Japan, I'm actually fine with going by the consensus of Chinese historical records.  Let's say both Korean and Japanese claims are biased.   Then the only other view that could be considered somewhat impartial would be Chinese(if Chinese records support Japanese view, would that be 'Sea of Wa'?, wow . I don't like the idea of putting the Western point of view in this equation  because  it's more influenced by Japanese view due to Japan being westernized first.   Even then there is the matter of statues quo and convenience like not having to changing every map and textbook, so I'm even willing to give in for the sake of convenience as long as it doesn't change actual territory like Dokdo/Takesima. 

I would be a lot more happier with renegotiating the reparation deal Japan struck with South Korean military dictator Park Jung Hee back in 1965.  Not only he was willing to take any deal from Japan(South Korean economy/industry was actually worse than even North Korea back then) but he himself was brought up through Japanese military school during the occupation.  He was a pro-Japanese and U.S. was fine by that also since they hand picked Japan as the junior-partner/middleman/lackey for the region in the Cold War era.  Plus, profiting off of Korean War was the pivotal point of the quick recovery of Japan after WWII, which was right after four decades of occupation/exploitation.  I this could be revisited.    Did Korea profit off of Vietnam War?  Sure they did.  Should there be a fair compensation to Vietnam from Korea?  I sure hope so.  But then again Nae Jaji Wahng Jaji!!!!!

Originally posted by honeybee Thats nothing, India has a whole ocean named after its country, so should we all complain?

Nothing compared to USA which "had" two continents "named" after it.

No harm done, Mercian.  I meant to reply earlier but I got caught up in other discussions and forgot about it for few days.

First thing's first, I welcome you to AE and appreciate your contribution in this thread already. 

My earlier post was my meager attempt to restore from the damage caused by Kaizi6680 and put some practical light into the subject which led to renegotiating the reparation.  So I took 'OK, let's follow their logic' approach.  But I think you understood that already. 

Even as I was writing that post, I knew historical case could be made for both side from multiple point of view.   I just didn't feel qualified enough and too lazy to sort it all out myself.  I was waiting for someone like you!

I am glad to see that you also think that actual territory issues like Dokdo/Takesima is more important than this 'What's in a name?' game.

And last but not least, I don't think I really want to find out the truth of the matter about 'Nae Jaji, Wahng Jaji', but I will take your word for it in good faith.       

Originally posted by pekau That may be true, but the situation is little more complex in the sea between Korea and Japan. France and England will not go into conflict (As if they need any more conflicts) just for English Channel. But the fishing industries in East Sea is becoming increasingly competitive, especially due to the popularity of sea-food like sushi.

Maybe "the Sushi Sea" would satisfy both parties as well as amuse the West a great deal.

Seriously though, both names are self-centred; either it's the Japanese sea or it is the sea east of Korea. Coming up with a new, neutral name will probably not solve any problems as there is bound to be a great deal of people who won't accept the new name either, and you end up with sort of a maritime version of the Papal schism. Personally I don't see why the Koreans and the Japanese can't use whatever names they please without having to force it on the other.


Edited by Reginmund - 22-May-2008 at 18:07