Korea calls it “The East Sea” and a lot of others call it “The Sea of Japan”. I asked the students what the sea should be named since both of those names don’t really work for the other country. Of course, Korea doesn’t like the name “The Sea of Japan”, and for Japan the sea is on its west coast so calling it “The East Sea” doesn’t really make sense.
Here are some ideas the students had:
“I would name the sea the tiger sea because tigers were commonly known in Korea but also some in japan. Tiger shows strength and power which would make both of them happy. To come together as one with calling it tiger sea.”
“C Sea (Combined Sea). Japan and Korea to combine”
“MT Sea because Japanese symbolic animal was monkey and Korean symbolic animal was Tiger. and I write Monkey and tiger and why this order because Korean tiger was attack monkey. but we don’t tell them this story.”
“Blue Sea. This sea is deep and blue and doesn’t relate to Korea and Japan both countries. It doesn’t contains political, diplomatic meaning. Any of seas are not using this name.”
“33-43 Sea. This name reason is Korea and Japan latitude is similar 33-43 (actually Korea’s latitude) so I think this sea name will not have any problem. It is not the name of the country but a simple geographical thing.”
“Peace Sea. I want Korea and Japan have a peace.”
“Blue Sea because when Korea see the sea it is blue and also in Japan will see blue see so it’s fair anywhere.”
“Blissful Sea because, all the countries want to be blissful. So, I think Korea and Japan are too.”
“Nominee: Blue Sea, Sea of Peace, Sea of Agreement. Decision: Sea of Agreement and Peace. What I think is good to name ‘Sea of Agreement and Peace’. Frist, the peace mean Karean and Japanese all don’t want to have a war. So It mean It is going to be Calm sea that it doesn’t have a war like 1592-1598. and agreement is about ‘위안부’* maybe Korea can have agreement with Japan. about 위아부 we should have right polite apologize and for that we should have 10% Japan economy each year with papers.” *This is the phrase used for sexual slaves taken by the Japanese military. In English, we call them “Comfort Women” or, more accurately, “rape victims of the Japanese military”.
“East-Asian Sea. This is so boring. but there is East Asia. EA Sea, A Sea, Islands Sea, Rectangle Sea (This sea is shape so weird but if some weird person sea this, this sea shape like a rectangle….)”
I think this one wins… “The piece of water to the right of Korea has been called Sea of Japan, but this name has been causing some issues. Works have been done to neutralise the name and decided to name this piece of water the East Sea, but Japan disagrees. What kind of name then would be appropriate for this piece of water? I’d name it Sea of USSR. Although people say the Soviet Union does not exist anymore, Putin is still the president of Mother Russia and I do believe one day Putin will turn on his gopnik mode and Lenin will break out of his bed and rule the world. Why fight over something stupid right before the true rightful owners are ready for their return to take over the world?” Images were included:
べんきょうしなければならない 