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HOME > History and Culture > Development of the Senkaku Islands by Tatsushiro Koga

History and Culture

Development of the Senkaku Islands by Tatsushiro Koga

1896 (Meiji 29) –
Development that began mainly on Kuba Island

In the following year of January 1895, when the Senkaku Islands were incorporated into Japan’s territory, Tatsushiro Koga, seafood merchant from Fukuoka Prefecture, was permitted to use for free of rent the state-owned four islands, Minami-kojima, Kita-kojima, Uoturi and Kuba Islands, and engaged in the development of those islands.

In March 1897, Tatsushiro Koga dispatched 35 workers to the Senkaku Islands to start the project of collecting feathers of albatross and the development of the islands.

Invaluable photographs taken in 1900 show that buildings had already been erected and development was already ongoing by that time.

A growing village on Kuba Island A growing village on Kuba Island Repository: National Archives of Japan

The development of the Senkaku Islands started from Kuba Island. At the time, several houses had already been erected, and researchers (Mikinosuke Miyajima) who visited to conduct surveys and studies on the island called this “Kogamura (Koga Village).” The photograph shows a raised Japanese flag in Koga Village, perhaps to welcome the ship carrying Miyajima and his companions.

Seabirds fill the skies above Kita-kojima Island Seabirds fill the skies above Kita-kojima Island Repository: National Archives of Japan

A flock of seabirds (sooty terns) covering the ground and filling the skies. Koga used a semi-taxidermy process to turn this bird into a source of material for decorating hats, and mass exported it to Europe.

Minami-kojima Island as a fishery base Minami-kojima Island as a fishery base Repository: National Archives of Japan

Small huts and stone walls had already been built here, believed to be a location near the beach on the northwestern tip of the island. The three boats in the foreground are mainland Japanese style boats, and a small Okinawan style “Sabani” boat can be seen on the left in the background.

Road development on Minami-kojima Island Road development on Minami-kojima Island Repository: National Archives of Japan

This is believed to be a photograph of the same location of Minami-kojima shown on the left, but taken from a different angle. It shows a road being built. A person is seen near the center-rear of the photograph holding a basket known in Okinawa as “baki,” presumably for transporting the nearby rocks. These were exported in large quantities.

All photographs were taken in 1900
Around 1908 and after
Establishment of a dried bonito factory on Uotsuri Island

Meanwhile, the project of collecting feathers of albatross shrunk, and Tatushiro Koga started the businesses of producing stuffed birds of small-sized sea birds such as sooty terns, and also fishing bonitos and producing dried bonitos. The production of dried bonito was carried out on Uotsuri Island. A factory was built for that purpose and a village developed around it. Photographs taken around 1908 show a complete view of the factory and people working there (including visitors conducting surveys).

Around this time, the dried bonito production business got fully on track as the development of the island advanced. The number of residents on the Senkaku Islands is said to have reached 248 people in 99 households at this time.

Layout of the buildings for the business on Uotsuri Island
Dried bonito factory on Uotsuri Island in 1908
Dried bonito factory on Uotsuri Island in 1908 Source: Tsukasa Ishizawa

This is believed to be a group photograph taken when welcoming Noritaka Tsuneto and other members of the party conducting a survey for rock phosphate. With a Japanese flag at the center, a group believed to be bonito fishermen wearing headbands is gathered on the right of the photograph while long rods used for bonito fishing are leaned against the stone wall behind the group. The women dressed in kimono on the left may be female workers whom Koga is said to have hired from Kochi Prefecture during this period to carry out the work of shaving dried bonito.

Dried bonito factory on Uotsuri Island in 1908 Source: Tsukasa Ishizawa

This is believed to be taken from the elevation behind the dried bonito factory. Small huts have been erected along the coastline, and a steamship is seen out at sea. This ship is believed to be the Kyuyo Maru of Koun Inc., which operated frequently between the Senkaku Islands and Okinawa main island at the time.

Landscape of dried bonito factory Repository: National Archives of Japan

Landscape of dried bonito factory