Two opposition Democratic Party of Japan assemblymen opposed the bill and a Communist Party assemblyman abstained. In a progress report, the chair of the assembly's general affairs committee said it wanted to raise awareness of Japanese sovereignty claims over Dokdo and spark a nationwide movement.

Members of a Japanese rightwing group cheer from the visitor's gallery as the Shimane prefectural assembly passes on Wednesday an ordinance designating Feb. 22 "Takeshima Day."

The assembly planned to hold a final debate following the progress report but changed its mind when the bill created much larger waves than expected, including diplomatic friction between Korea and Japan and massive press coverage on both sides of the East Sea and beyond. Some 50 of the 72 seats in the assembly's spectator gallery were allotted in a draw after interest reached fever pitch, with more than half going to Japanese rightwing groups. All 20 members of the Korean press team were admitted.

With Shimane Prefecture ignoring all Korean warnings and Tokyo looking on with benign neglect, Korea-Japan relations face their worst crisis since normalization of ties 40 years ago. March 16 is tipped to be remembered as a turning point in the history of the ties.

(englishnews@chosun.com )