Takeshima row affects 104 Japan-S. Korea exchange programs

TOKYO, July 27 Kyodo - The aggravated bilateral row over South Korean-administered islets in the Sea of Japan has affected 104 exchange programs between Japan and South Korea, including the cancellation of 63, a Kyodo News tally shows Sunday.

Most of the cancellations, postponements, suspensions and scalings down of such events, including visits and sports events, were decided on at the request of South Korea, according to the survey.

At issue in the territorial dispute are two South Korean-controlled islets in the Sea of Japan claimed by both countries, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea.

South Korea has apparently taken into account rising anti-Japan sentiment in the country ever since Japan decided to effectively state for the first time Japanese sovereignty over the islets in a teaching guideline for junior high schools, sparking a backlash in South Korea.

Aside from the 63 cancellations, 16 events have been postponed and 16 suspended or put to further consideration.

The 104 affected events had been planned to be held in 33 of Japan's 47 prefectures.