The education ministry plans to clearly state in a supplement of the government's new educational guideline for junior high school students that a Seoul-controlled islet in the Sea of Japan is an "integral part of Japan," officials said May 19.

Nobutaka Machimura JAPAN TIMES PHOTO

The supplement referring to the island called Takeshima in Japanese and Dokdo in Korean will be compiled by July for use from fiscal 2012, the officials at the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry said. The supplement serves as a guide for teachers and textbook publishers.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura said May 19 the government has yet to decide how to describe territorial issues in the supplement while reiterating the position that Takeshima is Japan's original territory.