1905 June 12th: The Report of Liancourt Rocks by a naval engineer

To follow is a report of Liancourt Rocks by a naval engineer Kiguchi Kichijiro on June 12^th 1905. It still labeled Laincourt Rocks as Riyankorudo-gan (リヤンコールド岩), a Japanese pronunciation of Liancourt Rocks, although it was almost five months after the incorporation of the rocks.

明治三十八年六月十二日海軍技手木口吉五郎ノ提出セル竹島視察報告

リヤンコールド岩ハ欝陵島ノ東方ヨリ稍南方ニ偏シテ東西ノ二島ニ分ル　両島間ノ距離約百六十五尺ナリ　西島ハ海上ヨリ高サ約四百五十餘尺ニシテ断崖絶壁宛モ剣ヲ立テタルカ如ク到底絶頂ニ攀登スル能ハス且平地等モ見當ラス材料物品ノ運搬モ出来難キヲ見ル　東島ハ海面ヨリ絶頂迄約三百二十五尺ニシテ中央ニ高サ六尺ヲ開鑿セハ望樓員詰所トシテ適當ナル位置ヲ求メラルヘク叉是ヨリ東方約三十間ノ處ノ高地ハ信號旗竿及ヒ見張所等ヲ建設スルニ適當ト思料ス

以上ノ状況ニヨリ判断スルニ望楼建設ニハ東島ヲ以テ適當ト存セラレ候條此段御参考迄ニ意見上申候也

To follow is a rough translation:

Riyankorudo-gan (Liancourt Rocks) is located slightly southward
from the east of Ulleungdo and is comprised of two islands – east and west. The
distance between the islands is about 165-shaku. The height of the west island
is about 450-shaku and more above sea-level. Its precipitous cliffs look like
erected swords and is impossible to climb to the peak, and there is no flat
places, which means it would be impossible to carry building materials. The
height of the east island, from sea level to its summit, is about 325-shaku and
we would get an ideal place for watchtower/guardhouse if we could bore for
6-shaku in depth at the center. And there is a height 30-ken east from this
place which I think is good for signal flag
poles/watchhouse.

Judged from the above, it seems that the east island would be good
for constructing watchtower. I report this for your reference.