Japan’s government hired lobbyists to try to defeat the bill. Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae wrote to Virginia’s governor that “positive cooperation and the strong economic ties between Japan and Virginia...

Japan’s government hired lobbyists to try to defeat the bill. Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae wrote to Virginia’s governor that “positive cooperation and the strong economic ties between Japan and Virginia may be damaged” if the bill becomes law. After similar bills were introduced in New Jersey and New York, Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga called them “extremely regrettable” and pledged a “response through diplomatic channels.” Both Korean and Japanese governments posted old maps and documents online. Korean arguments are that the name East Sea has been in use for hundreds of years and that Sea of Japan was used only when Korea was under Japanese rule.