Lawmakers in the U.S. state of Virginia are pushing to see that the waters between South Korea and Japan are recognized as both the East Sea and Sea of Japan in Virginia school textbooks.
 
House Republican Caucus Chairman Timothy Hugo said Wednesday that he will introduce legislation in next year's session requiring all future textbooks approved by the Virginia Board of Education to note that the body of water is referred to as the East Sea as well as the currently used name of the Sea of Japan.
 
Hugo said it is important to note that academically there is a controversy between South Korea and Japan over the labeling of the waters. But he said Virginia school textbooks have no mention of the issue and only include the Sea of Japan label.  
 
Hugo’s remarks come after Virginia Senator David Marsden unveiled at a news conference in May that he will reintroduce legislation requiring the use of both names in textbooks.