Japan raises concern over disputed map
The Japanese government has asked the creator of a United Nations-backed world map projection to correct a depiction of the Northern Territories after the islands were shown in the same color as Russia, officials said on Wednesday.
The map was published by the advocate of the “Equal Earth projection,” a cartographic design intended to represent the relative land areas of countries and regions more accurately than many traditional world maps. Japan supported a United Nations General Assembly resolution encouraging member states to adopt maps based on the projection, but later objected to the way the Northern Territories were represented.
Japan’s Embassy in the United States contacted the map’s operator and requested that the labeling or color presentation be revised, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters. He said the depiction was contrary to the Japanese government’s position and that action was necessary to prevent what Tokyo considers an inaccurate understanding of Japan’s territory and geographical names from spreading.
Resolution wins broad support at UN
The United Nations General Assembly adopted the resolution on the Equal Earth projection on the fourth of the month. A total of 164 countries, including Japan, voted in favor. The United States was the only country to vote against the measure, while six countries, including Ukraine, abstained.
The resolution encourages the use of maps that reflect the actual relative size of land areas. Many familiar world maps use projections that enlarge territories located farther from the Equator, a feature that has prompted long-running discussions about geographic accuracy and representation. While the resolution concerns cartographic presentation rather than sovereignty, the incident shows how even technical details on a map can carry significant diplomatic meaning.
What are the Northern Territories?
The Northern Territories are the Japanese name for four islands and island groups: Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands. They are located northeast of Hokkaido and have been at the center of a territorial dispute between Japan and Russia for decades.
Japan maintains that the islands are an inherent part of its territory under history and international law. According to Tokyo’s official account, the Soviet Union occupied the islands after entering the war against Japan in August 1945, following Japan’s acceptance of the Potsdam Declaration. Japan says all Japanese residents were forcibly removed by 1948 and describes the continuing Russian administration as an illegal occupation.
Russia administers the islands and rejects Japan’s position. The territorial dispute has prevented the two countries from concluding a postwar peace treaty, despite periods of dialogue and cooperation on issues such as fishing, tourism and humanitarian visits by former Japanese residents.
Recent tensions add to sensitivity
The map controversy comes amid renewed strains in Japan-Russia relations. Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Northern Territories, including Etorofu Island, according to the source report. Japan summoned the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry and lodged a strong protest.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Northern Territories are Japan’s inherent territory both historically and under international law. She said the Russian president’s visit was incompatible with Japan’s consistent position and unacceptable because it hurt the feelings of the Japanese people.
For foreign observers, the episode illustrates why geographic names, borders and map colors remain highly sensitive in East Asia. Japan’s request concerns a specific online map, but Tokyo’s broader message is that visual representations should not unintentionally reinforce a territorial claim that Japan firmly contests. The map’s creator or website operator has not been reported to have announced a correction.
