Japan Discovered 7,000 Islands They Never Knew Existed

Remember back in 2021 when Japan found a new island in its territory? The news immediately broke the internet and everyone was talking about how mesmerizing it was to find out that Japan had an island it never knew about. However, this news story around a larger number of islands is about to dethrone the 2021 island story easily! Recently, Japan discovered 7,000 islands it never knew existed, to begin with. But, how is this possible? How did they never notice them or find them earlier? Here is the rundown of the entire situation.

How Japan Discovered 7,000 Islands?

In 1987, the Japan Coast Guard conducted the most recent comprehensive mapping of the country’s islands. However, this endeavor had some limitations. First, it excluded the number of islands with a circumference of less than 100 meters, effectively leaving out a substantial number of smaller landmasses. Second, the technology used at the time had difficulty distinguishing between groups of small islands and larger standalone islands. This led to the exclusion of thousands of islands from the official records.

Furthermore, over the years, additional islands have emerged due to volcanic activity in the region. These new formations were not accounted for in the outdated mapping. The GSI emphasized that the recent figure is the result of improved surveying technology and map detail, not a change in Japan’s total land area.

The New Revision Tactic

In a recent update, Japan has adopted the definition of an island provided by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to this definition, an island is described as “a naturally formed area of land, surrounded by water, which is above water at high tide.” This expanded definition now includes large sandbanks as islands, which were previously dismissed as such.

Despite these revisions, it remains to be seen whether the newly discovered number of islands will be accessible for visits or development, as various factors like accessibility and ecological concerns will influence their future accessibility and use.

How Will the Islands Japan Discovered Be Used?

The recently discovered land may find use in scientific research, but it’s unlikely to significantly affect tourists or the population. Japan has 14,125 islands, with only about 400 inhabited, a situation that hasn’t changed much after the recount. Many islands are inhospitable due to harsh weather conditions, small size, and constant changes – volcanic islands erode, new ones form and mountainous terrain makes development challenging. Cliffside retreats might be the only development option for some of these islands.

What About the Islands Surrounding Japan?

Japan is involved in several territorial disputes related to its surrounding islands. These include a dispute with Russia over the southern Kuril Islands, known as the Northern Territories. The islands were taken by Soviet troops at the end of World War II. Japan administers the uninhabited Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China disputes. Additionally, Japan and South Korea have a long-standing dispute over a group of islets referred to as Dokdo by Seoul and Takeshima by Tokyo in the Sea of Japan. These are also known as the East Sea by Korea.

To summarize, while it is impressive that Japan discovered 7.000 islands, we have yet to wait and see the development of the islands and their status, and whether they will be open for tourism and living.

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