Japan Demands UN Map Change Over Kuril Islands
Japan is requesting a review of the new world map because the Kuril Islands are shown as belonging to Russia. Earlier, the country voted in favor of the new map, but today it raised objections because the Kurils are colored the same as Russia on the map, according to The Guardian.
Consensus
- The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting the use of the Equal Earth map instead of the Mercator projection.
- The Equal Earth map shows the Kuril Islands in the same color as Russian territory.
- Japan expressed dissatisfaction with the map's depiction of the Kuril Islands.
- Japan submitted a diplomatic protest to the operator of the website hosting the map.
- Japan requested that the map be corrected to reflect its position on the Kuril Islands.
- Japan was one of 164 countries that supported the resolution on the new map.
- The dispute over the Kuril Islands is longstanding, with Japan claiming them as 'Northern Territories' and Russia considering them part of its territory.
- The issue intensified after Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island in August 2026.
Points of divergence
- The resolution was passed on September 4, and Japan's protest was made on Thursday, September 10. — meduza
- Japan is considering strengthening sanctions against Russia after Putin's visit to Iturup. — vm
- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated the territories are 'inherently Japanese from both historical and international legal perspectives' and warned of 'appropriate measures'. — vedomosti
- Russia summoned Japan's ambassador to Moscow on August 18 in response to Japan's statements about Putin's visit. — vedomosti
Coverage (8 sources)
- Japan demands change to new world map in Equal Earth projection, for which the UN General Assembly previously voted — Радио Свобода
- Japan asks to review new world map because Kuril Islands on it belong to Russia — Дождь (Telegram)
- Japan asks UN to fix new world map 'Equal Earth'. Tokyo dislikes color of Kuril Islands — Фонтанка
- Medinsky: Japan should not indicate to the RF which monuments to install — Ведомости
- Japan demands change to new world map adopted by the UN. Due to the status of the Kurils — Meduza
- Japan demands removal of Russia's color from Kuril Islands on new UN map — Вечерняя Москва
- Japan is unhappy with new UN map due to Kuril Islands — Вести
- Japan demands change to new UN world map over Kuril Islands — Ведомости
Key entities
- Japan
- UN
- Russia
- Kuril Islands
- The Guardian
- Tokyo
- General Assembly
- Vladimira Medinskogo
- Kurils
- Moscow
- General Assembly
- Kuril Islands
- Kurilskikh
- Gen
- Mercator
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