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Sea of Japan / East Sea
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Bathymetric map of the Sea of Japan / East Sea, between Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Russia, and China. Shaded water depths show major features including the Japan Basin, Yamato Basin, Tsushima Basin, Yamato Ridge, and Toyama Trough, with surrounding straits and coastal cities. Tall, rugged basaltic cliffs of Tojinbo rise above the shoreline along the Sea of Japan in Fukui prefecture, with waves crashing at their base and a calm sea beyond. Vertical physical map showing the seas of Japan and Okhotsk, highlighting underwater basins, trenches, and ridges, as well as the coastlines and boundaries of Russia, China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. Major cities, islands, and peninsulas such as Vladivostok, Tokyo, Hokkaido, Sakhalin, Kamchatka Peninsula, and the Kuril Islands are labeled. Water depths are indicated with color shading, and an inset locator map shows the region's position in East Asia.
At a Glance
Tall, rugged basaltic cliffs of Tojinbo rise above the shoreline along the Sea of Japan in Fukui prefecture, with waves crashing at their base and a calm sea beyond.
Sea of Japan summary
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water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)
Water and its Varying Forms
wave. ocean. Cresting ocean wave. Large sea waves. storm, hurricane, tropical cyclone
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Sea of Japan / East Sea: References & Edit History

Additional Reading

On the Sea of Japan, see Mark J. Valencia (ed.), International Conference on the Sea of Japan (1989), which discusses oceanography, fisheries, petroleum and minerals, trade and shipping, and environment; and Glenn T. Trewartha, Japan: A Geography (1965), which offers useful information on the climatic influence of the Sea of Japan. The Sea of Japan and other regions of the northwest Pacific are discussed in S. Chikuni, The Fish Resources of the Northwest Pacific (1985); and maritime policies are addressed in Tsuneo Akaha, Japan in Global Ocean Politics (1985).

Joseph R. Morgan

Article Contributors

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  • Haneul KIM

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Media added. Oct 13, 2026
Updated title and text to reflect the dispute over the names Sea of Japan and East Sea. Sep 08, 2026
Add new Web site: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan - Sea of Japan. Feb 16, 2016
Moved name "East Sea" from article body to title area. Jun 27, 2012
Add new Web site: Fact Monster - World - Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean. Mar 12, 2012
Add new Web site: How Stuff Works - Geography - The Sea of Japan. Mar 09, 2012
The Korean transliteration Donghae added as a variant title. Oct 30, 2009
Geologic time data updated. Sep 17, 2009
Article added to new online database. Jul 26, 1999
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