Japan has requested a revision of a new world map recently adopted by the United Nations, arguing that it inaccurately depicts the disputed Kuril Islands as part of Russia. The UN General Assembly approved the new map last Friday, which uses the Equal Earth cartographic projection — a format that enlarges the African continent while reducing the relative size of North America and Europe. The map has drawn criticism from multiple countries, including the United States and Ukraine, though for different concerns.

Japan was among the 164 UN member states that supported the resolution to adopt the map but has since raised objections about the way the Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, are presented. Japanese government spokesperson Minoru Kihara stated that the map’s color scheme conflicts with Japan’s official stance, as it shows the islands in the same color as Russia. Kihara confirmed that Japan has submitted a formal protest through diplomatic channels, requesting that the depiction be corrected to reflect Japan’s position. He did not specify when the issue was first identified but emphasized the country’s intent to avoid spreading misconceptions regarding territorial sovereignty and geographical names.

The Kuril Islands have been a longstanding point of contention between Japan and Russia. The islands were taken by the then-Soviet Union in 1945 following World War II, accompanied by the displacement of the local Japanese population. Last month, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin made an unprecedented visit to the islands, an action that further strained bilateral relations. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit as "absolutely unacceptable" and said it infringed on the sentiments of the Japanese people. She reaffirmed Japan’s claim that the islands are “an inherent part of Japan’s territory, both historically and under international law.”

In response, Moscow rejected Japan’s statements, calling them “politically inappropriate, insulting and legally unfounded.” The Russian government has maintained its control over the islands and disputed Japan’s sovereignty claims.

Meanwhile, the UN clarified that the new map was designed to provide a “more accurate representation” of the true proportions of continental landmasses, as opposed to traditional Mercator projections, which are known to distort sizes. The map’s adoption has nevertheless triggered debates over territorial representations, exemplified also by Ukraine’s abstention in the vote due to the map’s coloring of Crimea, which contrasted with Ukraine’s official borders.

The dispute over the Kuril Islands on the new UN map reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region and underscores the sensitivity of territorial claims displayed in international representations. Japan’s call for revision highlights the challenges involved in adopting global cartographic standards that are acceptable to all member states.