How remote islands underpin Japan’s maritime power
And why those far-flung outposts face mounting pressures
From afar, the Japanese archipelago appears to consist of just a few islands. Zoom in and more come into view, dotting the map like the ink splatters of a calligraphy brush. Japan has around 14,000 islands, some 400 of which are inhabited. These often-remote abodes, known as ritou, define the country’s borders. Though small, and sometimes tiny, together they shape Japan’s identity as an ocean nation and underpin its maritime power.
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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Islands of the Rising Sun”
Asia October 21st 2023
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