Russia dismisses Japan's demands to modify disputed island map markings

Russia and Japan are engaged in a diplomatic dispute regarding the coloring of the Kuril Islands (referred to as the Northern Territories by Japan) on a new world map using the ‘Equal Earth’ projection.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara requested changes to the map after discovering the islands were colored the same as Russian territory. Following these negotiations, the Japanese version of the map was updated to match the color of the Japanese mainland, while the English version uses a neutral color to reflect the disputed status. Both versions include a note stating that the islands are ‘under Russian control, Japan claims sovereignty’.

Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov dismissed Japan's demands for map modifications, describing the request as ‘nonsense’ and ‘absurd’. The territorial dispute over these islands has remained a central point of contention between the two nations since the end of World War II, preventing the signing of a formal peace treaty.