Full Breakdown
Japan Demands Corrections to Equal Earth Map Over Disputed Northern Territories
By Drooid · · How we work
Map Dispute Sparks Diplomatic Protest
On September 10, 2026, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced that Japan lodged a protest with the operators of the Equal Earth map through its U.S. embassy. The protest targeted the map’s depiction of the four islands Japan calls the Northern Territories—Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets—which were colored the same pale-green hue used for Russian territory. By September 11, 2026, the map’s English and Japanese versions had been updated to recolor the islands in Japan’s blue shade and replace the Russian-derived katakana place names with the Japanese names.
Background & Context
The dispute emerged after the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/80/L.104 on September 4, 2026, a vote of 164 to 1 with six abstentions, urging wider use of the equal-area Equal Earth projection. The resolution, led by Togo for the African Group, does not alter borders but recommends the projection for contexts where relative size matters. The map in question was created by Tom Patterson, co-creator of the projection, and distributed free at equal-earth.com as the “correct map” promoted by the “Correct the Map” campaign.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the UN resolution concerns only the projection method, not any specific map, and affirmed that Japan’s position on the Northern Territories “remains unchanged.”
- Tom Patterson said he would recolor the islands to match Japan’s blue on the Japanese-language edition and was considering similar changes for other language editions, noting the difficulty of applying a uniform rule to every geopolitical dispute.
- The UN resolution text emphasizes that the recommendation is non-binding and does not require replacement of the Mercator projection for navigation.
Data & Statistics
- UN vote: 164 in favour, 1 against (the United States), 6 abstentions (including Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia).
- Original map coloration: Japanese archipelago = blue; Northern Territories = pale-green (Russia’s color).
- Revision date: September 11, 2026 – colors and names updated in both English and Japanese versions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While Japan objected to the island coloration, Ukraine abstained from the UN vote, citing concerns that some Equal Earth-based maps depict Crimea inconsistently with its internationally recognised borders. The abstention highlights differing national sensitivities to how disputed territories are represented.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Displays that contradict the Japanese government's position are seen (on the map),” — Minoru Kihara
- “We will act to ensure Japan's position is not undermined,” — Minoru Kihara
- “Maps shape our understanding of the world,” — Robert Dussey, Togo’s foreign minister
- “A map can preserve area, shape, distance and direction to different degrees but it cannot preserve all of them perfectly.” — James Cheshire, UCL cartography professor
