Chishima Islands facts for kids

Location of Kuril Islands in the Western Pacific.

The Kuril Islands (also known as the Chishima Islands in Japanese) are a chain of islands. They stretch between the country of Russia and the country of Japan. The northern islands are part of Russia. The southern islands are part of Japan. However, both countries say they own four islands in the middle of the group.

Japan wants four islands back: Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and Habomai shoto. Japan believes Russia is holding these islands unfairly. Some political groups in Japan want all the Chishima Islands returned. Russia offered to return Shikotan and Habomai shoto in 1956. But Japan did not agree to this deal. This was partly because it would mean the United States would keep the island of Okinawa.

Understanding the Kuril Islands

The Kuril Islands are a long chain of islands. They are located in the Pacific Ocean. These islands are known for their many volcanoes. They also have a lot of wildlife.

North Kuril Islands

These islands are located in the northern part of the chain. They are currently controlled by Russia. Here are some of the main islands in this group:

• Shumshu (占守島/)
• Araido (阿頼度島/Atarasov)
• Paramushiru (Paramushiru, Horomushiro / 幌筵島)
• Shirinki( 志林規島/Antsiferov)
• Makanru (Makanru / 磨勘留島 Makanrusi)
• Onnekotan (温禰古丹島/Onekotan)
• Harimukotan (春牟古丹島)
• Ekaruma ( 越渇磨島/Ekarma)
• Chirinkotan (知林古丹島)
• Shiashukotan (捨子古丹島 Shaskotan)
• Raikoke (雷公計島)
• Matsuwa(松輪島 Matuwa)
• Rashowa(羅処和島 Rasowa)
• Ushishiru ( 宇志知島/Uchicir)
• Ketoi ( 計吐夷島/Ketoy)
• Simushiru ( 新知島/Shimushir)
• Buroton (武魯頓島/Buroton)
• Chirpoi (知理保以島/Chirihoy)
• Chirihoinan (知理保以南島/Brat Chirpoyev)
• Uruppu ( 得撫島/Urup)

South Kuril Islands

These islands are in the southern part of the chain. They are the ones that both Russia and Japan claim. The main islands in this group are:

• Etorofu (Itrup / 択捉島)
• Kunashiri (Kunashiri / 国後島)

Little Kuril Islands

Japan does not consider these islands to be part of the Chishima Islands. They are also part of the disputed territory. These islands include:

• Shikotan （色丹島）
• Habomai shoto (歯舞諸島) →　2008.3.21 - Habomai Gunto（歯舞群島）
• Todo（海馬島/Kaiba）
• Taraku(多楽島Polonskogo)
• Shibotsu(志発島/ZelyoniShibotsu)
• Yuri (勇留島)
• Akiyuri(秋勇留島/AnuchinaAkiyuri)
• Harukaru (春苅島/Kharkar)
• Suishō （水晶島/Tanfilyeva )
• Kaigara(貝殻島/Signalny)

Related pages

• Provinces of Japan
• Prefectures of Japan
• List of regions of Japan
• List of islands of Japan
• Chishima Islands dispute

Images for kids

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  Composite map of the islands between Kamchatka Peninsula and Nemuro Peninsula, combining twelve US Army Map Service maps compiled in the early 1950s

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  Caldera of the island Ushishir

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  Stratovolcano Mt. Ruruy; view from Yuzhno-Kurilsk

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  Kuril Ainu people next to their traditional dwelling.

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  A map of Kuril Islands from Gisuke Sasamori's 1893 book Chishima Tanken

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  Historical extent of the Ainu

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  Shana Village in Etorofu (Shōwa period): a village hospital in the foreground, a factory in the left background with a fishery and a central radio tower (before 1945).

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  Main village in Shikotan

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  Russian Orthodox church, Kunashir

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  Yuzhno-Kurilsk, Kunashir

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  Severo-Kurilsk, Paramushir

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  Atlasov

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  A view of the volcano Bogdan Khmelnitsky on Iturup Island

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  Mendeleyeva in the southern part of Kunashir

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  Yuzhno-Kurilsky District

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  Ebeko volcano, Paramushir

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  White Rocks, Iturup

See also

In Spanish: Islas Kuriles para niños