Habomai Islands Explained

Disputed:yes
Habomai Islands
Plural:yes
Other Names:
Pushpin Map:Russia
Location:Pacific Ocean
Archipelago:Kuril Islands
Total Islands:10 + several rocks
Area Km2:100
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:Federal subject
Country Admin Divisions 1:Sakhalin Oblast
Country Admin Divisions Title 2:District
Country Admin Divisions 2:Yuzhno-Kurilsky
Country1: Japan
Country1 Admin Divisions Title 1:Prefecture
Country1 Admin Divisions 1:Hokkaido
Country1 Admin Divisions Title 2:Subprefecture
Country1 Admin Divisions 2:Nemuro
Population:0

The Habomai Islands (Russian: Хабомаи|Khabomai; Japanese: 歯舞群島|Habomai guntō) are a group of uninhabited islets (but for the Russian guards stationed there)[1] in the southernmost Kuril Islands.

The islands have been under Soviet / Russian administration since the 1945 invasion by the Soviet Union near the end of World War II. But together with Iturup (Etorofu), Kunashir (Kunashiri), and Shikotan, the islands are claimed by Japan.

History

In the fifteenth century, the Matsumae clan made efforts to administer the islands; by 1644 the islands had been mapped as Japanese territories.[2]

In 1732 the islands were mapped during the Russian Great Eastern Expedition.

The Treaty of Shimoda, signed by Russia and Japan in 1855, recognised Japanese ownership of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands.[3]

The Habomai Islands were occupied by Soviet forces in the last few days of World War II. The islands were eventually annexed by the Soviet Union, which deported all the island residents to Japan. Moscow claimed the islands as part of a war-time agreement between the Allies (Yalta Agreement), which provided for the transfer of the Chishima (Kurile) Islands to the USSR in return for its participation in the Pacific War. However, Japan maintains that the Habomai Islands are not part of the Kuriles and are in fact part of Hokkaido prefecture. On May 26, 1955, the United States submitted an application for proceedings against the Soviet Union. As part of the proceedings, the United States questioned the validity of the Soviet Union's claim to the Habomai Islands.[4]

In 1956, after difficult negotiations, the Soviet Union agreed to cede the Habomai to Japan, along with Shikotan, after the conclusion of a peace treaty between the two countries.[5] As the treaty was never concluded, the islands remained under Soviet jurisdiction. However, the promise of a two-island solution (for the purpose of simplicity, the Habomai rocks count as one island) has been renewed in the Soviet-Japanese, and later Russo-Japanese negotiations. Formerly home to a Japanese fishing community, the islands are now uninhabited except for the Russian border guard outpost.

List of islands

IslandJapanese nameRussian nameAinu transcription(s)Area
km
Highest point
m
Latitude NLongitude EDistance from Cape Nosappu[6]
km
ShikotanJapanese: 色丹島

Russian: Остров Шикотанsi-kotan (Big village)255 412.6 43°47' 146°44' 73.3
Spangberg channel (Habomai islands are shown below.)
OskolkiJapanese: 海馬島

Russian: Остров Осколкиtodo-mosir (Steller sea lion island)1.5 38 43°34'146°24'
PolonskogoJapanese: 多楽島

Russian: Остров Полонскогоtorar-uk (Take in the strap)11.69 25 43°37'146°19' 45.5
Chayka rockJapanese: カブ島

Russian: Скала Чайка
PetsernayaJapanese: カナクソ岩

Russian: Скала Пещерная
ShishkiJapanese: カブト島

Russian: Острова Шишки
Polonskogo channel
ZelyonyJapanese: 志発島

Russian: Остров Зелёныйsipe-op (A place where a shoal of Chum salmon)58.3 45 43°29'146°09' 25.5
Vojeikov channel
DeminaJapanese: 春苅島

Russian: Острова Дёминаharu-kar-kotan (Village of harvesting Cardiocrinum cordatum bulbs)2 34 43°25'146°10'
YuriJapanese: 勇留島

Russian: Остров Юрийurir (Cormorant island)10 43°25'146°04' 16.6
Yuri channel
AnuchinaJapanese: 秋勇留島

Russian: Остров Анучинаaki-urir (Yuri's young brother)5 33 43°21'146°00' 13.7
TanfilyevaJapanese: 水晶島

Russian: Остров Танфильеваsi-so (Big bare rock)21 15 43°26'145°55' 7.2
Goyōmai channel
StorozhevoyJapanese: 萌茂尻島

Russian: Остров Сторожевойmoi-mosir (A calm island)0.07 11.8 43°23'145°53' 6.0
RifovyJapanese: オドケ島

Russian: Остров Рифовый0.001 3.6 43°23'145°52'
SignalnyJapanese: 貝殻島

Russian: Остров Сигнальныйkay-ka-ra-i (Low thing above the wave)43°23'145°51' 3.7
Cape Nosappu, Hokkaido

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: An Overview of the Northern Territories . www.hoppou.go.jp . 19 March 2023.
  2. Web site: The Kurile Islands Dispute . November 1997 . mandalaprojects.com . 22 March 2023.
  3. Web site: Kuril islands dispute between Russia and Japan . BBC . 18 May 2015.
  4. Web site: October 7, 1952 Incident (Habomai Islands) : Application by the United States to the International Court of Justice, May 26, 1955. Yale Law School. 18 May 2015.
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/1956/10/20/archives/texts-of-sovietjapanese-statements-peace-declaration-trade-protocol.html "Texts of Soviet–Japanese Statements; Peace Declaration Trade Protocol."
  6. http://www8.cao.go.jp/hoppo/sugata/01.html 北方領土の姿 北方対策本部 - 内閣府