Kuril Islands

island chain located in Northeast Asia administered by Russia

The Kuril Islands (/ˈkʊərɪl, ˈkjʊərɪl, kjʊˈrl/; Russian: Кури́льские острова́, tr. Kurilskiye ostrova, IPA: [kʊˈrʲilʲskʲɪjə ɐstrɐˈva]; "Kuril Islands"), also called the Chishima Islands (Japanese: 千島列島, Hepburn: Chishima rettō), are a group of islands (archipelago) between Russia and Japan. The northern islands are a part of Russia and the southern islands are a part of Japan. Both countries say that they own four of the islands in the middle of the group. This disagreement is called the Kuril Islands dispute.

Location of Kuril Islands in the Western Pacific

Japan is asking for return of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai shoto. They say that these islands are being illegally held by Russia. Several political parties in Japan are asking for return of all Chishima Islands. Russia has said that it would return Shikotan and Habomai shoto in 1956 but Japan did not agree to this agreement because it meant the United States would keep the island of Okinawa.


North-Chishima / North Kurils

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  • 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 Chishima / South Kuril

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Little Kuril

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Japan does not say these are a part of the Chishima Islands

  • 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)
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