Exclusive economic zone of Japan


has the eighth largest Exclusive Economic Zone in the world. The total area of Japan is about 377,975.24 km². Japan's EEZ area is vast and the territorial waters and EEZ together is about 4.48 million km².

Geography

The Japanese archipelago consists of about 6,852 islands. The Exclusive Economic Zone of Japan includes:
Japan ratified the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on 10 December 1982 and has contributed to three UNCLOS organizations such as the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf and the International Seabed Authority.
The Japan Maritime Self Defense Force is responsible for protecting the EEZ of Japan. As an island nation, dependent on maritime trade for the majority of its resources, including food and raw materials, maritime operations are a very important aspect of Japanese defense policy.

Disputes

Japan has disputes over its EEZ boundaries with all its Asian neighbors. The above, and relevant maps at the Sea Around Us Project both indicate Japan's claimed boundaries.
Japan also refers to various categories of "shipping area" – Smooth Water Area, Coasting Area, Major or , Ocean Going Area – but it is unclear whether these are intended to have any territorial or economic implications.