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Revision as of 15:36, 9 February 2003 by Jeejee (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The Sea of Japan (In kanji: 日本海; In Russian: Японское Море) (In North Korean: Chosŏn Tonghae, in Han'gul: 조선동해; in Hanja: 朝鮮東海) (In South Korean: Dong hae, in Han'gul: 동해; in Hanja: 東海) is part of the western Pacific Ocean, bounded by the Japanese islands of Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu on the east, the Korean peninsula and Russia on the west, and Sakhalin island on the north. The Sea of Japan is connected to other seas by five shallow straits: the Strait of Tartary or Mamiya Strait between the Asian mainland and Sakhalin; La Perouse Strait or Soya Strait between the islands of Sakhalin and Hokkaido; Tsugaru Strait between the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu; Kanmon Strait between the islands of Honshu and Kyushu; and Tsushima Channel between the island of Kyushu and the Korean peninsula. The deepest point is 3712 meters below sea level.
South Koreans prefer the name East Sea for this body of water, while North Koreans demand East Sea of Korea.
The "Sea of Japan" was not named by the Japanese people,but Koreans contest this information and contend that Japanese imperialim have given rise to this name. According to the Koreans, the Sea of Japan was indeed called the East Sea on pre-18th century maps.