This Open Access book carefully examines the legal and historical bases of the territory of
Japan as a modern State from the Meiji period to 2002. A new preface summarizes key
developments in the situation up through 2022. Japan's current territory is stipulated by the
Potsdam Declaration (1945) and the Treaty of Peace with Japan (1951) it includes the Northern
Territories the Senkaku Islands and Takeshima. Japan has demanded the return of the Northern
Territories comprising the islands of Etorofu Kunashiri Shikotan and Habomai which are
occupied by Russia. China has claimed sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands which are validly
controlled by Japan Japan has claimed sovereignty over Takeshima which is occupied by the
Republic of Korea. This book analyzes the current status of these territorial topics drawing
on historical documents and international legal precedent and it suggests peaceful methods to
address them. In discussing territorial land sea and air space this work touches upon
postwar concepts defining modern international law and relevant rules on these
subjects-exclusive economic zones (EEZs) continental shelves and air defense identification
zones (ADIZs)-found in international treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea (UNCLOS) and related domestic laws.
