Sea of Japan

The Sea of Japan or Japan Sea (in kanji: 日本海; in Russian: Японское Море) is a marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, bound 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.

The Sea of Japan has two major basins, Yamato Basin[?] and Japan Basin[?]. They are rich fishing grounds.

South Koreans prefer the name East Sea for this body of water, while North Koreans demand East Sea of Korea. See Dispute over the name Sea of Japan.