A Recount Could Mean Japan Has 7,000 More Islands (npr.org) 24
The number of islands in Japan is expected to more than double after 7,000 new islands it didn't know existed were discovered. Well, kind of. From a report: The nation currently comprises 6,852 islands, but that figure dates back to a 1987 study conducted by the Japan Coast Guard. During a December 2021 parliamentary session, a lawmaker argued the data was old and the true figure could be vastly different. "An accurate understanding of the number of islands is an important administrative matter that is related to the national interest," the legislator said, according to Kyodo News. During the 1987 study, officials listed -- by hand -- islands with a circumference of at least 100 meters. They used basic technology that often misidentified groups of small islands as one island.
They also left out thousands of islands, many of which were within lakes or rivers. They didn't include river sandbanks either, which the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea now recognizes as islands. Plus, volcanic activity has led to the creation of more islands since the study over 35 years ago. Now, with the recount, that figure is expected to rise to 14,125 islands, a source familiar with the matter told Kyodo News.
They also left out thousands of islands, many of which were within lakes or rivers. They didn't include river sandbanks either, which the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea now recognizes as islands. Plus, volcanic activity has led to the creation of more islands since the study over 35 years ago. Now, with the recount, that figure is expected to rise to 14,125 islands, a source familiar with the matter told Kyodo News.
So.... (Score:1)
Rigged (Score:4, Insightful)
Obviously, the original count was rigged.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Obviously, the original count was rigged.
Dominion claims it was not rigged.
Someone stole the islands 2023 (Score:1)
Better hurry (Score:2)
Before all your islands disappear [wikipedia.org].
So Animal Crossing is possible?! (Score:2)
It sounds like Animal Crossing might be possible to implement in real life :-)
Re: (Score:1)
It sounds like Animal Crossing might be possible to implement in real life :-)
Well, except for the lack of anthropomorphic animals. I think the closest you'll get in real life is an island inhabited entirely by furries. If that sounds good, hey, who am I to kink shame?
Re: (Score:2)
I think furries are opposite of anthropomorphic, zoomorphic.
China claiming ownership too? (Score:3, Informative)
That would be their typical MO
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
More likely Japan is trying to claim more EEZ areas. They already claim quite a bit using extremely small islands, that barely support life.
Re: China claiming ownership too? (Score:2)
Billionaire (Score:2)
How many of those islands are secret billionaire playgrounds?
Google Earth? (Score:2)
In the past such a survey would have been difficult.
These days just go to Google Earth or Google Maps and count islands. Sheesh.
Global warming (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Shouldn't the number of islands be decreasing not increasing?
Perhaps they are going for "peak island count" before the inevitable reduction due to rising sea levels.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:1)
Is this... (Score:2)
The same group of people that counts Jupiter's moons?
Another one, please (Score:1)
Don: "See, recounts work!"
Yamatai (Score:2)
Did they finally find Yamatai?
Reboot The Computer (Score:1)