List of territories acquired by the Empire of Japan

This is a list of regions occupied or annexed by the Empire of Japan until 1945, the year of the end of World War II in Asia, after the surrender of Japan. Control over all territories except the Japanese mainland (Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, and some 6,000 small surrounding islands) was renounced by Japan in the Unconditional Surrender after World War II and the Treaty of San Francisco. A number of territories occupied by the United States after 1945 were returned to Japan, but there are still a number of disputed territories between Japan and Russia (the Kuril Islands dispute), South Korea and North Korea (the Liancourt Rocks dispute), the People's Republic of China and Taiwan (the Senkaku Islands dispute).

Maximum extent of the Japanese empire

Members of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere; territory controlled at maximum height. Japan and its allies in dark red; Thailand and Free India. Occupied territories/client states in lighter red. Korea, Taiwan, and Karafuto (South Sakhalin) were integral parts of Japan.

Pre-World War II[]

Colony[]

• Hokkaido – since 1869
• Kuril Islands – 1875–1945 (Since the conclusion of Treaty of Saint Petersburg)
• Ryukyu Islands – 1879–1945 & since 1972^[1]
• Nanpō Islands – 1891–1945 & since 1968
• Taiwan and the Penghu Islands – 1895–1945
• Minami-Tori-shima – 1898–1945 & since 1968
• Karafuto (South Sakhalin) – 1905–1945
• Kwantung Leased Territory – 1905–1945
• Korea – 1910–1945
• Kiautschou Bay Leased Territory – formerly of German Empire – 1914–1922
• South Seas Mandate 1919–1945
• Okinotorishima – 1931–1945 & since 1968

Occupied locations[]

• Manchuria – 1931–1945
• All ports and major towns in the Primorsky Krai and Siberia regions of Russia east of the city of Chita, from 1918 until gradually withdrawing in 1922.^[2]

World War II[]

Disclaimer: Not all areas were considered part of Imperial Japan but rather part of puppet states & sphere of influence, allies, included separately for demographic purposes. Sources: POPULSTAT Asia^[3] Oceania^[4]

Other occupied World War 2 islands:

• Andaman Islands (India) – March 29, 1942 – September 9, 1945
• Christmas Island (Australia) – March 1942 – October 1945

Areas attacked but not conquered[]

• Kohima and Manipur (India)
• Dornod (Khalkhin Gol, Mongolia)
• Midway Atoll (United States)

Raided without immediate intent of occupation[]

• Air raids
  • Pearl Harbor (Hawaii, United States)
  • Colombo and Trincomalee (Sri Lanka)
  • Air raids on Australia, including:
    • Broome (Western Australia, Australia)
    • Darwin (Northern Territory, Australia)
    • Townsville (Queensland, Australia)
  • Dutch Harbor (Alaska, United States)
  • Lookout Air Raids (Oregon, United States)
• Naval bombardment by submarine
  • British Columbia (Canada)
  • Ellwood (Santa Barbara, California, United States)
  • Fort Stevens (Oregon, United States)
  • Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia)
  • Gregory (Western Australia, Australia)
• Midget sub attack
  • Sydney (New South Wales, Australia)
  • Diego Suarez (Madagascar)

See also[]

• Japanese colonial empire
• Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
• Tanaka Memorial
• Jewish settlement in the Japanese Empire
• List of wars involving Japan
• Sangokujin – 'third country person'

References[]