Amami Ōshima Kikaijima Kakeromajima Yoroshima Ukeshima Tokunoshima Okinoerabujima Yoronjima Ryukyu Islands (Ryūkyū-shotō) The Southern Half, Okinawa Prefecture Okinawa Islands The Central Group or Ryukyu proper: Okinawa Island Kumejima Iheyajima Izenajima Agunijima Iejima Io-Torishima (Iōtorishima) Kerama Islands Tokashikijima Zamamijima Akajima Gerumajima Daitō Islands Kitadaitojima Minamidaitōjima Okidaitōjima Sakishima Islands Also known as the Further Isles: Miyako Islands Miyako-jima Ikema Ogami Irabu Island Shimoji Kurima-jima Minna Tarama Yaeyama Islands Iriomote Ishigaki Taketomi Kohama Kuroshima Aragusuku Hatoma Yubujima Hateruma Yonaguni Senkaku Islands - controlled by Japan, disputed by China and Taiwan. Uotsurijima Kuba Jima Taisho Jima Kita Kojima Minami Kojima Seto Inland Sea islands Kasaoka Islands Takashima Island (Okayama) 高島 (岡山県笠岡市) Shiraishi Island Kitagi Island, 北木島 Obishi Island, 大飛島 Kobi Island, 小飛島 Manabeshima, 真鍋島 Mushima Island (Okayama), 六島 (岡山県) Shiwaku Islands Awaji Etajima Kurahashi-jima Inujima Itsukushima (popularly known as "Miyajima") Shōdoshima Naoshima Islands Suō-Ōshima, Yamaguchi Himeshima, Ōita Aoshima, Ehime Hashira Island Okamura Island Ōshima (Ehime) Mukaishima Island, Hiroshima Ōmishima Island, Ehime Ōkunoshima (often called "Rabbit Island") Islands in lakes Daikon-island Bentenjima in Lake Tōya Bentenjima in Lake Hamana Other artificial islands Chūbu Centrair International Airport Dejima New Kitakyushu Airport , off Hakodate (artificial) (artificial) Wakaejima (artificial) Island City, Fukuoka (artificial) Claims but does not control The Northern Territories There are four disputed Kuril Islands that are controlled by Russia and claimed by Japan. These islands are called the Chishima Islands. Iturup - Kunashir - Shikotan - Habomai Islands - Others Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo/Takeshima) - controlled by South Korea, disputed by Japan and North Korea. Former South Seas Mandate (1919–1947) - part of the Japanese colonial empire until its defeat in 1945. Formally revoked by the United Nations in 1947. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands later became a U.S. territory. Taiwan and Penghu (1895–1945) - part of the Japanese colonial empire until its defeat in 1945. Returned to the Republic of China in 1945. Karafuto (1905–1949) - the southern half of the island of Sakhalin, controlled by Japan after the Russo-Japanese War. Japan lost control of Karafuto after its invasion by the Soviet Union during World War II. Formally abolished as a legal entity by Japan in 1949. Japan in addition controlled the northern half of Sakhalin between 1920 and 1925, during and after the Russian Civil War. Largest islands of Japan These are the 50 largest islands of Japan. It excludes the disputed Kuril islands known as the northern territories. See also