The Japan Geospatial Information Administration (GSI) has carried out digital mapping and discovered 7000 new islands.
Since 1987, there were officially 6852 islands in Japan, but the latest figures have increased this figure to 14 125 islands.
Experts explain that the total area of land held by Japan is unchanged, as the growth of the islands is due to technological advances in geodesy and map detail.
When counting islands, all natural land areas with a circumference of at least 100 meters are taken into account.
