Tsushima Island

Tsushima is a Japanese island in the Korea Strait, administered by Nagasaki Prefecture. Its position between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula has shaped its maritime, military, and cultural history.

Mongol invasions of Japan: Two attempted Mongol-led invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281, launched from the Korean Peninsula. The 1274 invasion struck Tsushima before continuing toward Kyushu.
Korea Strait: A sea passage between the Korean Peninsula and the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. Tsushima lies within this passage, near its narrowest routes between Japan and Korea.
Tsushima leopard cat: A critically endangered subspecies of leopard cat found only on Tsushima Island. This endemic predator is a central focus of the island’s wildlife conservation.
Tsushima dialect: Japanese speech varieties native to Tsushima, shaped by local history and geography. Local speech reflects the island’s distinct community within Nagasaki Prefecture.
Battle of Tsushima: A 1905 naval battle in which Japan defeated Russia’s Baltic Fleet in the Korea Strait. The battle took place in waters near the island and gave its name lasting international prominence.
Iki Island: A Japanese island in the Korea Strait, northwest of Kyushu and southeast of Tsushima. Iki is Tsushima’s neighboring island along the sea route toward Kyushu.
Tsushima wildlife conservation: Efforts to protect Tsushima’s endangered species, forests, and coastal habitats. Conservation work addresses pressures on the island’s distinctive ecosystems.
Watazumi Shrine: A Shinto shrine on Tsushima’s coast, known for its torii gates facing the sea. The shrine’s seaward setting expresses the island’s long relationship with maritime life.
Sō clan: A Japanese warrior family that governed Tsushima for centuries and managed relations with Korea. The clan’s rule connected local island politics to Japan’s diplomacy and trade with Korea.
Tsushima Current: A warm ocean current that flows through the Korea Strait into the Sea of Japan. Its waters influence Tsushima’s marine environment and connect the island to wider ocean circulation.

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