The Sea of Japan likely received its name due to its geographic location, being primarily separated from the Pacific Ocean by the Japanese archipelago.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
The dominant theory suggests that the name "Sea of Japan" arose simply from the sea's close association with Japan. Because the Japanese archipelago largely encloses the sea, effectively separating it from the open Pacific Ocean, it became naturally linked to Japan in the minds of cartographers and explorers. This geographical reality likely contributed to the gradual adoption of the name "Sea of Japan" across various cultures and languages. Over time, this name gained widespread acceptance and became the standard designation.
