The Japanese government is embarking on a plan that could result in the nationalisation of 280 privately owned islands.
A survey of 400 islands determined to be of importance to the protection of Japan's borders found that 350 were uninhabited. The identity of the owners of 280 of those islands is unknown. Under the civil code, land that has been abandoned and without an identifiable owner can revert to state ownership. Eg. in the case where the owner has died without any heirs.