Tsugaru Strait

[ tsoo-gahr-oo streyt ]

noun

1. a strait between the islands of Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan, connecting the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean. 100 miles (160 km) long and 15–25 miles (24–40 km) wide.

Tsugaru Strait

/ ˈtsuɡɑˌru /

noun

1. a channel between N Honshu and S Hokkaido islands, Japan. Width: about 30 km (20 miles)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tsugaru Strait¹

First recorded in 1870–75; from Japanese: literally, “port, haven, ferry, ford”

Example Sentences

Andy said crossing the Tsugaru Strait in Japan, which left him requiring hospital treatment, was the toughest leg despite being the second shortest of the challenge.

From BBC

The next four crossings - the Molokai Channel in Hawaii, the Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco, the Catalina channel from Santa Catalina to Los Angeles and the Tsugaru Strait - were crammed into three months between April and July.

From BBC

The warships last week conducted what were termed highly concentrated strategic passages through three waterways, transiting through the Tsushima Strait between Japan and Korea; the Tsugaru Strait between Japan’s two main islands; and the Soya Strait, located between Russia’s Sakhalin Island and Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido.

From Washington Times

The spy vessel was seen sailing about 18 miles southwest of Cape Tappi before sailing through the Tsugaru Strait separating Honshu and Hokkaido.

From Washington Times

The ministry also found several Chinese intelligence ships near the Tsugaru Strait in northern Japan, just days after they were seen in waters off southern Japan.

From Seattle Times