In a notable shift, Japan has decided to abandon the traditional Mercator map projection, a development endorsed by the United Nations. The exact timing of this change is unclear. The Mercator projection, a model of mapping the globe onto a plane, has been criticized for its Eurocentric distortion of global sizes and shapes. Japan's decision to switch to a new projection marks a significant shift in how the world is depicted in Japanese cartography.

The move reflects a growing trend in Japan to challenge Eurocentric views and provide a more accurate global representation. It is a subject of public interest as it impacts educational materials and public visuals, promoting better geographical understanding and contributing to fairness and equality in an international perspective.

In the United States and the European Union, the use of Mercator Projection still dominates, despite criticisms similar to those raised in Japan. However, individual institutions and educators have increasingly turned to alternative map projections for a more realistic representation of world geography.