Japan, formerly known as the Empire of Japan and eventually the State of Japan, is a state of the Asian Union along with Korea and China. Japan is considered a "middle state" of the country, as it is the second largest by area and population. Japan is also known for being the head of the country's technology, which is greatly known worldwide. Japan is the only island state of the Asian Union, as it is completely surrounded by the Sea of Japan, the western Pacific Ocean, and by the south, the East China Sea. Russia lays to the north while the states of Korea and China lay to the west. Japan's traditional name is Nippon or Nihon, meaning "sun-origin" in Japanese. This is a reason why many refer to Japan as the "Land of the Rising Sun".