Kuroshio Current
![The Kuroshio Current is the west side of the clockwise North Pacific ocean gyre](/Images/godic/202501/22/Oceanic_gyres3811.png")
![The ocean currents surrounding the Japanese archipelago: 1. Kuroshio 2. Kuroshio extension 3. Kuroshio countercurrent 4. Tsushima Current 5. Tsugaru Current 6. Sōya Current 7. Oyashio 8. Liman Current](/Images/godic/202501/22/Japan's_ocean_currents3812.PNG")
![The Oyashio Current colliding with the Kuroshio Current near Hokkaido. When two currents collide, they create eddies. Phytoplankton growing in the surface waters become concentrated along the boundaries of these eddies, tracing out the motions of the water.](/Images/godic/202501/22/Spring_Bloom_Colors_the_Pacific_Near_Hokkaido3812.jpg")
The Kuroshio(黒潮, "くろしお", [ku͍ɽoɕio] "Black Tide", "Japan Current") is a north-flowing ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean. It is similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic and is part of the North Pacific ocean gyre. Like the Gulf stream, it is a strong western boundary current.