A large dark cormorant of rocky marine shorelines, rarely recorded inland, unlike similar Great Cormorant, which is widespread inland. Similar to Great, but adult has more extensive white in the throat and in breeding plumage shows green (not bronze) sheen above. Juvenile usually has paler underparts than young Great. In all plumages, Japanese shows more bare orange-yellow skin above the eye than Great but has a much smaller gular pouch (bare skin of the throat).