Ever wonder just how likely movies are like "Castaway" and "Six Days, Seven Nights" in which plane or ship wrecked survivors end up on deserted islands and must fend for themselves or die? How many islands are truly deserted on this planet? Volcanoes, however, add some credibility to those films, or at least keep the possibility open for day dreamers.

Japan may have acquired uninhabited territory for fortunate (or unfortunate) survivors to subsist on after a volcanic eruption approximately 600 miles off the coast of Tokyo and almost directly next to the island of Nishino-shina created a small land mass, Fox reported.

The beginnings of Niijima, as it was named (with no regard for consecutive floating periods), were detected in November when the eruption of an underwater volcano (part of the Pacific Ring of Fire) broke the surface and expelled black smoke, ash, and rock into the air. From the aftermath emerged a land mass, while subsequent eruptions only increased its size to what is now about 14 acres. It wasn't until recently, however, that NASA satellite confirmed its staying power. Sometimes, new islands recede back into the water relatively shortly after they rise, according to Fox.

"This has happened before and in some cases the islands disappeared," said Yoshihide Suga, Japan's chief government spokesman.

"Most of the time islands like this have very short lives because they are built of ash and larger rock particles that get eroded by wave action," Bruce Houghton, a professor of volcanology at the University of Hawaii told the Los Angeles Times when the island was first discovered in November

Most experts seem to believe it will last at least a few years, though beyond that would be much less likely. Niijima doesn't sound like the most ideal place for a survivor to stay anyway, as it continues to erupt and is made of only ash and rock. Perhaps down the road, if it establishes itself -- adds some trees, brush, and maybe even some wildlife --Niijima could become a suitable destination on which to wash up.

Yet, if it ever becomes that useful, Japan may have other plans.

"If it becomes a full-fledged island, we would be happy to have more territory," Suga said.