The warm, eastward-flowing ocean current that represents the direct continuation of the Kuroshio (in latitude 35 degrees where the Kuroshio leaves the coast of Japan), and flows eastward in two branches. The major branch of the Kuroshio extension turns due east; it retains its character as a well-defined flow approximately as far as longitude 160=AE$=AFE (eventually becoming the North Pacific current). The minor branch, to the north, continues toward the northeast as far as latitude 40=AE$=AFN where it bends east (eventually becoming the Aleutian current ). This northern branch becomes rapidly mixed with the cold waters of the Oyashio .