The Kuroshio flows along the southern coast of Japan during its non-large-meandering state, then separates from the coast near the Kii Peninsula and attaches at the north of the Izu Ridge. The amplitude of the offshore displacement of the Kuroshio changes as a result of mesoscale perturbations. Satellite SSH and SST observations (TOPEX/Poseidon: T/P and NOAA AVHRR) have suggested that the short-term Kuroshio meander formation is triggered by anticyclonic eddies originating in the Kuroshio Extension. To simulate such an event, a numerical experiment using a high-resolution regional GCM was conducted by initializing the eddy with the observed T/P sea level anomaly. An anticyclonic eddy was injected to the south of the Kuroshio (140¿E, 30¿N) by means of sequential data assimilation of the T/P data of October 1992 for 30 days. The volume transport of the model Kuroshio was kept constant at 25 Sv, a condition which would not cause large meander of the Kuroshio. The simulation successfully reproduced the four phases of the interaction: (1) westward propagation of the eddy; (2) advection of the eddy by the Kuroshio; (3) meander formation; and (4) detachment of the eddy from the Kuroshio and their repetition. The analyses revealed that the inshore high potential vorticity (PV) water is generated at the sharp coastal topography (the Kii peninsula). The cyclonic eddies shed will eventually coalesce with the existing inshore cyclonic circulation and the meander grows. During the growth of the meander, the necessary barotropic kinetic energy is produced through the shallowing of the thermocline of the anticyclonic eddy as it elongates and splits. The growth of the meander ceases when the split anticyclonic eddies merge, the thermocline deepens, and the eddy detaches itself from the Kuroshio as a result of its own westward thrust. Simultaneously, the accumulated high PV inshore is released to the Kuroshio Extension region as cyclonic eddies. This study provides evidence for the active role of the anticyclonic eddy in causing the variability of the Kuroshio path and suggests a mechanism of rapid discharge/recharge of the available potential energy of the eddy and production/release of high PV inshore Kuroshio to cause the short-term Kuroshio meander.