Latest news with #NorthernTerritories
Japan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Memorial services at sea to be held off disputed islands
The Hokkaido government has announced that memorial services at sea will be held between July 20 and Aug. 21 for former residents of the four Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Japan to mourn their ancestors. In Japan, the four islands, which were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan in the closing days of World War II, are collectively called the Northern Territories. Held for the fourth consecutive year, the memorial services aboard a ship reflect the wishes of former residents and successors to offer condolences to their ancestors as close as possible to their homeland, at a time when exchange initiatives, including a visa-free visit program, have been halted amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Hokkaido government said Tuesday that it will run the memorial services jointly with a league of former residents and others. Five of the scheduled seven memorial service sessions will be one-day trips in which participants will mourn their ancestors as they face the Habomai group of islets and the southern part of Kunashiri Island, both in the group of claimed islands, aboard a ship named Etopirika that will depart from and return to the port of Nemuro in eastern Hokkaido. The other two will involve an overnight stay on board, with participants offering prayers toward the northern part of Kunashiri Island.
Japan Times
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Russia to conduct drill in waters near disputed island off Hokkaido
Russia has informed Japan that it will conduct shooting drills in waters north of Shikotan, one of the four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido claimed by Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said. The Japanese government has lodged a protest with Russia, Hayashi said at a news conference Wednesday. In Japan, the four islands are collectively called the Northern Territories. The drill will be held through June 15 in an area that includes Japanese territorial waters. "Russia's military buildup on the four islands goes against our country's position on these islands and is unacceptable," Hayashi said. He also said that Russian authorities have extended to Saturday the suspension of passage rights for foreign warships and government ships in the waters around the four islands from the initial period through May 1, which was announced in April. Hayashi said that the Japanese government has also protested that move as unacceptable.
