[Tintin Storm]

Currently, one of the priorities of Japanese foreign policy is the solution of the issue of transferring to Tokyo the Russian South Kuril Islands- Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and the Habomai archipelago (in Japan, the term "northern territories" is used to refer to these islands).
The territorial dispute between Russia and Japan over the issue of the southern Kuril Islands ownership has been remaining unresolved since the end of World War II.
After the war, the Kurile Islands became a part of the USSR. But Japan considers the territory of the South Kurils, such as Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan with a group of Habomai islands, to be its own, without any legal basis.
February 7, 1855 is the date of the signing of the Shimoda Treaty, according to which the Russian Empire received the Northern Kuriles, and Japan - the islands of Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan and a group of Habomai Islands. This day is called "Day of Northern Territories" in Japan.
Annually on this day, the joint activity of the non-governmental organization League of Solidarity for the return of the "Northern Territories" and the Hokkaido governorship is stepping up in Sapporo.
League of Solidarity for the return of the "Northern Territories" is the largest and most authoritative Japanese public organization advocating the "return" of the southern Kuril Islands to Japan. The main purpose of the organization is to achieve a peaceful "return of the Northern Territories" by popularizing this problem among the population of the country and the international community. The league exists at the expense of membership fees, donations, and financial support of the state.
On February 7, 2017, the Snow Festival will be held in Sapporo, as well as the Festival of the Day of "Northern Territories". At the festival, the Governor of Hokkaido, the Mayor of Sapporo, representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the League of Solidarity will make a speech with the aim of creating a movement among the Japanese population for the return of the southern Kuril Islands. Activities will also be conducted to distribute agitational materials and collect signatures.
According to the Japanese side, at present the "Northern Territories" are under the illegal occupation of the Russian Federation. However, according to the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951, Japan abandoned Southern Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, but Japan's territorial claims to Russia have survived to this day.
Russia is adamant in this matter: Russian sovereignty over these islands has a corresponding international legal formulation and, therefore, it is beyond doubt.

[ThirdTerm]

Jan. 26, 2018 (EIRNS)—Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said today that he intends to expand cooperation with Russia over this year.

"We plan to expand cooperation with Russia in various sectors, first of all regarding the North Korean issue and bilateral exchanges, for example, (as part of the cross) Year (of Culture) between Russia and Japan,"

he said, reported TASS.

He stated that his government will continue consultations with Moscow regarding joint economic activities on the Kuril Islands and simplified trips for their former inhabitants. "We will continue vigorous talks with Russia for solving the issue of the four islands and reaching a peace treaty," Abe stressed.

Abe was referring to the countries’ designating 2018 as the "Russia-Japan Year of Culture," which will be inaugurated on May 26 in a ceremony at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theater, which both Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend. Toshio Yamamoto, of the Communication Department in Japan’s Embassy in Moscow, told TASS: Numerous events in different sectors will be held across Russia throughout this year and even longer through efforts of the governments and with the participation of countries’ private organizations. The opening ceremony that will be held on May 26, and a major exhibition of Edo Period art, whose objects rarely leave Japan, will follow.

Yamamoto elaborated:

"Cultural exchanges are gaining pace, but it is important to bolster exchanges among a maximally wide range of people, in order to better utilize the potential of cultivating bilateral relations."

http://www.larouchepub.com/pr/2018/1801 ... ussia.html

Abe designatinated 2018 as the "Russia-Japan Year of Culture" and these were the old days when Japan adamantly claimed that the Kurils Islands were illegally occupied by the Soviets. Since Russia is no longer a communist country, there is no rationale to continue the cold war between Russia and Japan. Upon signing a peace treaty, two of four islands will be returned to Japan, which was a Soviet proposal back in the 1950s that Japan could not accept because of Washington's displeasure. Abe is hoping to resurrect the Soviet deal by deepening economic ties between Russia and Japan.