A rally was held in Nemuro City, Hokkaido on the 1st to appeal for the return of the Northern Territories.
While no progress has been seen in territorial negotiations between Japan and Russia, former islanders and others have expressed their desire for a solution as soon as possible.
In Nemuro City, where many former islanders of the Northern Territories live, a rally is held every August to request the return of the territory, and about 630 former islanders and their families participated.
At the beginning of the rally, Mayor Masatoshi Ishigaki of Nemuro City said, "I strongly urge the government to move forward with strong and strong diplomacy in order to resolve the territorial dispute as soon as possible. That's important. "
Next, Koji Suzuki (79) from Habomai Islands, Yurushima, called out, "It is not permissible to spend more years solving the territorial dispute," and all the participants said, "Return the Northern Territories." I appealed.
While no progress has been made in territorial negotiations between Japan and Russia over the Northern Territories, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Etorofu Island on July 26, strengthening effective control.
Ryoichi Miyataniuchi, director of the Nemuro Branch of the Chishima Denmai Islands Residents' Federation, said, "Former islanders are having a hard time every day even if they want to go to the island. I was talking.