It has been 30 years since the start of the "Visa-Free Exchange", in which former islanders from the Northern Territories visit their home islands and accept Russian islanders.
Visa-free exchanges have been unilaterally suspended by Russia in March in response to Japan's sanctions against a military invasion of Ukraine, and when can the ongoing exchanges to resolve territorial disputes resume? Concerns are widespread.
Visa-free exchange is a framework in which Japanese and Russians living in the four northern islands visit each other without being issued a visa. Thirty years ago, on April 22, 1992, a ship carrying the first Russians was in Nemuro. I arrived at Hanasaki Port in the city.
The aim is to help the residents solve the territorial dispute by deepening their understanding. So far, about 14,000 people from the Japanese side, including former islanders, their children and grandchildren, and researchers, and about 10,000 people from the Russian side. I participated and have had many grass-roots exchanges such as homestays.
However, Russia unilaterally announced in March that it would suspend peace treaty negotiations in response to Japan's sanctions against the military invasion of Ukraine and suspend exchange programs such as visa-free exchanges.
The exchange business has been suspended for the second consecutive year due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection, and the Russian side has announced that it will be suspended, making it uncertain that it will resume.
The average age of former islanders is over 86 years old, and there are growing concerns about when the exchanges that have been going on for 30 years to solve the territorial dispute can be resumed and whether they can return to their hometowns. ..
The man who participated in the first visa-free exchange 30 years ago
Hiroshi Tokuno (88), who lives in Nemuro City, participated in the first visa-free exchange from the Japanese side 30 years ago (May 1992).
At that time, it is said that nearly 100 Russian children living on the northern territory of his hometown, Shirotanjima, were greeted at the port with the flags of Japan and Russia.
Mr. Tokuno recalled, "I was deeply moved by the feeling that he had returned to his hometown. I was glad I came and I wish I could continue this kind of visit."
Mr. Tokuno, who reached the end of the war at the age of 10, lived for a while under occupation after the former Soviet army landed on the island in September 1945 immediately after the end of the war, and was forced from the island three years later at the age of 13. Was evacuated to.
Mr. Tokuno has participated in exchange projects more than 30 times to help solve the territorial dispute, and has deepened friendships with many Russian islanders.
Among them, it is said that one of the Russian men living in Shitanjima became a relationship that called each other "parent and child", and it was possible to visit the site of the birthplace in the area where access was restricted by the efforts of men. ..
Russian men and their friends carefully cleaned the tombs of the Noh masters on the island, and they kept in touch online even after the exchange business was stopped due to the spread of the new coronavirus infection. rice field.
Mr. Tokuno says that such grassroots exchanges are indispensable for solving territorial disputes, and hopes that visa-free exchanges will resume when the time comes.
Mr. Tokuno said, "It is important to remind us that there is a territorial dispute at the root as we go back and forth between the islands. Visa-free exchanges must continue no matter what Russia says. I think that if this is discontinued, the last 77 years will be wasted. I want you to revive even if it takes time because negotiations between countries are not enough. "
Former islander men who have their own experiences in the current situation in Ukraine
Hideo Fukuzawa (81), who lives in Shibetsu Town, is from the Habomai Islands and Taraku Island, and lived with his parents who are engaged in kelp fishing.
That peaceful life changed completely in early September 1945, shortly after the end of the war, when the former Soviet army landed on the island.
Fukuzawa, who was five at the time, still vividly remembers a soldier with a gun going around the house and looting.
Mr. Fukuzawa said, "I suddenly came up with my feet and opened drawers and chests of drawers to pick up important things such as watches and fountain pens. I will never forget it. "
The Fukuzawa family evacuated from the island by boat, leaving behind the houses and lands inherited from his ancestors.
For that reason, when I see the news about Ukrainian children, I feel like I was reminded of myself at that time.
Mr. Fukuzawa said, "The appearance of a small child crying with big tears saying" I don't want to die "has to overlap with me when I was 5 years old, and my heart seems to be torn apart. How will I live after this? I think I'm feeling uncomfortable and tearing my heart. "
Mr. Fukuzawa had a hard time, but he participated in visa-free exchanges 16 times and visited all the islands in the Northern Territories, hoping that the exchange with Russia would lead to the solution of the territorial dispute.
In addition, we accept Russian islanders at homestays, etc., and as we interact with each other, we become more familiar with them. ..
For that reason, I feel vain that visa-free exchanges will be suspended and the distance between Russian islanders, which has been shortened so far, will be widened again.
Mr. Fukuzawa said, "I hated Russians at first, but as I continued to interact with them, I became able to understand their personalities and ways of thinking. I'm sorry. "
He added, "I can't give up because it's a return movement that has been accumulated for a long time. It's frustrating if the Russian side thinks that'Japan has given up on the Northern Territories', so the movement must continue until the last generation." , Shows a strong will to resume visa-free exchanges and continue the return movement.
Participants in their 20s in the last 30 years
Over the last 30 years, visa-free exchanges have been attended by the younger generation, who will be responsible for future return movements.
Ryo Hirato (28), a staff member of Rausu Town, is a former islander III whose grandfather is from Zelyony Island in the Habomai Islands, and was not born at the time when visa-free exchange began.
Three years ago, Mr. Hirato participated in a visa-free exchange for the first time and visited Shitanjima to deepen friendship with Russian islanders.
On the other hand, witnessing the reality that Russians are establishing their lives on the island, and as the number of former islanders who have played a central role in the return movement is gradually decreasing, it is necessary to steadily link visa-free exchanges to return. I feel.
Mr. Hirato says, "If we stop the exchange, there is a risk that the Russian side will think that Japan is no longer focusing on it, and it is meaningful to continue."
On top of that, he said, "I didn't really feel that visa-free exchanges would lead to returns, so I think it's better to think of ways of dialogue and exchanges that can approach that."
Expert "Somehow not to lose the" root ""
Yukiko Kuroiwa, a specially appointed professor at Iwate Prefectural University who has participated in visa-free exchanges as an interpreter and researcher, said, "The goal of visa-free exchanges is to solve territorial disputes and return the Northern Territories. It makes a lot of sense to continue. It's not normal for residents to go home and stay with each other or get along with each other when the territorial dispute is protracted. "
On top of that, "The war has begun in Ukraine, but in most cases, the fire is getting bigger and bigger due to the conflict between the inhabitants. Even though it is a territorial dispute, we can be proud of the fact that we have a relationship of trust between the inhabitants. I think that's the case. "
Regarding future visa-free exchanges, "It is premised that the war in Ukraine will end, but we should start exchanges at the end, and somehow keep the roots in place and support the resumption of negotiations someday. I want you to make it. "