Visiting team of northern territory grave visit by air Return to Hokkaido August 11 16:18
A delegation of former islanders who participated in the grave visit using aircraft to the northern territory returned to Nakashibetsu Airport in Hokkaido on the 11th.
The grave visit to the northern territories using aircraft was agreed at the summit meeting of the former Japan-Russia to reduce the burden of the aging former islanders, and the third event was attended by 67 people including Motoshima residents. did.
The delegation moved on a charter plane on the 10th, divided into Kunigo Island and Etorofu Island, held a ceremonial ceremony at the cemetery of each island, and returned to Nakashibetsu Airport around noon on the 11th. At this grave visit, the visit to the cemetery that could not be visited in the last 5 to 6 years without any coordination with the Russian side was realized.
Mr. Kouta Otsuka from Kunigojima who served as the head of the visiting group said at the press conference, “We were blessed with the weather this time. It takes time to visit the grave on the ship, but this time was considerably shortened, including me. All the elderly were pleased. "
In addition, Mr. Hideki Uyama from the European Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who accompanied him said, “I am very pleased to be able to go to the cemetery that I could not go for a while, but there is no guarantee that I will be able to go next time. I want to negotiate with you. "