Influential former Diet member Muneo Suzuki, an unofficial adviser to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Russian affairs, argued Wednesday that Japan should take "a realistic approach" on the reversion of four disputed islands off Hokkaido, first asking for some of the islets rather than taking an all-at-once approach.

Suzuki, head of the Hokkaido-based New Party Daichi, made the remarks during a news conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Tokyo. Suzuki has met Abe six times this year to discuss the long-standing Northern Territories issue, the former lawmaker said.

Suzuki declined to comment at the news conference when questioned whether Abe held similar views on the issue.