KUSHIRO, Hokkaido (Kyodo) A group of former Japanese residents and descendants of residents of disputed Russia-administered islands sailed from Nemuro port, Hokkaido, for Etorofu Island on Friday under a bilateral visa-free exchange program.

The 61-member group, the first Japanese contingent of visitors to the disputed territories this year, departed Nemuro on a chartered boat as they began a four-day trip under the program, which has been in place for 18 years.

The program faced problem in January after a dispute broke out over Russian demands that Japanese government officials on a humanitarian mission submit disembarkation cards before arriving on Kunashiri, one of the four disputed islands.

Tokyo rejected the demand, and the row dragged on until Moscow relented and agreed to allow Japanese visitors access to the disputed islands without such cards.

However, a planned May 15 departure of a Japanese group was canceled at the last minute due to a delay in Russian preparations. Friday's departure for the four-day visit was not formalized until Thursday.

During their stay on Etorofu, the group members are slated to visit a museum and a fishery processing plant, attend a dialogue meeting with local Russians and stay at the homes of local residents.

"We worried our trip might be canceled again and we are relieved it has finally been arranged this time," said Hirokazu Suzuki, a member of a group of ex-residents on the disputed islands who saw the travelers off at Nemuro Friday morning.