Muneo Suzuki, a veteran politician with close ties to Russia, won a seat in Sunday's House of Councilors election, returning to the Diet for the first time since being forced out by a conviction in 2010.

The leader of New Party Daichi, a political group active mainly in Hokkaido, vowed at his office in Sapporo to work on resolving the prolonged dispute over the Russian-held isles off Hokkaido claimed by Japan.

He is still seen as influential in Japanese-Russian affairs, often meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss the territorial dispute, which stems from the war.