National Sep 1, 2020
Japan's visa-free visits to Russian-held isles canceled this year due to virus
Former residents had already stopped six trips that would have allowed them to visit their former homes, and the final one has now been axed as well.
National Aug 13, 2020
Ex-resident of Russian-held isle resolved to pass on his story
The number of former Japanese islanders has fallen to some 5,700, from about 17,000 in the past, with the average age now 85.
National Aug 5, 2020
Russian minister visits disputed island off Japan's Hokkaido
Russian emergencies minister Yevgeny Zinichev on Wednesday visited an island claimed by Japan off Hokkaido that is at the center of a long-standing territorial dispute between the two countries. It is the first visit to one of the four disputed islands by a senior Russian ...
National Aug 5, 2020
Flights over Russian-held isles eyed as virus stalls visa-free visits
The Hokkaido Prefectural Government is considering chartering a plane to be flown near the disputed islands in October to November, the officials said.
National Jun 26, 2020
Russian authorities notified Japan on June 17 of a plan to conduct the survey in the Sea of Okhotsk between June 18 and Sept. 18.
National / Politics Jun 20, 2020
Abe to skip 75th anniversary parade in Moscow marking Nazis' WWII defeat
The trip was scratched by the coronavirus, and a forum where the two leaders were to discuss the disputed Russian-held isles off Hokkaido has also been canceled.
National / Politics May 24, 2020
Russia proposes shelving jurisdiction issue in isle talks with Japan
Russia has proposed that the stalemated issue of legal jurisdiction over joint economic activities with Japan on disputed islands be shelved, sources close to the two countries' relations said Saturday. While the proposal is Moscow's compromise in talks on promotion of joint activities as a ...
National May 19, 2020
Japan renews claim on Russian-held isles in foreign policy report
The issue has prevented the two countries from signing a World War II peace treaty even 75 years after the end of the conflict.
National Apr 3, 2020
Japan-Russia visa-free program to be put off amid coronavirus scare
The start of this year's visa-free exchange program between Japan and Russia is set to be postponed amid the coronavirus crisis, Japanese government sources said Thursday. The Russian side is concerned that the new coronavirus could be brought to Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands covered by ...
National Apr 2, 2020
Abe considers calling off Russia visit in May due to coronavirus
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is considering giving up a plan to visit Russia to attend a ceremony on May 9 to mark the 75th anniversary of the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, Jiji Press learned Wednesday. Abe may skip ...
National / Politics Feb 17, 2020
Japan's Motegi meets Russia's Lavrov and offers steps to solve island row
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has proposed "concrete steps" to Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to resolve a long-standing territorial dispute, the minister has said. Motegi did not say what the steps were, but told reporters he invited Lavrov to visit Japan soon to continue negotiations aimed ...
National / Politics Feb 7, 2020
Abe vows at disputed-isles rally to push talks on signing peace treaty with Russia
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has decided to visit Moscow in May to attend a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of Russia's victory over Germany in World War II and to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, a Japanese government source said Friday. Japan and Russia ...