When grassroots exchanges were building peace on Northern Territories

In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine and the current bargaining with Russia over gas and rare metals in many European countries, there is renewed interest in Japan, which has also had territorial disputes with Russia for years. Due to the invasion of Ukraine, there is tense barging between some European countries and Russia over gas and rare metals.

What is the Northern Territories issue?

The four islands located in the north part of Japan called the “Northern Territories” were developed by Japanese people at the end of the 18th century and have never been part of any foreign territories since then. However, the Soviet military invasion in 1945 forced 17,291 Japanese to displace from the island, and the island has continuously been ruled by Russia without legal basis.

Efforts to return the Northern Territories done by people

In 1992, Japanese citizens were allowed to visit the Northern Territories without a passport or visa, and since then, the exchange has begun with Russians living on the four islands.

In Nemuro City, located across the sea from the Northern Territories, a voluntary association of citizens, the “Visa-free Supporters Dandelion,” has been carrying out exchanges with the four islands for many years. They mainly take Russians who enter and leave Nemuro Port on visa-free exchanges, delegate Japanese visiting the four islands, and organize exchange meetings with Russians living on the four islands.

Through cultural exchanges and homestays in each other’s homes, people who have been in contact with the Russians for many years as one person strongly realize the importance of mutual understanding and trust in resolving territorial issues. Even though they couldn’t hold actual visits due to the Covid situation in 2021, online exchanges still continued.

The relationships we have built are our only hope

However, due to the invasion of Ukraine, visa-free exchanges were suspended by Russia in March. Those who have participated in the exchange so far are very anxious that the lack of prospects for the resumption of visa-free exchanges will bring the issue back to square one.

On the other hand, it is also true that there are Russians who, in their personal relationships, have cleaned Japanese graves during the Covid time and who have sent the message that “war is bad in any form,” even in the face of information control by the government. These facts testify to the significance of the grassroots exchanges that have taken place so far.

War is a big story on a national scale, but it is still a conflict between people at its root. The key to solving the Northern Territories issue is probably not to fear those who do not understand, but never to give up trying to understand them.