A: Yo, have you heard the latest?
B: Nah, what's up?

A: Seems like people from one of those northern islands Japan calls the Northern Territories cleaned their ancestors' graves! But they can't visit 'cause programs are still on hold.

B: That's rough. Who controls those islands again?

A: Russia, mate. Japan says they belong to us and were illegally taken after WW2.

B: Ah, I remember that issue now. So what happened with the visits and that exchange program?

A: Well, it's been halted due to things like COVID and Russia invading Ukraine. No sign of resuming anytime soon.

B: That's too bad. I heard they're having a memorial service at sea though.

A: Yup! Former residents will offer prayers from a ship near the island.

B: Wow, that must be tough for them. But good to hear someone is helping out.

A: Yeah, one Russian guy even cleaned up their graves and restored Japanese signs with info provided by Japan!

B: That's awesome of him! The Japanese government still plans to work on resuming the exchange program, but Russia ain't talking peace treaty till sanctions are lifted.
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Residents on one of the four islands that Japan calls the Northern Territories have cleaned the graves of the ancestors of former Japanese residents. Programs to allow them to visit the site remain halted over the past years.



Russia controls the four islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government maintains that the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.



The grave visits and a visa-free exchange program involving former islanders came to a halt due to factors including the coronavirus pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There is no prospect for a resumption at this time.



A memorial service is due to start at sea on Sunday, in which former residents offer their prayers on board a ship near the island.



In mid-June, Russian islanders conducted the grave cleaning for the sake of former residents at a graveyard on the western coast of Kunashiri Island. After mowing the grass, they restored fading Japanese letters on a sign pillar by referring to information provided from the Japanese side.



One islander told NHK that he understands the situation of the neighboring Japanese who are unable to visit the graves. He said that so he has been doing what he can to help them.



The Japanese government plans to work on the resumption of the exchange program while continuing to uphold its policy of resolving the territorial issue and signing a peace treaty with Russia.



But Russia unilaterally suspended peace treaty negotiations after its invasion of Ukraine and says the lifting of sanctions should precede such talks.