A scandal erupted in Japan over a statement by Hitoshi Kikawada, the minister for Okinawa and the Northern Territories (as Tokyo calls the southern islands of the Kuril chain), which many interpreted as an indirect recognition of Russian ownership of the islands.
According to the Kyodo news agency, during a trip to Hokkaido Prefecture on Sunday, Kikawada visited Cape Nosapu in the city of Nemuro, from where the Kuril Islands are visible, and said: “This is probably the closest place to a foreign country.“
The statement sparked sharp criticism, as many interpreted it as a hint that the minister viewed the so-called Northern Territories as “foreign land“, meaning belonging to Russia. For his part, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara announced at a press conference that he was aware of what was said and had already reprimanded the minister for the ambiguous nature of their interpretation. He called on Kikawada to demonstrate greater responsibility.
At the same time, Kihara reiterated the Japanese government's position that the so-called Northern Territories are the country's "native territory."
Kikawada himself later apologized for his words, speaking to former residents of the Kuril Islands, stating that he intended to be cautious in his statements in the future.
Relations between Russia and Japan have been clouded for many years by the lack of a peace treaty after the end of World War II. The main obstacle is the issue of the Southern Kuril Islands: Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup and Habomai. Tokyo claims them, citing the 1855 Treaty of Commerce and Borders.
Moscow insists that the islands became part of the Soviet Union after the war and that its sovereignty over them is indisputable.
In 1956, the USSR and Japan signed a joint declaration in which they agreed to consider the possibility of transferring the Habomai and Shikotan islands to Tokyo after the conclusion of a peace treaty. The fate of Kunashir and Iturup was not considered.
The Soviet Union then hoped that the declaration would resolve the dispute, while Japan considered the document only part of the solution and did not renounce its claims to all the islands. Subsequent negotiations yielded no results.
Moscow abandoned dialogue on this issue after Japan imposed sanctions after the start of hostilities in Ukraine. Russia has suspended visa-free travel for Japanese citizens to the Southern Kuril Islands and withdrawn from negotiations to establish joint economic activity on the islands.