Ex-Residents of Japan-Claimed Isles Hold Memorial at Sea
Sapporo, July 21 (Jiji Press)--Former residents of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan have held a memorial service at sea for their ancestors for the fourth straight year because they remain unable to land on the northwestern Pacific islands.
The event, held Sunday, was the first among the seven such functions set to take place between July and August.
Former residents of the islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan, cannot return to their hometowns because exchange programs between the two countries have been suspended due to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
On Sunday, 46 people, including former islanders and their families, participated. A memorial ceremony took place around 2 p.m. aboard the exchange ship Etopirika, which arrived off Kunashiri, part of the Northern Territories.
Yuzo Matsumoto, 84, from Etorofu, also among the Japanese-claimed islands, expressed his deep disappointment at being unable to visit the Northern Territories.
(2025/07/21-15:39)
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